‘An inconvenient truth’ Al Gore moviestar

“Intellectually exhilarating….a necessary film” A. O. Scott, New York Times

The website RealClimate says ?It is an inspiring film, and is decidedly non-partisan in its outlook (though there are a few subtle references to the Bush administration?s lack of leadership on this and other environmental issues).?It seems the film is a “very good slide show?..on the science of global warming?.in the vein of Carl Sagan (lots of beautiful imagery, and some very slick graphics and digital animation)”?.. interspersed with personal reflections from Gore that add a ?very nice’ human element…..

• Gore in the classroom in 1968, listening to the great geochemist Roger Revelle describe the first few years of data on carbon dioxide increases in the atmosphere;
• Gore on the family farm, talking about his father?s tobacco business, and how he shut it down when his daughter (Al Gore?s sister) got lung cancer;
• Gore on the campaign trail, and his disappointment at the Supreme Court decision;
• Gore, clearly in his element, talking about something he has cared deeply about for over 30 years.
• How well does the film handle the science? Admirably……

Gore asks us to ‘take action‘:

• Reduce our impact at home;
• Reduce our impact while on the move;
• Help bring about change locally, nationally, internationally;
• Download 10 simple steps….

The website quotes US social crusader Upton Sinclair saying “It is DIFFICULT to get a man to understand something when his salary depends on his NOT UNDERSTANDING IT”. This is PRECISELY what Al Gore is attempting to do – educate the public about global warming AND to create the political will necessary for the US to take the lead in efforts to lower global carbon emissions.

FYI Upton Sinclair was a Californina novelist and social crusader who pioneered the kind of journalism known as ‘muckraking’. His novel “The Jungle” was an expose of the appalling and unsanitary conditions in the meat-packing industry- it was influential in obtaining passage of the Pure Food and Drug Act.