"It's not a political issue, it's a moral issue."

[InvisibleTouch]

So says Al Gore about global climate change in "An Inconvenient Truth," which I finally had the chance to see yesterday. I would take that a step further and say: It's not a political issue or a moral issue - it's an issue of plain old-fashioned self-preservation.

My educational background is in the biological and geological sciences, and I've interacted with some of the people who have done those ice-core studies, so the facts that were presented are not new to me (as they're surely not new to anyone who reads and educates themselves, scientist or no), but the presentation, the visual impact, was exceptional. I very much recommend this movie to anyone, even if you feel you "already know this stuff." You'll still pick up something that's new to you; for instance, I didn't realize that 40% of the world's human population depends on meltwater from the Himalayas for their water supply. What happens when those glaciers disappear?

The disappearing ice sheets in Antarctica and Greenland, the receding alpine glaciers, the projected sea level rise (flooded areas of Florida, Asia, etc., home to millions), disappearing inland seas, were all very powerful visuals. The most horrifying image to me, though, was of the exhausted polar bear trying to climb up on a small ice floe - and having it break apart underneath him. Then all around him is an endless expanse of ocean. I had seen those headlines, of course, and just couldn't bring myself to read the articles. Now it's burned visually into my brain. It's a scenario so horrific to me that I've been trying to rid myself of the mental image ever since. I'd love to convince myself that this just isn't true - but of course, that doesn't help.

Those who most need to see this movie, of course, are those who don't know this information, or only have an inkling, or think we have plenty of time and it's not so drastic - or have been brainwashed to believe it's all a "hoax." The wonderful Mark Twain quote given in the movie is relevant here: "We won't get in trouble from what we don't know - it's what we know for sure that just ain't so."

If I have one complaint with this film, it's that it lays out the problem very clearly, but doesn't offer concrete suggestions for what we as individuals can do. This used to be my complaint with Nova and National Geographic specials, too, which graphically illustrated disappearing species and environments, but didn't offer ideas as to what we could individually do to help. Far from being spurred to action, this leaves the viewer (this viewer, anyway) feeling overwhelmed and hopeless. Give ideas for what we ourselves can do, however, and it gives everyone a place to start. Even if it's something seemingly small, like switching to fluorescent light bulbs or recycling. There's a list somewhere that shows how much energy is saved by recycling just one aluminum can or glass bottle, by changing just one lightbulb from incandescent to fluorescent. It makes more of a difference than you might think. There's another wonderful quote, which I see floating around in sig lines here occasionally (and I forget who said it), but it goes "No one made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do but little."

There is a brief list of options and calls to action at the movie's end, during the credits, but that's just text (not as powerful as visuals, or even a voice-over), and a lot of people don't sit through the end credits. Even in the group I was with, they turned off the DVD when the credits started, until someone who'd seen the film before asked to run the ending again, so we could read the info. The relevant web site is http://www.climatechange.net - but as of this time I don't see a clearly defined link for learning more about a carbon-neutral lifestyle. This is going to be what's really important for each of us, if we wish to make a difference.

Finally, I was struck by Gore's determination in getting this message out. He said he'd given his slide presentation over 1000 times (surely many more times by now, since the making of the movie), and he admitted to frustration in trying to get the message out to more people. He said he was doing it one talk at a time, one person at a time. And yes, that's important and effective - but how much more effective would it be, if he could present these facts from the platform of a Presidential office? It's like the difference between going door-to-door with a message, and putting a 30-second commercial on TV. The latter reaches far more people in much less time. What Gore seriously needs to do is run for President in '08. I understand his reluctance, and his sense that he'd be constrained by various forces from pursuing this issue if he had to make himself electable to various groups of constituents - but I think he just needs to leave all of that aside, ignore every advisor, and charge full-steam ahead. We don't have time anymore to pander to this group or that group, to worry about each demographic's favorite issues, to water down the message in hopes of offending as few voters as possible. We've come to the point of decision. We either save the planet - or we all go down with it. Every other issue is secondary.

Some links to finish up:

An Inconvenient Truth, the movie:
http://www.amazon.com/Inconvenient-Truth-Al-Gore/dp/B000ICL3KG/sr=8-1/qid=1166377862/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-5512430-4778318?ie=UTF8&s=dvd

An Inconvenient Truth, the book:
http://www.amazon.com/Inconvenient-Truth-Planetary-Emergency-Warming/dp/1594865671/sr=8-2/qid=1166377862/ref=pd_bbs_sr_2/104-5512430-4778318?ie=UTF8&s=books
(I have not read the book yet, so I cannot say how it may or may not differ from the movie, whether it gives more action points and such. I plan to find it in the near future.)

The Day After Tomorrow, the movie:
http://www.amazon.com/Day-After-Tomorrow-Widescreen/dp/B00005JMXX/sr=8-1/qid=1166378066/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-5512430-4778318?ie=UTF8&s=dvd
(This is a fictionalized account, of course, and meant as popular entertainment, but the message is very powerful. Yes, it really could happen that fast, even if it doesn't happen in exactly that way.)

The Coming Global Superstorm:
http://www.amazon.com/Coming-Global-Superstorm-Art-Bell/dp/0743470656/sr=8-1/qid=1166378161/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1/104-5512430-4778318?ie=UTF8&s=books
(The book upon which the above movie was based. It's written by self-admitted non-scientists, and their speculation about what's possible or likely is off in at least a couple of places, but none the less this is an extremely thought-provoking book that hasn't gotten the recognition it deserves.)

[nam78_two]

1. K&R.nt

[InvisibleTouch]

2. Thanks! n/t

[Cessna Invesco Palin]

3. It is a very powerful movie.

And you're right, it doesn't present a solution. I don't think that was the intention. This movie, and Gore's presentation, are meant as a sort of first step. Remember that, "the first step is admitting that you have a problem," from all of those 12-step programs. The movie is intended to get people to think. Those who do think will find ways to act.
I saw it on a flight from LA to London. And you know what? I now purchase carbon offsets for all of my flights.

http://www.carbonresponsible.com

I never used to do this. Hell, I'm an environmentalist, but even I need a kick in the ass once in a while.

[ret5hd]

4. Why no one gives concrete suggestions...

It is a matter of simple (ok, maybe not so simple) math.

1) Determine a minimum acceptable standard of living for everyone on earth

2) Calculate the amount of energy needed to maintain that standard

3) Realize there isn't enough oil, natural gas, food, etc to maintain that standard for more than a few decades

4) Redetermine and lower #1

5) Repeat steps 1-4 until 3 doesn't happen. (a truly sustainable standard of living)

6) At this point, recognize that you need to get rid of your car(s), goods imported from around the world, synthetic fertilizers and pesticides, plastics, etc etc etc.


I know this is oversimplified, and is not talking about global warming or pollution. But it does point out that regardless of the yardstick, we consume too much. We won't get to where we need to be by using fluorescent bulbs (which i do) or by lowering the thermostat (which i do) or by putting extra insulation in the attic (which i am going to do). It will take a complete change of lifestyle and society.

And we can't talk about that. Because we deserve what we have. God owes it to us.

[InvisibleTouch]

5. You're right that it would take a drastic drastic change of lifestyle...

...in the developed nations, to really do this thing right and do it fast. Such a change may be forced upon us whether we like it or not. But to do it voluntarily, all in one step - well, most people won't. Even avowed environmentalists won't give up their car if they need it to get to work and feed their families, and there's no other means of getting there. That's why we need to start with relatively painless changes and lead up to bigger ones. Start changing the mindset, keep pointing out the drastic consequences in our very near future, and those bigger changes start looking less and less extreme.

Perhaps a sequel to the movie is in order, with an action-oriented focus?

[InvisibleTouch]

6. Gratuitous self-kick. n/t