Thunberg ditches foul language in speech to Glastonbury warning of a ‘total natural catastrophe’

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Greta Thunberg ditched the foul language today as she addressed revellers at Glastonbury warning them that they face a ‘total natural catastrophe’ driven by the ‘forces of greed’.

The 19-year-old Swedish climate campaigner spoke at 5.15pm from the Pyramid Stage and delivered a speech about climate change saying the crisis is ‘not the new normal’.

She called out ‘lying’ political leaders, but insisted ‘we can still avoid the worse consequences’ and ‘together we can do the seemingly impossible’.

‘We are in the beginning of a climate and ecological emergency. This is not the new normal, this crisis will continue to get worse… until we prioritise people and planet over profits and greed,’ she said. 

She added that ‘we need immediate drastic emissions reductions’ and ‘we need to make fundamental changes to our societies’.

‘The forces of greed and profit and planetary destructions are so powerful that our fight for the natural world is limited to a desperate struggle to avoid a total natural catastrophe,’ she continued.

‘We should be fighting for people and for nature, but instead we are fighting against those who are set on destroying it. Today our political leaders are allowed to say one thing then do the exact opposite.

‘They can say we are in a climate emergency as they open up new coal mines, new oil fields, and new pipe lines. It has not only become socially acceptable for our leaders to lie, it is more or less what we expect them to do.’

Thunberg’s speech came ahead of the release of her new book, The Climate Book, which is out on October 27. Her appearance was followed by a performance by California female rockers Haim.

It’s unclear how she travelled to the festival from Sweden, where she has been organising school strikes.

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The festivities – which have returned for the first time since Covid – began on Thursday, with thousands setting up camp by Tuesday.

An estimated 200,000 revellers have flocked to Worthy Farm for the world’s most iconic music festival.

Thunberg ditches foul language in speech to Glastonbury warning of a ‘total natural catastrophe’

Teenage climate campaigner Greta Thunberg addressing the Glastonbury’s crowds from the Pyramid Stage this evening as she makes a ‘special appearance’ at the festival

The 19-year-old Swedish climate campaigner spoke at 5.15pm from the Pyramid Stage and delivered a speech about climate change saying the crisis is 'not the new normal'

The 19-year-old Swedish climate campaigner spoke at 5.15pm from the Pyramid Stage and delivered a speech about climate change saying the crisis is ‘not the new normal’

She called out 'lying' political leaders, but insisted 'we can still avoid the worse consequences' and 'together we can do the seemingly impossible'

She called out ‘lying’ political leaders, but insisted ‘we can still avoid the worse consequences’ and ‘together we can do the seemingly impossible’

She added that 'we need immediate drastic emissions reductions' and 'we need to make fundamental changes to our societies'

She added that ‘we need immediate drastic emissions reductions’ and ‘we need to make fundamental changes to our societies’

Greta Thunberg addressed Glastonbury from the Pyramid Stage today as she makes a last minute addition to the festival

Greta Thunberg addressed Glastonbury from the Pyramid Stage today as she makes a last minute addition to the festival

The climate campaigner, 19, spoke at 5.15pm from the biggest stage at Worthy Farm, where 200,000 fans are camped

The climate campaigner, 19, spoke at 5.15pm from the biggest stage at Worthy Farm, where 200,000 fans are camped

In a Tweet, Greta said: ‘I’m excited to announce that today I will be on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury 5.15pm. See you there!’

A few minutes before Glastonbury Festival Tweeted: ‘We’re very excited to announce that Greta Thunberg will be making a special appearance on the Pyramid Stage at around 5.15pm today. Don’t miss it!’. 

The Pyramid Stage has a backdrop showing Professor Ed Hawkins’s warming stripes – a graph that represents the gradual rise in global temperatures over two centuries.

Back in 2019, there were murals of the environmental activist and school striker all over the festival with the slogan ‘What would Greta do?’

Greta Thunberg, pictured, at 16, when she addressed the Youth Climate Summit in 2019

Greta Thunberg, pictured, at 16, when she addressed the Youth Climate Summit in 2019

General view of the Pyramid Stage where Greta took to during day three of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 24

General view of the Pyramid Stage where Greta took to during day three of Glastonbury Festival at Worthy Farm, Pilton on June 24

Sheryl Crow dedicated ‘Soak Up The Sun’ to the then 16 year-old activist three years ago. 

Greta created a new book earlier this year featuring 100 leading experts and activists on the environment called the Climate Book

Speaking then, she said: ‘This is the biggest story in the world, and it must be spoken as far and wide as our voices can carry, and much further still.

‘That’s why I have decided to use my platform to create this book, which is based on the best science currently available – a book that covers the climate, ecological and sustainability crisis holistically.’

This year’s headliners at Glastonbury include Paul McCartney, Kendrick Lamar and Billie Eilish, who in her explosive Pyramid Stage set last night slammed the US Supreme Court’s abortion rights overhaul.

A young festivalgoer in matching pink sings along to Billie Eilish during the 20-year-old's fiery Pyramid Stage set last night

A young festivalgoer in matching pink sings along to Billie Eilish during the 20-year-old’s fiery Pyramid Stage set last night

Glastonbury made a glorious return after three years as revellers resisted nationwide rail strikes and thunderstorm fears to bury memories of Covid. The stage is pictured last night

Glastonbury made a glorious return after three years as revellers resisted nationwide rail strikes and thunderstorm fears to bury memories of Covid. The stage is pictured last night

Emotional: Billie Eilish  said it's been a 'dark day for women' following the US Supreme Court's decision to overturn Roe V Wade, as she took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival on Friday

Emotional: Billie Eilish  said it’s been a ‘dark day for women’ following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade, as she took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival on Friday

Taking to the stage, she said it was a ‘dark day for women’ following the US Supreme Court’s decision to overturn Roe V Wade, as she took to the stage at the Glastonbury Festival on Friday.

The singer, 20, who first made her debut at the festival on The Other Stage at Worthy Farm in 2019, told the crowd she ‘couldn’t bear to think about’ the ruling which ended the constitutional right to abortion in the US, meaning individual states could decide whether abortion can be made illegal.

Also prominent at the festival were many partygate-themed ‘this is a work event’ flags ribbing Boris Johnson – a nod to the PM’s claim that lockdown-busting gatherings were not parties.

Showers hit the festival yesterday morning – and there are fears of heavy rain tomorrow and showers on Sunday afternoon.

Tens of thousands gathered to watch Wet Leg play the Park Stage, out of an estimated 200,000 to have arrived at Glasto

Tens of thousands gathered to watch Wet Leg play the Park Stage, out of an estimated 200,000 to have arrived at Glasto

One brightly coloured flag even featured a picture of Mr Johnson the day after he suffered two damaging defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton

One brightly coloured flag even featured a picture of Mr Johnson the day after he suffered two damaging defeats in the Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton

Another man scrubs himself down as best he can in front of a sea of tents at Worthy Farm earlier on Saturday

Another man scrubs himself down as best he can in front of a sea of tents at Worthy Farm earlier on Saturday

A load of rubbish: overflowing trash bins show the signs of thousands of happy revellers after Billie Eilish's Pyramid Stage set

A load of rubbish: overflowing trash bins show the signs of thousands of happy revellers after Billie Eilish’s Pyramid Stage set

A pair of IDLES fans can barely contain their excitement as the British-Irish punk rock band played on the Other Stage

A pair of IDLES fans can barely contain their excitement as the British-Irish punk rock band played on the Other Stage

A group of Glastonbury Festival revellers set up their own shower at the campsite on Worthy Farm in Somerset yesterday

A group of Glastonbury Festival revellers set up their own shower at the campsite on Worthy Farm in Somerset yesterday

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