An Inconvenient Truth

[Thomcat]

Please go and see it.

An Inconvenient Truth

other thread on it

Quick wave to you there TC

Thanks Marina.

Thought people would be more receptive tbh. The film had quite an effect on me and I'm feeling all fired up. It's so sad that some peoples attitudes are 'oh well, we're all fucked anyway so what can we do about it'.

I think unfortunately a certain amount of scepticism in the UK about American politicians in general is going to colour people's perceptions of the worth of the film. Al Gore is not ranty and trendy like Michael Moore, and it doesn't help that many of us remember his poor dear nutty wife Tipper and the stuff about record lyrics .
I would guess also that, with some justification, the USA and its enduring refusal to engage with the Kyoto Agreement is still seen as a refusenik villain in the whole issue of global warming. So some European viewers might resent being told off about it all by such a major public figure in the US?
That said, I think it makes Gore's film and campaign all the more significant and interesting. I wish him luck with it

Yes I agree about the Kyoto agreement and Al Gore raises this in the film. There are many states in the US that are doing their bit independently but many many more still to take action.

But if you remove the US side of it, and Al Gore, the facts still remain.

Raising our awareness - if only for that short time sets a shift for universal consciousness.

If we all do believe we can do something then remember that we are only at 6 degrees of separation, its the ripple effect, its knowing that what we do know in our personal worlds affects the next 7 generations forward in our families. If we all tell our families and friends now, and they spread the knowledge so on and so forth, change can occur.

The scariest fact for me - in 635,000 years of history of the planet - its the last 20 years that have made the most impact in CO2 emissions. I've been on the planet that long, probably not playing my part and can't dump the blame just at someone else's door!! Time to make my reviews!!

Meanwhile, India and China hum along w/NO thought to the enviroment - the latter even using coal to power industry . . .

Well quite expat. Very worrying USA is not the only non-player. In fact the UK hasn't done too brilliantly so far either although we are trying and we did at least sign at Kyoto

thomcat- left a message on your other thread- good on you, and vote vote vote.

Just looked at the link...and the film won't be shown near us...the nearest venue, as far as I could make out is Cambridge...but once it comes out on DVD I will get it...I am sure es will be very interested in it too...they talk a lot about environmental issues at school, etc...

Expat - it's true that China are opening a new coal fired power station every 5 days at the moment(!!), but I believe that they are on target to have 15% of their energy produced by renewables by 2010, whereas the UK is only aspiring to 10% so they are ahead of us in some ways. It's not all gloom and doom. China's environmentalism is growing along with its economy too. If we can persuade developed countries (ie us and the US) to take climate change seriously, then there are vast resources of goodwill in the developing world to draw on too.

Totally agree that the film is worth seeing - or at least sending along your friends and family who aren't yet convinced, so that they get the message!

Our local cinema has organised a discussion group to follow the film, so that people can stay and talk about what they might like to do about it all - seems a great idea, rather than sending everyone away depressed/frustrated.

dh won't go and see this as he says it shows polar bears dying and he would be too upset is that true tc?

The polar bears are a cartoon representation, not the real thing CD, and it is only a short bit - not turned into a tear jerker at all.

The polar bears are a cartoon representation, not the real thing CD, and it is only a short bit - not turned into a tear jerker at all.

I would like to see it, but find environmental advice from a prominent US policitician hard to swallow.

Afterall, aren't North America responsible for the largest % of CO2 emmissions ? I read a recent statistic that was something along the lines of "The USA only amounts to 16% (or something in the teens) of the World's population BUT they produce 33% (or something in the 30s) of C02". Hmmmm. Sort out your own shit before laying it my doorstep please, Mr Gore.

To be fair to Al Gore, he's saying that "I was wrong...".
Consistency is often the enemy of integrity.

Sadly people think America is somehow unquely evil.

Here's a little puzzle.
Imagine that GW Bush persuades God to make all American vehicles run on the power of his divine will. No one millgramme of carbon dioxide produced.

How long would it be until global CO2 emissions were at the same level ?

Went to Florida in November a few years back and there were streets and streets of houses with the full works of Christmas lighting displays in their gardens - which would presumably be left on for over a month. Dh informed me that it was because they don't pay for the electricity they use, just a set fee - do they still do this?

Wrt the attitude "we're doomed anyway" I think we probably are. But I want to be able to look my sons in the eye when they're older and say I tried to do my bit. So I drive a 67mpg car, recycle, shop for local food, use the right light bulbs, switch off instead of stand by, use the clothes maiden instead of tumble drying etc. Will still look to do more though.

Haven't seen the film but would like to as it's good to get a reminder sometimes of why you make an effort.