Julia Hartley Dooda PATRONISES Greta Thunberg

The climate change denial lobby has a problem: how to counter the Extinction Rebellion movement without resorting to the kind of bullying meted out by Sky News’ Gammon Emeritus Adam “don’t you know who I am” Boulton, and how to prevent people listening to climate activist Greta Thunberg. Both are proving challenging.

That, though, has not stopped the mercenary and unprincipled from going after Ms Thunberg, in line with the requirements of their paymasters. And as the perpetually thirsty Paul Staines and his rabble at the Guido Fawkes blog have joined the attack, it is clear that the Murdoch mafiosi, if not actually encouraging the practice, does not disapprove.

Meanwhile, some are simply aghast at the spectacle of so many supposedly grown-up individuals behaving in such a callous manner. Matt Carr is one of their number. “I thought I’d seen it all on social media these last few years. But the vindictiveness of the assault on Greta Thunberg is just off the scale. I see it’s now moving from ‘millenarian weirdo’, ‘Soros shill’ and ‘brainwashed child’ to faux-concern for Thunberg’s mental health”.

There was more. “They mock the way she looks. They mock her voice. Her ideas. Her ‘privileged’ background. The science that she cites. They use her family history to discredit her while pretending to pity her. They parody her as a ‘child messiah’. Why do they do this?” Why? For money. But who might he have had in mind?

Step forward self-promoting TalkRADIO host Julia Hartley Brewer. “Can people please stop attacking *and* deifying Greta Thunberg. She’s a vulnerable 16yr old with Asperger’s who’s terrified her world is about to end. Don’t be cross with her, be bloody furious with the adults who’ve told her those lies and are using her for their political aims”.

Thus she proves Carr right in one Tweet, as well as adding the “Climate change isn’t really happening like she says” claim. And she had more in the same vein. “They aren’t saying she shouldn’t have a voice. They’re saying that she doesn’t really know what she’s talking about it and shouldn’t be treated like the messiah. Not quite the same thing”. Guess who isn’t being invited on to Ms Hartley Dooda’s show to discuss that?

But she wasn’t a climate change denier, honestly. “There’s a whole lot of stupid on my timeline again tonight. For the hard of understanding, criticising ‘we’re all going to die’ global warming alarmism (which isn’t backed up by IPCC reports) isn’t the same as being a ‘climate change denier’. If you think it is, you’re just dumb”. Ms Thunberg hasn’t claimed that “we’re all going to die”. So I’d rather not look over there, thanks.

What Ms Thunberg is telling the world is that there is a window of opportunity - a shrinking window - in which action can be taken to prevent runaway climate change. Ms Hartley Dooda is being disingenuous in the way she is trying to frame the issue. And right on cue, Carr’s point about “Using her family history” and “pretending to pity her” was duly deployed. “This is the reality behind the pig-tailed little girl being feted as the saviour of the world. It is just tragic. You really do need to read this.” We really don’t.

There is something sickening in the way that Ms Hartley Dooda feigns concern while sniffily patronising her target. And what is more sickening is that she will continue to be indulged by press and broadcasters. The media establishment needs to sort itself out.

Enjoy your visit to Zelo Street? You can help this truly independent blog carry on talking truth to power, while retaining its sense of humour, by adding to its Just Giving page at

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/zelostreet3