No improvement in climate fight since 2006 film: Gore

Monday • April 21, 2008

Nobel Peace Prize-winner Al Gore said in an interview published Monday that there had been no improvement in the fight against climate change since his Oscar-winning film on the issue was released.

Speaking to The Sun tabloid, the former US vice-president said that the situation had instead gotten worse since his documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" hit cinemas in 2006.

"I have to say the situation has not improved since I made the movie in 2006," Gore told the paper.

"Sure, awareness has grown and more people are concerned since scientists said we had just 10 years to take action to halt rising sea levels. But the situation has got worse. The entire North Polar ice cap is melting and could be gone in some areas in as little as five years.

"You have to ask what would it take to set off the alarm bells to make this a top-of-mind priority in the body politic.

"If you had told me a few years ago that we would be facing a situation where the entire North Polar ice cap was going to imminently disappear, I might have thought we'd certainly get people's attention, and yet only to a limited degree." — AFP

http://www.todayonline.com/articles/249521.asp

So, does he get it now, that the only way he's going to be able to make the kinds of changes that are needed is for him to be President? :rolleyes:

Then there's the statement I'm told he made at the TED talks in February. When asked if he was frustrated by knowing that he could have a bigger impact on climate change as president, his answer was "You have no idea." You can view the video here: http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/243

Unfortunately, my computer's screwed up so I can't view any videos, but someone told me that's what he said in the TED talk. :blink:

EM, I just got thru watching the video. That's the first question that was asked to him and he does say "You have no idea."

He was really fired up in this presentation. To hear him speak, it just always blows me away. He spoke with such a sense of urgency. What indeed will it take for people to realize the sense of urgency of the climate crisis?

I just hope we'll get this brokered convention and get Al as our nominee. :Y: He's the best one to address the climate crisis as well as other problems we face.

It's odd to me that he said what you say he said in the video, TFG, because how many times have we heard him say in interviews that he thinks he can serve better in other ways (besides being president)? He's been specifically asked that question over and over, some version of "Couldn't you bring about more change if you were president?" and his answer has always been that he thinks he can do more by NOT being president. Maybe it's finally beginning to sink in that he called that one incorrectly? Ever since the release of AIT, he's been saying that global warming would be a major topic of discussion among the candidates. First he said it last summer, saying that by November (of 2007) it'd be the #1 topic of discussion. Well, that didn't happen, so recently I heard him say that by this coming November (around the election, I guess), it would be the #1 topic of discussion.

Al, you know I think the world of you, and your prescience and wisdom astound me, but I think you've got this one wrong. If climate change is going to become the priority it needs to be, YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO BE PRESIDENT.

It's that simple.

You know, EM, one thing Al expressed in this presentation is that global warming has still not gotten the attention that is needed. He said that sure, awareness has been raised about it, but that people are not treating it with the sense of urgency that it needs to be treated with.

He also pointed out, I believe it was during the midterm elections in 2006, that of all the questions asked on each major network about various issues, that on each network, only a couple were about global warming (out of 600 - 800 questions). That is terrible! And that global warming concerns still ranks near the bottom of the list!!

As for his response to the question - I wasn't sure if he was talking about the fact that he didn't get the Presidency in 2000 and is frustrated by that or that he choose not to run in 2008. But he still conveys the idea that he could have made a bigger impact as President. Maybe he is beginning the rethink his feelings that he could have gotten more done inside the White House because we're sure not making much progress now. :!:

Breaking news...

Gore is going to make a sequel to "An Inconvenient Truth" because the situation is so urgent and, while awareness has been greatly increased since 2006 saw the release of "An Inconvenient Truth", nothing has changed or at least, things are not changing fast enough to actually slow and turn around global climate change and we are gradually approaching a time when that will be too late. So, hopefully, the sequel will focus on concrete things we can do and must do to change the sitch:

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/003200804211940.htm

Here's another article and if you click on the link, you can vote yes or no for the sequel.

http://www.ecorazzi.com/2008/04/21/gore-co...h-in-the-works/

Gore Confirms Sequel To An Inconvenient Truth In The Works

We’ve long speculated that there would be, but now The Sun is quoting Al Gore as saying that a sequel to An Inconvenient Truth is going to happen. Who’s ready to start waiting in line right now? From the article

“The former US Vice President said: ‘I will make a sequel to the 2006 documentary ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and despite earths ‘rising fever’, I am hopeful for a happy ending”. However, he admitted that the situation had instead got worse since his documentary hit cinemas in 2006. Gore said: ‘I have to say the situation has not improved since I made the movie in 2006. Sure, awareness has grown and more people are concerned since scientists said we had just ten years to take action to halt rising sea levels,’ was quoted as saying by The Sun.”

Gore’s first documentary was a critical and box-office success — with some crediting the film for seriously increasing the momentum of today’s environmental movement. The former VP’s fears, however, are justified as a recent Gallup poll showed only 1/3 of Americans are concerned about climate change — the same number as measured 19 years ago!

Will Gore’s next film on the topic draw people into the theaters for another dose of climate change education? Or should he stick to other methods for informing people? What do you think?


Are you excited about the potential for a sequel to AIT?

Yes, bring it! (70%)
No. Been there, done that. He should try another angle. (25%)
Only if Gary Busey is in it. (5%)
Total Votes: 20

Thanks for alerting us all to the poll, ALGOREismylife, and Happy Earth Day!