Un inconvenient truth, at a very convenient time

A couple of nights ago we watched "An inconvenient truth", Al Gore's so called documentary (and oscar recipient!!).

Well.. I am trying to find kind words for it. But I just can't.

The thing is absolutely pathetic. Very much Al Gore. Unfortunately.

Don't misunderstand me. I truly believe there is something to this Global Warming deal. And I am all for treating this Earth in a decent way. I just don't think Al Gore did justice to the matter.

First of all, he gives a very poor explanation of the matter. I guess that could be related to the limits of using a movie for this purpose. I mean, you probably can't give too many technical details and keep the audience awake.
However he doesn't seem to spare some self-praising stuff, and I really think that's my biggest pet peeve with the movie. He spends half of the movie portraying himself as this wonderful guy who is sooo sensitive to the matter, "for our future generations", and trying so hard to pull heart strings with his somewhat emotional recollections of his growing up years.
And then he also gives not too veiled hints of the poor job the current government is doing (and past Repubblican administrations did). The thing is they are just that, hints. I don't recall him ever really saying what exactly this administration is doing wrong -- at least have the guts to speak up!! Don't be sneaky!

I have a few questions.

According to him we as individuals can do a lot to decrease the emission of CO2 (which -- still according to him -- is causing the warming). Good. So, what is the government supposed to do exactly? Impose on us those choices? I guess that's an option if most of the people are for it (which I seriously doubt)

Still on the government topic -- what exactly did the Clinton administration do to make this country environmentally conscious? What solutions were proposed or, better, applied and enforced? My personal experience (VERY limited, I admit) is that when I moved to the States, to the little town I still live in, the city garbage service did not collect recyclable stuff. That was 10 yrs ago, during Clinton's administration. A few years later they started doing it, during the first Bush administration.. uhm.. I am sure this is not a significant example and very much related to local policies. Still, I wonder what, if anything, did the Clinton era accomplish in this area...
Do I need to remind anybody that at the time Al Gore was vice President? From what he says in the movie he's been involved in dealing with Global Warming since his college years. And the rate the CO2 is increasing in the last couple of decades has been impressive. He also hints to the fact it wouldn't take too long to decrease it. Why didn't we hear of these actions in the 8 years he was in charge? Why did we waste 8 precious years doing nothing to prevent this catastrophe?

More questions/perplexities.

In the movie he explains that global warming is basically quite normal, but the worrisome factor is that in recent years the temperatures have increased drammatically (and proportionally to the CO2 increased emissions). He even states that the warming has been going on for billions of years. I find that hard to prove.

Photos taken in the past of mountains covered with snow are shown in the movie. And then more recent photos of those same mountains with not much snow. (He also shows the beautiful Italian Alps) Well.. could it be that those pictures were taken in different seasons? Just a thought, maybe a stupid one..

One of the suggestions he makes to decrease CO2 emissions is less use of cars. Uhm.. For a third of the movie he's in a car, driving the filming crew around the places where he grew up (by the way, how many takes did they have to do for those scenes?). Surely he could have taken a nice walk! Maybe use a bike or a carriage, a horse ride? A little too much consistency?

Recently it has been brought to the public attention that Al Gore's Nashville mansion (20-room, 8-bathroom home) consumes more electricity in a month than an average american uses in a year. His spokesperson never denied it (by the way, why does he need a spokesperson for this??); but, the truly annoying thing to me is that the same spokesperson basically said that Gore gives much to the cause, balancing out his outrageos energy consumption. WHAT???? It's like being someone who says "I'll kill someone today and tomorrow I'm going to impregnate a woman so everything will be even and balanced". Again, asking for a little too much consistency??
(I haven't read this whole article, but it looks interesting: http://www.suntimes.com/news/steyn/281949,CST-EDT-STEYN04.article)

Gore makes such a big point on how quickly the Earth will be in big trouble and how that will affect future generations. He considers this whole matter the "most important moral, ethical, spiritual and political issue mankind has ever faced". Uhm, again. Ok, I can see it is an important matter. And I can see it can affect our children in a serious way. But, let's talk hypothetically: how much quicker could, say, a hypothetical crazy country leader, from, say, a hypothetical country like Iran, with, say, hypothetical nuclear weapons.. -- how much quicker could that affect my children?


I guess my whole point is that, to me, the movie was poorly made for the cause of Global Warming. But I've got to admit it is greatly executed for the Al Gore's cause. The timing is also very interesting. He keeps saying he's not going to run for President (may he keep his word, for once), however the timing makes you wonder if he's just checking the temperature, so to speak.
Using a hot topic (in every sense :) ), presented with a well done movie, that also won the oscar (ah! those Hollywood renowned scientists of the Academy!) can increase your popularity tremendously.

Bottom line is -- this is a very self serving movie. It may have some basis, but this particular documentary, in the end, is a great platform for Mr. Al Gore, who used to be the next President of the USA. May he continue to keep that title.

Environmentally friendly Nat.

PS. I have to add a note for those of us who call themselves Christians. Please use discernment, the one that the One grants us if we ask. Yes, let's take care of this Earth. Yes, let's be good stewards of the World God has given us. But, please let's not forget that this Earth will end. No matter what we do, there is going to be a generation that won't see the raising of the next one.
And maybe we should worry more about the Eternal Global Warming.
Starting with me, who sometimes tends to forget about it.