Federer responds to Greta Thunberg

[malaise]

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/jan/12/roger-federer-responds-to-climate-change-criticism-from-greta-thunberg
<snip>
Roger Federer has issued a cautiously worded response to mounting criticism, including from climate activist Greta Thunberg, over his sponsorship deal with Credit Suisse.

A dozen Swiss activists appeared in court on Tuesday after refusing to pay a fine for playing tennis inside branches of Credit Suisse bank in November 2018, in a stunt intended to underscore Federer’s relationship with the Swiss financial giant, which is closely linked with the fossil fuel industry.

Thunberg was among nearly 700 accounts to retweet a post from climate activist group 350.org Europe. “Since 2016 @CreditSuisse has provided $57 BILLION to companies looking for new fossil fuel deposits – something that is utterly incompatible with #ClimateAction,” the tweet reads. “@RogerFederer do you endorse this? #RogerWakeUpNow.”

Federer, who is in Melbourne preparing for the Australian Open, responded this weekend via a statement. But the 20-time grand slam champion stopped short of directly addressing his relationship with Credit Suisse. “I take the impacts and threat of climate change very seriously, particularly as my family and I arrive in Australia amidst devastation from the bushfires,” read Federer’s statement, sent to Reuters.

“As the father of four young children and a fervent supporter of universal education, I have a great deal of respect and admiration for the youth climate movement, and I am grateful to young climate activists for pushing us all to examine our behaviours and act on innovative solutions. We owe it to them and ourselves to listen. I appreciate reminders of my responsibility as a private individual, as an athlete and as an entrepreneur, and I’m committed to using this privileged position to dialogue on important issues with my sponsors.”

[CaptYossarian]

1. Condescending, anyone?

The YOUTH climate movement and YOUNG climate activists.

He almost patted them on their YOUNG heads and gave them a cookie.