MarkNollan
Greta Thunberg apologized for saying that world leaders should be "shot" in a speech at a rally in Italy.
Speaking at a protest of the "Future Days" in Turin, Italy, on December 13, 16-year-old environmental activist expressed concern that COP25's climate summit The United Nations will be ineffective and activists need to continue to push world leaders to do their duty.
Thunberg in protest Days for the future in the city of Turin, Italy, December 13 Photo: AFP
"World leaders are still trying to shirk their responsibility but we must not let them do so," she said. "We will make sure to put them against the wall and they will have to do our job to protect our future."
Many people expressed their disagreement with Thunberg's statement, because in English, the phrase "put against the wall" that she mentioned meant shooting.
Thunberg later tweeted that she just wanted activists to hold the world leader accountable and the use of the phrase "put against the wall" was "unfortunate".
"In Swedish English, 'put against the wall' means to hold someone responsible. That's what happens when you improvise speeches in a second language."
However, Thunberg still "apologized if anyone misunderstood this". "I cannot fully express the fact that I, like the whole school-leaving movement, are opposed to any form of violence," she added.
On December 14, the child activist was also involved in a debate with German rail authorities, after she posted a picture of herself sitting on the middle of a crowded train.
German railway company Deutsche Bahn issued a statement thanking Thunberg for supporting the workers' fight against climate change. However, they said she should also emphasize the fact that she was finally arranged for a first-class seating and treated very well.
In response, Thunberg said he did not complain when posting the photo and a crowded train was a good sign, showing that the demand for train was increasing.
Thunberg last week was named "Person of the Year" by Time magazine for inspiring the global movement against climate change. She is returning to Sweden for Christmas after a busy journey across the continent that lasted for months.
