Greta Thunberg Nearing Spain In Time For Climate Summit

[appalachiablue]

Source: France24

2 hrs. ago. Swedish teen eco-warrior Greta Thunberg was nearing the Portuguese coast on Monday after crossing the Atlantic in a catamaran to attend a UN climate change summit in Madrid, her entourage said.

Thunberg, 16, has become the face of young peoples' demands for climate action and made a point of making the journey back from September's New York climate summit by sea rather than fuel-guzzling plane. She had expected to be heading for Chile, but the South American nation passed the hosting of the COP25 summit meeting to Spain after suffering a spate of deadly anti-government protests.

Rather than besmirch her status as an environmental activist by taking a carbon emissions-heavy air trip, Thunberg instead set sail on the 14-metre (45-foot) La Vagabonde catamaran on November 13 from Hampton, Virginia to return to Europe. Thunberg, British navigator Nikki Henderson and the Australian family who own the vessel were expected to arrive in Portugal's capital Lisbon at around 0800 GMT on Tuesday after a voyage of more than 5,500 kilometres (3,400 miles).

Lisbon mayor Fernando Medina was set to greet them along with young Portuguese environmental campaigners inspired by Thunberg. Thunberg is scheduled to hold media interviews then take an overnight train to Madrid, Portuguese sources said. The climate summit, which opened Monday and runs to December 13, brings together representatives of some 200 signatory nations to the 2015 Paris accord. -More...


Read more: https://www.france24.com/en/20191202-greta-thunberg-nearing-spain-in-time-for-climate-summit

---

Greta Thunberg is running late to the COP 25 climate meeting in Madrid, Spain, after hitching a ride with an Australian couple travelling the world by boat so she would make it on time.

- Ms Thunberg estimated she'd arrive on Tuesday morning local time
The meeting was moved from Chile to Spain after unrest in the South American country
The summit aims to put the finishing touches to the rules governing the 2015 Paris accord

- Ms Thunberg broke the news of her late arrival to the conference of the parties on Monday: "We're speeding towards Europe! "Estimated time of arrival right now is Tuesday morning [local time]. We'll be arriving at Doca de Alcantara, Lisbon. We are all looking forward to see you there!"
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-12-02/greta-thunberg-late-cop25-climate-meeting-madrid/11758518

*WEBSITE & MAP LOCATION for 'Lavagabonde' catamaran: https://sailing-lavagabonde.com/

https://www.democraticunderground.com/1016243197

[flamingdem]

1. Go Greta!

[appalachiablue]

8. Almost in Lisbon! 3,000 + mile journey. Great photo of the group:

[OnlinePoker]

2. She may not have besmirched her status, but the skipper did.

Nikki Henderson flew from the UK to the States to pilot the boat to Portugal. It was similar to the trip from Europe to the U.S. in August where the crew and replacement crew for the racing yacht she used had to fly both ways.

[Crabby Appleton]

3. +1

[Blues Heron]

4. nice try - actually Nikki bought carbon offsets for the flight

Your besmirching efforts have failed.


----------
Aboard La Vagabonde. Probably less than 60 nm from journey's end tomorrow, at Lisbon, Portugal.
https://www.facebook.com/ni...

Nikki Henderson
5 hrs
Reflections from the North Atlantic:

For what feels like the first time in the entire journey, we are pointing directly towards Lisbon. We have 100 NM left to run before we can officially announce ‘mission complete’. The mission being - to safely sail Greta to Europe in time for her to attend the COP25 climate conference in Madrid.

Riley and I have spoken many times this trip about the ‘mission’. About feeling like we are now part of something significant. Like this crossing had real purpose beyond the normal “go from point ‘a’ to point ‘b’” which of course, whilst so simple, is one of the true beauties of travelling by sea: purpose.

Reading back through my messages from - unbelievably - only 23 days ago, we were discussing whether I would be the best person to help him and Elayna with the trip. I wrote to him and advised he make whatever decision was best for their safety - for there was “something bigger at stake than any of us”. I ... we ... felt a pull to work together for this bigger ‘thing’. There were good reasons to choose someone else - for example, the fact that I had to fly was not ideal considering what the trip represented, even though I did buy carbon offsets. What ultimately brought us together was the pull of the adventure, yes, but also a deeper common interest - a shared purpose ...

We have had many conversations on-board about the climate emergency - about how bleak the situation is. There have been some heated discussions too - is it too late? Should we still hope? Can we feel positive? Is it constructive to be afraid? To name a few.

Every discussion for me has been informative, and interesting. I’ve learned in much greater depth about the issues at hand - and had some ideas about how to contribute to fixing them. This was one reason I agreed to be part of this and support the crew - so in my view a successful 3 weeks!

One of my favourite conversations was with Svante and Greta yesterday. We were considering how the sailing trip that we have just done - a voyage that Greta decided was necessary for her to take - is so symbolic. On departing the USA we sacrificed any control or strict agenda. We surrendered to the ocean and to Mother Nature. We relied on science - the weather forecast - to guide us. We supported science with our own instinct for survival. We gained a unique perspective of how small we are in this big world. We compromised many of at least a Westerner’s life luxuries - plenty of food, running water, fast internet access - to name a few. Despite this, we are arriving feeling richer and more fulfilled than we left.

Reflecting on what this trip was about - the bigger ‘mission’- this conversation feels extremely relevant.

Whilst it could be misinterpreted this way, this trip was not about telling people what to do, or how to live. It was not about Greta or any of us travelling in the most sustainable way possible. If it was, there were probably slightly better options - although none perfect. There may have been skippers who could have joined the boat in two days without flying. There may have been boats without a diesel engine as a back up for power. There may have been vessels that could monitor their carbon footprint more closely.

This trip was about the bigger mission. It was for us to enable Greta - one of our influencers - our role models - to travel in the way that she felt was most in line with the youth climate movement message: To highlight the need for big structural change to fight the climate emergency. To make the point that there isn’t a sustainable way to travel yet, and there needs to be.

‘Big structural changes’ - no one knows exactly what that will entail. But I think it’s so beautiful that just by choosing to sail across the Atlantic, we demonstrated that it is possible to adopt ‘big structural changes’ into our lives - even if just for three weeks. These changes surely correspond with some of the changes necessary to solve the climate crisis: trusting science, setting aside differences and working together, sacrificing some of life‘s indulgences, surrendering control, compromising, staying optimistic - finding a shared sense of purpose.

By sailing across the Atlantic we have shown what it is possible to achieve if you work with nature, and not against her.

In making it to Lisbon by the power of the wind, we have in a small way, contributed to the youth climate movement. We had ‘walked the walk’ and ‘talked the talk’ so to speak. Perhaps that was our shared purpose after all … ?

It has been a privilege to have helped Riley and Elayna sail Greta and her father safely to Europe, and ultimately to her family and her home. Being part of this project is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life. It’s been an opportunity to deepen my understanding of the climate emergency; to make five new friends; and best of all, to enjoy and share the purity, the perspective, and the peace that sailing across an ocean provides.

[progree]

5. Three key excerpts for emphasis

Nikki Henderson: We supported science with our own instinct for survival. We gained a unique perspective of how small we are in this big world. We compromised many of at least a Westerner’s life luxuries - plenty of food, running water, fast internet access - to name a few. Despite this, we are arriving feeling richer and more fulfilled than we left.

Whilst it could be misinterpreted this way, this trip was not about telling people what to do, or how to live. It was not about Greta or any of us travelling in the most sustainable way possible. If it was, there were probably slightly better options - although none perfect. There may have been skippers who could have joined the boat in two days without flying. There may have been boats without a diesel engine as a back up for power. There may have been vessels that could monitor their carbon footprint more closely.

This trip was about the bigger mission. It was for us to enable Greta - one of our influencers - our role models - to travel in the way that she felt was most in line with the youth climate movement message: To highlight the need for big structural change to fight the climate emergency. To make the point that there isn’t a sustainable way to travel yet, and there needs to be.

And now my 2 cents: WE FUCKING HAVE TO GOT START LIVING DIFFERENTLY WAY DIFFERENTLY, FOLKS. And that was what this imperfect voyage was about. (All human endeavors, including the most positive, carefully thought-out, and well-intended, are imperfect.)

[appalachiablue]

7. Well said and thanks for posting. See #6.

WE FUCKING HAVE TO GOT START LIVING DIFFERENTLY WAY DIFFERENTLY, FOLKS. And that was what this imperfect voyage was about. (All human endeavors, including the most positive, carefully thought-out, and well-intended, are imperfect.)

[appalachiablue]

6. Interesting, tx for posting. Mostly I want to see them arrive safe & sound.

Dec. 2 Wash. Examiner (rw rag) story on the 'emissions.' I believe Nikki; Greta's travel plans changed on short notice and it's worked out. Who's keeping score anyway.



Great photo of the happy La Vagabonde group at sea in the North Atlantic.

https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/captain-of-greta-thunbergs-sailboat-foils-zero-emissions-plans-by-flying-to-us