Just when you thought that talk back radio could not be worse there has been a recent incident where Heather Du Plessis-Allan basically bullied a young woman who wants to make the world a better place.
Here is what happened. The sneering and laughing is jarring and should be in a perfect world career ending.
As Darien points out this is sneering and cynical. Fancy laughing at a 16 year old who wants to make the world better because she went on holiday overseas with her family. And to all of the right wingers who jumped in on twitter I hope you realise that you have just made a whole lot of young people more determined to achieve change.
Young people cannot win it seems. The right has mercilessly attacked Greta Thunberg and accused her of hypocrisy even though her attempts to reduce her carbon footprint has been extraordinary. Any time someone tries to achieve change they argue that it is futile.
The motivation must be to undermine efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. There is no other possible explanation. Why should any of us do anything because someone who says we should do something wears clothes made in China or some variant of that.
Heather’s gocha moment must have come from trawling through Izzy’s social media. How low can you get.
Izzy’s mother Rose Cook has replied. From the Spinoff:
On Friday evening, I listened in horror as my 16 year old daughter had a phone conversation with someone who appeared to be bullying her, laughing at her, and talking over her. As soon as she got off the call I demanded to know who the hell was speaking to my child in this way.
My daughter is Izzy Cook. She’s one of the main leaders for School Strike for Climate in Wellington and is their media contact. She has had some experience with dealing with the media, but she wasn’t prepared for Heather du Plessis-Allan.
Commentators like du Plessis-Allan don’t give a shit about climate change. They don’t care that Arctic ice is melting at four times the expected rate, or that we are seeing more and more extreme weather events killing and displacing people across the globe. No, as du Plessis-Allan is fond of reminding us, it’s the economy that matters, not our planet. These sorts of commentators use ad hominem arguments and “gotcha” moments for point-scoring and discrediting their opponents. We saw it when Mike Hosking opined that Greta Thunberg is “the world’s most annoying kid” and when Duncan Garner said she was “too dramatic” to take seriously. It’s a common tactic used to deflect from the climate crisis, instead of focusing on the actions that we need to take in a rational, reflective manner. They seem particularly keen to go after our youth, whose future is most at stake.
Rose also points out that Izzy is a vegetarian, uses public transport and buys second hand.
Rose’s conclusion says it all:
Our young people are genuinely terrified about the world they are inheriting. That is what matters.
Heather du Plessis-Allan became a mother this year. I hope that no-one ever speaks to her child the way she did to mine.
I could make disparaging comments about Heather’s understanding of the issue. She thinks that we will not be able to stop climate change, that we only emit a small amount anyway and that it is up to China and India to solve the issue. Not only is she stupid but she is clearly also a free loader.
Shame on Heather Du Plessis Allan. And all strength to Izzy Cook. We need more people like Izzy, preferably in positions of power, especially in the media.
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