Teenage climate activist Greta Thunberg is immortalized in giant four-story-high San Francisco mural
- A mural in San Francisco depicts Greta Thunberg, 16, the climate activist
- Murals of Thunberg are also in Canada and the United Kingdom
- Critics of Thunberg’s message twice defaced her mural in Canada
- Thunberg gained worldwide recognition for her climate strikes
Swedish teenage climate change activist Greta Thunberg is being honored with a mural in downtown San Francisco.
The larger-than-life depiction, which will be completed on Thursday, shows Thunberg from the chest up and takes up at least four stories of a building.
The project is funded by the non-profit group OneAtmosphere.org, and executive director Paul Scott told CNN that they wanted to focus on art that applauds the climate activists and Thunberg was the first choice.
Greta Thunberg took part at the Youth Climate Strike in Los Angeles on November 1
A new look for Greta Thunberg, a world-renowed climate activist, as a mural in San Francisco
Environmental activist Greta Thunberg, of Sweden, addressing the Climate Action Summit at the United Nations General Assembly, September 23, 2019
‘If we can amplify her message and get more people involved and listening to what she’s saying, then we’re doing some good,’ Thunberg told CNN.
He said feedback has been positive, but pointed out that those critical of the painting didn’t recognize the 16-year-old.
‘They’re struck by the image and want to learn more,’ he said.’If they take the time to learn more about what she’s trying to share, that I think has an impact on most people. Makes them want to help.’
The mural was designed by Andrés Petreselli, who also did the portrait of Robin Williams for the city.
Downtown San Francisco, where a mural of Greta Thunberg, created by artist Andrés Petreselli, will be unveiled Tuesday
Two people committed to the environment, Leonardo DiCaprio meets Greta Thunberg on November 1
Greta Thunberg stares down President Trump at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit
Among the other spots in the world to find a Greta Thunberg mural– Istanbul, Turkey, as seen on September 20
Her message has inspired other mural across the globe, including one in Bristol, England, showing Thunberg partly underwater. There’s another in Canada and in Turkey.
However, she has ‘drawn’ her detractors.
The mural in Canada painted a ‘free wall’ along a bike path was defaced twice shortly after it was created, CNN said.
It hasn’t deterred Thunberg, who has led climate strikes starting in 2018 at the Swedish Parliament.
That caused thousands of students worldwide to skip school and demand action is taken for climate change.
She has met with everyone from actor Leonardo DiCaprio to former President Barack Obama, and spoken to the U.S. Congress and the United Nations.
Thunberg had a quiet confrontation with President Trump at the 2019 United Nations Climate Action Summit.
Upon Trump’s arrival, Thunberg stood on the sidelines giving him a stare down for choosing to skip the climate summit.
The look made her a social media darling.
Petreselli thinks Thunberg has already accomplished making the world more aware about the environmental crisis.
‘We’re pretty much at the beginning of our extinction, so if we don’t do anything right now, it’s going to be too late,’ he told CNN.