We all are in Greta Thunberg’s Universe

“ It is the most extraordinary, alluring and thought-provoking of all the ways in which quantum mechanics has been interpreted. In its most familiar guise, the many-worlds interpretation (MWI) suggests that we live in a near-infinity of universes, all superimposed in the same physical space but mutually isolated and evolving independently. In many of these universes there exist replicas of you and me, all but indistinguishable yet leading other lives.” - Quantum Magazine

Back in August 2018, one high school girl in Sweden, Greta Thunberg, stopped going to school on Fridays, and instead sat in front of the Swedish parliament with a placard which said “Skolstrejk för klimatet” - School Strike for climate.

In 2019 - she travels to US, on a boat - because Flights are the environmentally most inefficient of all transports, and travels around the country - in a Tesla - lent by Arnold Schwarzenegger nevertheless - speaking in Colleges and climate forums and irritating Donald Trump - the joke that turned out to be  true - President of USA.

Earth is being destroyed at a rapid rate. We have to stop and reverse the damage we humans have done to this planet. The only home we humans have got. The politicians - all in their 70s on an average - are only worried about the next 20-30 years - the number of years they are going to live on earth - and are not thinking beyond what would happen to Earth.

The politicians have the power to make the change. But they do not want to make the change - they have sold their souls to the lobby groups and their own inner greed for power and money. 

The little children will in future inherit a battered and bruised planet - with rising sea levels and hurricanes and catastrophes and scarcity. 

Greta was interviewed, attended talk shows and people and politicians talked - but nothing changed.

And then Covid 19 happened.

If you are reading this blog - it means - you are in Greta Thunberg’s Universe. What Greta Thunberg willed is happening now. 

The world gets a much needed pause. All the flights have been grounded. Mindless consumption has stopped. Fossil Fuel consumption have plummeted all over the globe. Oil commodities went negative in US because there were no more takers for the Oil that is being pumped. Garbage that is being dumped in landfills and oceans has reduced. 

If you are wondering what happened to your universe before Covid happened - it is still continuing as usual in parallel.

You are still going to office - in a car - stuck in traffic, with AC On -  and cursing the traffic and wondering why the others will not take public transport.

You are planning at work, at your desk - a nice foreign trip for a week for this summer vacation - your kids and yourself are bored of going to Malls and the Beaches and Hill Station. 

During lunch break your colleague is talking about the new SUV he has purchased which has lot of gizmos and you are now hating the mini SUV you purchased just couple of years back. It does not have lot of the new features - and thinking - I can still dump it while it has a good resale value and purchase this new SUV.

You come home, but the food your cook made does not excite you - it’s this same old stuff. You tell the family, oh lets put in the fridge ( which will be thrown out tomorrow ), lets go to the new restaurant that is opened in our layout. 

That other universe - is still going on right now - wrecking the planet with mindless consumption and the human satisfying his personal desires mindless of the suffering the earth and the environment have to endure.

You should be happy you are in Greta Thunberg’s universe. It is good for the planet and thereby you, its inhabitant and other co-inhabitants - the plants and animals, all can live a better life.

You are now working from home - if you are the privileged .5%. Thanks to you the roads are now empty and those who have to travel to work for their living can travel quicker and with less pollution and stress.

You now have to find ways of entertaining your bored family - plan something for the weekend in the confines of your home. Have food at the dining table 3 times a day and talk of previous vacations, or the next vacation after lockdown - and not knowing - this is the best vacation ever. 

The mini SUV you had purchased a few years back - is gathering dust - just like your friends new SUV - tank full but no where to go. 

You start cooking and relish all the meals made at home. The initial days of lockdown where you badly wanted to eat some dish from your favorite restaurant - that urge is not there anymore. Now you see that the same restaurant is open, but you are not interested in ordering food anymore. 

We are all in Gretna Thunberg’s universe.

We should all be happy!