Review: An Inconvenient Truth

I finally got to view An Inconvenient Truth last night via OnDemand. A powerful film. One I recommend that if you have not seen, you MUST SEE. The data speaks for itself. If you don't trust the data, listen to the weather reports from around the world. Is there a place in the world that is NOT experiencing a different weather pattern? Is not experiencing a real dramatic change? One flaw in the movie I find was Al Gore's insistence on going back to his own story to emphasis the political side, even though he clearly states a couple of times that this crisis is not a political but a moral issue. He introduces himself in the film as "once was the next president" and then after the audience chuckles, he goes on to say "I don't find much humor in that". Which is exactly my point! He should focus on the story, on the science, on the stats and the images that state the case. Continuing to make side barbs with a political bent ("she is now a science adviser for the current administration") detracts from the message. You don't get ahead by putting someone down. You get ahead by by sticking to the high road. You don't need to play in the mud with them. The inconvenient truth is that in less than 50 years life, as we know it, will be changed significantly. Low land areas will be underwater as the ocean levels rise. Greenland can melt. Antarctica can melt. This melt would raise the ocean water levels 20 feet. Major population centers around the world; Calcutta, Beijing, Shanghai, the Netherlands, and New Orleans. The 911 Memorial in NYC is projected to be underwater eventually. A good number of us certainly won't be around in 50 years to see this but our children will. What legacy will we leave for them? What life will they have? I find that the problem with the film is the lack of detail on what, if anything, you and I can do to help. There is a clear graphic that shows that existing technology can provide solutions such that if the collection of them were implemented, we would be able to reduce our CO2 creation to levels seen before the 1970's. The 1970's is significant as since then the records show dramatic increases in temperature and reductions in the ice caps in the North and South Pole areas. What can you do? Check out the web site. There are a number of simple things you and I can do. The film blog has been silent since Sep 2006. This is unfortunate. The site does have a section for educators with classroom materials for K-12 grade levels. Free registration required but fortunately, this blog is active. Do something! A little bit will help. All of our little bits will help!