Autism is a disorder that affects the brain development of a person. Those who suffer from it would find it difficult to interact with the people around them; they wouldn’t look at people much, nor let people touch them. They would want the things to be in the way they are and they cannot accept sudden changes in the existing pattern of life. And most of all, they normally find their own company to be the best. They are not different from the ‘normal’ people outwardly but on the emotional, interactive side, they prefer solitude.
But this disorder would grant the sufferer a minor advantage: Extreme Focus. Autism affected people will have a dedicated interest towards a preferred action. This cannot be considered as hobby but a special interest. We can limit our hobby when we need to do something significant but autism affected people cannot retrieve from their special interests despite something paramount intervenes because they derive strength from being focused with their special interests.
May be this is why the fifteen year old Greta Thunberg of Sweden has not removed her focus off the climate change. For almost a month, she sat on the steps of the Parliament of Sweden and protested in the way of ahimsa prior to the elections in Sweden. She skipped her school earlier to protest but now goes to the parliament on Fridays alone. Her goal is very simple. She wants the government to expedite the viable solutions to curb climate change. A few members of the parliament have expressed solidarity with the ideals of Greta.
Greta learned about the climate change when she was just a nine year old girl. She wondered why the world is not talking much about the crisis. She wanted her family to be different from the rest of the mute world. Greta’s dad is an actor and mother is an opera singer. When the parents discovered that their child is ecologically conscious, they wanted to aid her in her conviction.
So they installed solar and electric systems in their home to go green, they use bicycles to travel. Greta decided to quit traveling via airplanes to further enhance her contribution to cut carbon emission. Her mom decided to not give international commitments, to be of support to her daughter’s decision. Greta is not backing down from her crusade for a green earth. She continues her protest even now. Recently she made headlines for telling the world leaders who negotiated at a Climate Summit that they are not mature enough to tell that the world that it needs to ‘pull the emergency brake’ in its current ride.
She said “We need to keep the fossil fuels in the ground, and we need to focus on equity. And if solutions within the system are so impossible to find, maybe we should change the system itself. We have not come here to beg world leaders to care. You have ignored us in the past and you will ignore us again. We have run out of excuses and we are running out of time. We have come here to let you know that change is coming, whether you like it or not. The real power belongs to the people.”
A fifteen year old girl…. Just a fifteen year old girl said these bold words to the world leaders, whereas we grown men have not been vocal enough to say so. Despite her autism, she has proven to be an awesome inspiration. Go Greta!!!