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Michael Krueger

(Text translated/edited by P. Gosselin)

Four months ago in March, 20,000-25,000 pupils and demonstrators took part with Greta in the demonstration in Berlin. But last Friday, only about 2,000 people showed up despite the fact that the demonstration with Greta was greatly advertised in the social media by Fridays For Future and the Scientists For Future. It didn’t amount to anything. The hype about Greta and Fridays for Future now seems to be over.

Mostly a hard core over age 30

The students have flown with their parents to their summer holiday destinations, and so only a hard core of professional activists mainly over age 30 gathered. They held up signs with slogans like: “Milk Chocolate Kills”, “Kale Instead of Coal”, “Vegans for Future/ Planet”, “Kerosene Tax Now”, “Parents in Panic” and “Winter Is Not Coming!” Everything with climate experts, who are familiar with climate change, and no kooky people.

“Longhaul Luisa”

Greta was accompanied by Luisa Neubauer, a.k.a Longhaul-Luisa, and the lead staff of Fridays For Future. Most of them are no longer students, rather professional activists from various NGOs. At the podium Greta announced her well-known perseverance slogans and was then shielded off by her companions and the police and led by the demonstrators into a hidden off building.

A swan song from Fridays for Future?

I would see it that way. The hype around Greta died down already in the spring. A rebound was then provided to Greta by the award of the Golden Kamera, a visit to the Pope, her “spontaneous” appearance of Scientists For Future and finally the “spontaneous” appeal by YouTube vlogger and influencer Rezo and his YouTube friends. (Rezo in reality is called Yannick Frickenschmidt and is over age 30).

Thus the last chapter seems to have been opened, and a fresh new face coming on stage is not foreseeable. All trump cards have now been played, even if Greta still plans a sea voyage to America. In September the 16-year-old wants to participate in the United Nations climate summit in New York, in the world climate conference in Santiago de Chile in December, says her leadership staff.

It remains to be seen whether this will trigger new hype around Greta.