Why is Greta Thunberg silent on Rebel News reporter’s tough questions?

11:33 AM Jan 21, 2023 IST | Ground Report

After being arrested in Germany earlier this week, climate activist Greta Thunberg travelled to neighbouring Switzerland, just in time to attend the finale of the World Economic Forum's annual summit.

The 20-year-old activist walked outside the Swiss ski resort. She was surrounded by a crowd of journalists, several of whom posed mocking questions. During the whole interview, Greta Thunberg's answers were bizarre.

The Rebel News reported Rebel commander Ezra Levant, British reporter Callum Smiles and Calvin Robinson had the chance to question Thunberg as she walked through the picturesque streets of Davos.

One journalist said: "It's quite cold in Davos, when can I expect a bit of global warming?" Another asked: "Who was filming his arrest in Germany? Because it seemed like you did that in multiple takes, right?"

The Rebel News report concerned the arrest of Thunberg along with other activists on Tuesday during protests against the demolition of a town to make way for the expansion of a coal mine. She was released after an identity check, according to police.

Thunberg responded with a laugh. "It is very likely that the German police and the fossil fuel company RWE [which owns the mine] will make arrests," she said sarcastically.

Is she just a child actress? Who writes her lines? And why should anyone listen to a high school dropout on complex scientific and economic issues? Greta Thunberg was more laughing.

Rebel News

Rebel News (also known as The Rebel Media and The Rebel) is a Canadian right-wing to far-right political and social commentary website operated by Rebel News Network Ltd. It has been described as a "global platform" for anti-Muslim ideology.

It was founded in February 2015 by former Sun News Network personalities Ezra Levant and Brian Lilley. Rebel News broadcasts its content only on the Internet and has been dubbed the Canadian version of Breitbart News. Rebel News has been described as part of the far-right movement.

Former Sun News reporter Faith Goldy joined Rebel News after the launch, but she was fired from it for her coverage of the 2017 Charlottesville rally and for conducting an interview with The Daily Stormer. A co-founder and two freelancers resigned in protest of the coverage. Gavin McInnes, the founder of the far-right neo-fascist organization Proud Boys, was one of the collaborators.

McInnes departed in 2017, then temporarily rejoined the site for a term in 2019. In the midst of the 2021 Canadian federal election, Justin Trudeau accused Rebel News of spreading misinformation, especially regarding COVID-19 vaccines. Rebel News has promoted climate change denial and oil sand mining in Alberta.