Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should

Host: The room was quiet, the soft glow of the lamp casting a warm light over the space. Outside, the world had settled into the stillness of night. Jeeny sat at the table, her fingers lightly tracing the rim of her cup, her expression thoughtful. Jack, standing near the window, gazed out into the darkened world, clearly reflecting on something deeper. There was an unspoken tension between them, as if a significant conversation was about to unfold.

Jeeny: (breaking the silence, her voice calm but determined) “I came across something by Greta Thunberg today that really made me think. She said, ‘Some say we should not engage in activism. Instead we should leave everything to our politicians and just vote for a change instead. But what do we do when there is no political will? What do we do when the politics needed are nowhere in sight?’ What do you think about that?”

Jack: (pauses, his voice reflective) “It’s a very powerful and urgent statement. Thunberg is acknowledging the limitations of relying solely on politicians to make change. There’s this idea that voting is enough, but she’s pointing out that when there’s no political will, when the leadership we need isn’t there, then activism becomes necessary. She’s asking what we do when the system fails to act on the issues that really matter, like climate change, or injustice. It’s a call to action, a challenge to us not to wait passively for change to come from above, but to take it into our own hands.”

Jeeny: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s a reminder that change doesn’t just happen by sitting back and waiting for politicians to make the right decisions. When we see a lack of action, when the politics needed aren’t coming from the top, the people have to step up. Thunberg’s quote emphasizes the power of activism—ordinary people coming together, raising their voices, and making their demands heard. Change has to be driven by the collective will, not just by the decisions of the few.”

Host: The stillness in the room deepened, as Jeeny and Jack reflected on the deeper meaning of Thunberg’s words. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, their conversation had shifted into a more introspective place—about the need for activism in a world where political will can be lacking, and how ordinary people can become the driving force for change.

Jack: (his voice quieter now, more reflective) “I think what strikes me is that Thunberg isn’t just criticizing politicians. She’s pointing out the systemic problem. She’s asking, ‘What happens when the very people in power don’t act?’ In that case, it’s not enough to just vote—it’s about pushing for real action, about getting out into the streets, speaking out, and forcing the issue. It’s a call to question the system that isn’t serving us, to not wait for permission to make change.”

Jeeny: (softly) “Yes. And I think it also speaks to empowerment. Activism gives people the opportunity to step into their own agency, to take responsibility for the world around them. If we only rely on politicians, then we’re relinquishing control over the things that affect us. Thunberg is challenging us to believe that we have the power to make a difference, to push for the changes we know are necessary.”

Jack: (nodding slowly) “Exactly. It’s about not waiting for the ideal political scenario to make change happen, but rather creating that change from the ground up. We can’t afford to wait for the perfect moment or the perfect leader. The power lies with the people—the ones who are directly affected by the issues at hand. We have to speak up, act, and demand the change we need.”

Jeeny: (smiling gently) “Yes, it’s about being part of something larger than ourselves. The power of activism lies in unity, in collective action. Even if there’s no immediate political will, when people come together and make their voices heard, that energy becomes undeniable. Change is not just about waiting for it to come from those in power—it’s about demanding it, even when it seems impossible.”

Host: The quiet in the room felt heavier now, as their conversation had unraveled a deeper truth. Outside, the world had quieted, but inside, the room was filled with a shared understanding about the necessity of activism in a world where political systems often fail to act. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered the importance of taking action—not waiting for change to come from the top, but pushing for it from the ground up, demanding a better world through collective effort and activism.

Jack: (smiling softly, his voice more assured) “It’s a reminder that the power to change the world doesn’t rest with a few people at the top—it rests with all of us, especially when the system fails to act. The responsibility is on us to demand the change we know is needed.”

Jeeny: (nodding warmly) “Exactly. And when we come together in that demand, we create a force that can’t be ignored. Activism is the tool we use to ensure that the necessary changes happen, no matter what the political climate is.”

Host: The world outside had quieted to a peaceful stillness, but inside, the room was filled with understanding. Jeeny and Jack had uncovered the truth in Thunberg’s words—that when political will is absent, it is up to the people to create change. Activism isn’t just about making noise—it’s about demanding change, about taking responsibility for the future and using the collective power of the people to shape the world we want to live in.