A lawmaker in New Zealand jeered a 25-year-old rival after she used her age to make a point about climate change and elicited a stinging remark that’s now going viral.
Green Party member of Parliament Chlöe Swarbrick was on Tuesday heckled by a National Party MP less than a minute into her address on the country’s efforts to combat the climate crisis, reported New Zealand’s Stuff website.
“In the year 2050, I will be 56 years old. Yet, right now, the average age of this 52nd parliament is 49 years old,” she said, before being interrupted.
“OK Boomer,” Swarbrick quickly fired back, before continuing with her speech.
Check out the video here:
According to Swarbrick, she received backlash for the retort ― which The New York Times’ Taylor Lorenz last month explained had become millennials’ and Generation Z’s go-to response to “the problem of older people who just don’t get it” with regards to issues including financial inequality and climate change. “Boomer” is a reference to the baby boomer generation, or those born between 1946 and 1964.
“Today I have learnt that responding succinctly and in perfect jest to somebody heckling you about *your age* as you speak about the impact of climate change on *your generation* with the literal title of their generation makes some people very mad,” she wrote on Facebook in response to the video.
“So I guess millennials ruined humor. That, or we just need to pull ourselves up by our bootstraps and abstain from avocados,” she added, referencing an oft-suggested and misguided financial tip for younger generations. “That’s the joke.”
The New Zealand Parliament’s social media team also apparently didn’t get the memo about the “OK Boomer” meme, as it incorrectly subtitled her response as “OK, Berma.” It later apologized for the gaffe on Twitter:
We apologise for the error, and have updated the captions accordingly. Clearly we need to start doing all-office meme briefings. Cordially, - the @nzparliament social media team https://t.co/RbNNtmE64Z
What does cooking have to do with plastic? Everything. If you can cook a quick meal, that means no more plastic bags of plastic containers with takeout food, plastic-wrapped forks and knives, and mini plastic packets of soy sauce. It means no more plastic trays of microwave meals too. If you are looking for guidance, the Not Eating Out in New York blog or the book “The Art of Eating In” by Cathy Erway can give you some great guidance.
Forget About Plastic Water Bottles
If you’re reading this, you probably already know that this is one of the most worthless types of plastic out there. Until more towns start banning water bottles, we just need to get creative on how to cut them out of our lives. Most say the best way to stop using water bottles is to buy your own reusable bottle. But what about when you run out of water? There’s an app for that, of course. TapIt let’s you look up restaurants and cafes near you that will fill up your water bottle for you. Right now it’s only in NYC, but the team wants to expand across the US. There’s a similar one coming to Vancouver. In any case, it can't hurt to walk in a place and ask. What if you’re caught out without your trusty steel water bottle? It’s happened to all of us. That’s where the increasingly rare water fountain comes in. Encourage - no, demand – that public places like train stations, concert and sports venues, and especially parks install more water fountains so people don’t feel the need to shell out for a silly water bottle every time they’re caught without their own. Finally, it’s important to do what you can to protect tap water. When you’ve got places with tap water that can be lit on fire, you know water bottle consumption is filling the gap. Take action against polluting industries like coal burning and fracking so that you can fill up your glass over and over without fear.
Make Your Own Food Products
This is a bit different from cooking. Easier, in fact. With some basic knowledge and a food processor, you can make almost everything you find sold in the store. Peanut butter, mayonnaise, ketchup, pesto, salsa and guacamole, icing, or really any condiment at all is a cinch to make. If you’re feeling more ambitious, you can try tomato sauce, jam, or pickling. After all, canning is what all the cool kids are doing these days. For every thing you learn how to make yourself, you avoid purchasing a plastic-packaged equivalent, saving yourself money in the process. You’ll also know what is going into those food products, instead of the indecipherable ingredients on some processed foods.
Go Vintage And Hand-Made
I don’t know why you would need another reason to peruse Etsy or a flea market, but here it is: people did quite well without plastic for a long time, and it shows in vintage goods. Try the endearing mason jar for all of your drinking cup, food storage, and even hand soap dispenser needs. Snatch up old porcelain and metal hooks for your home, adorable kids toys that are free of the Made In China stamp on the bottom, and lovely worn frames.
Say No To Freebies
Take a moment and count up everything you got “free” today. It gets foisted upon us from every direction, and then we are left to figure out what to do with it. Every time you take a free plastic toy with your meal, a free pharma pen, or a free travel-size shampoo bottle, it's one more piece of plastic floating around in the world. Decrease demand for items like these with a "No Thanks!"
Carry A Reusable Bag
We all know by now that plastic bags are wreaking havoc on the ocean and environment. Like water bottles, until they get fully banned or taxed, you’ll have to forge ahead in your own no-plastic-bag campaign. Remember, reusable bags aren’t just for the grocery store; they’re for clothes shopping, the pharmacy, the liquor or wine shop, or carrying out the wrapped-up leftovers from your favorite restaurant. There are even reusable bags just for produce and bulk shopping. With all these opportunities for stealthy cashiers to slip you a plastic bag, it pays to be prepared. Dump the bulky grocery reusable bags and keep a little fold-up one with you in your purse, briefcase, or European carryall. You’ll feel like a magician unfurling it and triumphantly declaring “I have my own bag, thanks!”
Know The Recycling Rules
Even the most hard-core, zero-waste advocates find themselves with plastic from time to time. That’s when it pays to know what your local recycling municipality will take. I used to throw everything that looked plastic into the bin, thinking it would be sorted out in the end. Boy, was I wrong. Putting an unacceptable piece in there can ruin the whole batch, causing it all to get thrown out. Check out the number on the bottom, or get a comprehensive guide from your city or town that will tell you what items are ok. (Drink cups? Container lids? Toys?) Better yet, turn a scrutinizing eye on what you buy in the first place. Knowing that straw isn’t recyclable might spur you to sip your smoothie instead.
Affluent Americans may want to double-check how much of their bank deposits are protected by government-backed insurance. The rules governing trust accounts just changed.
Former NBA guard Darius Morris has died at the age of 33. He played for five teams during his four NBA seasons. Morris played college basketball at Michigan.
Ohtani tagged Braves ace Max Fried for a two-run shot in the first inning, then hit a solo shot in the eighth as the Dodgers prevailed in a battle of NL favorites.
Budgeting apps can help you keep track of your finances, stick to a spending plan and reach your money goals. These are the best budget-tracking apps available right now.
