GRETA Thunberg visited Oxford today to speak to university students about science, voting and ‘the limits of protest’.
The teenage climate change activist visited the Oxford University college Lady Margaret Hall earlier today, and met up with Malala Yousafzai.
She had already revealed to her four million followers on Twitter that she was ‘heading to the UK’ to join a school strike in Bristol, but other details about her trip were kept under wraps.
Heading for the UK! This Friday, the 28th, I’m looking forward to joining the school strike in Bristol! We meet up at College Green 11am! See you there! @bristolYS4C pic.twitter.com/n1GOJqMUVQ
— Greta Thunberg (@GretaThunberg) February 22, 2020
The 17-year-old climate activist first hit the headlines across the world in 2018 when she spent her school days protesting outside the Swedish parliament calling for urgent action on climate change.
The teenager has remained in the public eye ever since and is known for her straightforward speaking to political leaders, and for sailing around the world to reduce her carbon footprint.
Sharing details of her visit on Twitter the college principal and ex-editor of the Guardian, Alan Rusbridger, said he was ‘grateful and honoured’ that she ‘found the time to talk’ to them.
He said: “Honoured to host @gretathunberg at @Imhoxford today. Grateful she found time to talk to some of our students about science, voting, the limits of protest, divestment, real zero v net zero and much more.”
Honoured to host @gretathunberg at @lmhoxford today. grateful she found time to talk to some of our students about science, voting, the limits of protest, divestment, real zero v net zero, and much more pic.twitter.com/FjcNEQDTci
— alan rusbridger (@arusbridger) February 25, 2020
She also met up with Malala, who is studying at the college.
The 22-year-old activist for female education and the youngest Nobel Prize laureate shared an image of the pair on Twitter, saying she is 'the only friend she would skip school for'.
She’s the only friend I’d skip school for. pic.twitter.com/uP0vwF2U3K
— Malala (@Malala) February 25, 2020
In a tweet this evening, Greta described Malala as her 'role model'.
Teenage entrepeneur and Oxford University student Joana Baptista, a former Oxford High School pupil, was among those who spotted the pair.
She tweeted: "It was a pretty crazy experience seeing them in Oxford!"
Jennifer Cassidy, a politics lecturer at Oxford, said on Twitter: "Reason unlimited why I love this place. I walk out my door, up one street and see @Malala and @GretaThunberg talking outside.
"Two powerful young women standing for justice, truth and equality for all.
"So many, are so grateful, for all that you do. Keep shining bright."
Another Oxford student, Laila Ujayli, tweeted at 2.45pm reporting that Malala was giving Greta a tour.
She added: "Life never ceases to be wonderful and strange."
The Abingdon branch of Extinction Rebellion has invited Greta along to one of the Oxford school strikes.
Great to see @GretaThunberg spending some time in Oxford. Hope she can come again for a Friday school strike :) https://t.co/LyCG79ZsNz
— XR Abingdon 🌍 (@AbingdonXr) February 25, 2020
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