SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
Children operating a rocker at a gold mine on Dominion Creek, Yukon Territory in 1898. The young girl in the foreground looks eerily similar to Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg--with the resemblance setting off a wave of good-natured conspiracy theories. (Photo: University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections)
Is Greta Thunberg a Time Traveler 'Here to Save Us' From Climate Emergency'? 120-Year-Old Photo Sparks Flood of Conspiracy Theories
"Wishing her all the best and success in her mission to save the Earth. We can use [all] the help we can get!"
Nov 20, 2019
Is 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg a time traveler "here to save us" from the global climate emergency?
A photo taken during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon, Canada features a child that so closely resembles the world renowned climate campaigner that some Twitter users initially dismissed it as a fake.
But the 120-year-old photo was sourced to the University of Washington's Special Collections archive, leading many to jokingly conclude that Thunberg is a time traveler who arrived in 2019 to warn the world about the planetary climate crisis.
\u201c120-year-old photo sparks theories that climate activist & environmental heroine, @GretaThunberg , is, in fact, a 'time-travel' who has traveled thru time to save our planet! Wishing her all the best and success in her mission to save the Earth. We can use the help we can get!\u201d— Dean Friedman (@Dean Friedman) 1574300572
So, 'Greta Thunberg' is in a photo from 120 years ago, and it's my new favourite conspiracy. Greta's a time traveller, from the future, and she's here to save us. pic.twitter.com/5ObTjPFXvk
-- Jack - J.S. Strange (@JackSamStrange) November 18, 2019
Thunberg, whose activism sparked a global youth-led climate movement, is currently sailing across the Atlantic after spending more than two months in the United States.
"We had to slow the boat down to avoid some really rough weather ahead, but now we're back on track at full speed," Thunberg tweeted Thursday. "Hopefully we will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal, sometime in early December."
So we know what continent she's headed to now. The only serious question left to consider is this: Will she arrive in time?
Why Your Ongoing Support Is Essential
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
Our work is licensed under Creative Commons (CC BY-NC-ND 3.0). Feel free to republish and share widely.
Is 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg a time traveler "here to save us" from the global climate emergency?
A photo taken during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon, Canada features a child that so closely resembles the world renowned climate campaigner that some Twitter users initially dismissed it as a fake.
But the 120-year-old photo was sourced to the University of Washington's Special Collections archive, leading many to jokingly conclude that Thunberg is a time traveler who arrived in 2019 to warn the world about the planetary climate crisis.
\u201c120-year-old photo sparks theories that climate activist & environmental heroine, @GretaThunberg , is, in fact, a 'time-travel' who has traveled thru time to save our planet! Wishing her all the best and success in her mission to save the Earth. We can use the help we can get!\u201d— Dean Friedman (@Dean Friedman) 1574300572
So, 'Greta Thunberg' is in a photo from 120 years ago, and it's my new favourite conspiracy. Greta's a time traveller, from the future, and she's here to save us. pic.twitter.com/5ObTjPFXvk
-- Jack - J.S. Strange (@JackSamStrange) November 18, 2019
Thunberg, whose activism sparked a global youth-led climate movement, is currently sailing across the Atlantic after spending more than two months in the United States.
"We had to slow the boat down to avoid some really rough weather ahead, but now we're back on track at full speed," Thunberg tweeted Thursday. "Hopefully we will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal, sometime in early December."
So we know what continent she's headed to now. The only serious question left to consider is this: Will she arrive in time?
Is 16-year-old Swedish activist Greta Thunberg a time traveler "here to save us" from the global climate emergency?
A photo taken during the 1898 Klondike Gold Rush in Yukon, Canada features a child that so closely resembles the world renowned climate campaigner that some Twitter users initially dismissed it as a fake.
But the 120-year-old photo was sourced to the University of Washington's Special Collections archive, leading many to jokingly conclude that Thunberg is a time traveler who arrived in 2019 to warn the world about the planetary climate crisis.
\u201c120-year-old photo sparks theories that climate activist & environmental heroine, @GretaThunberg , is, in fact, a 'time-travel' who has traveled thru time to save our planet! Wishing her all the best and success in her mission to save the Earth. We can use the help we can get!\u201d— Dean Friedman (@Dean Friedman) 1574300572
So, 'Greta Thunberg' is in a photo from 120 years ago, and it's my new favourite conspiracy. Greta's a time traveller, from the future, and she's here to save us. pic.twitter.com/5ObTjPFXvk
-- Jack - J.S. Strange (@JackSamStrange) November 18, 2019
Thunberg, whose activism sparked a global youth-led climate movement, is currently sailing across the Atlantic after spending more than two months in the United States.
"We had to slow the boat down to avoid some really rough weather ahead, but now we're back on track at full speed," Thunberg tweeted Thursday. "Hopefully we will arrive in Lisbon, Portugal, sometime in early December."
So we know what continent she's headed to now. The only serious question left to consider is this: Will she arrive in time?
We've had enough. The 1% own and operate the corporate media. They are doing everything they can to defend the status quo, squash dissent and protect the wealthy and the powerful. The Common Dreams media model is different. We cover the news that matters to the 99%. Our mission? To inform. To inspire. To ignite change for the common good. How? Nonprofit. Independent. Reader-supported. Free to read. Free to republish. Free to share. With no advertising. No paywalls. No selling of your data. Thousands of small donations fund our newsroom and allow us to continue publishing. Can you chip in? We can't do it without you. Thank you.