‘An Inconvenient Truth’
If you see only one film this side of the next ice-age, make it An Inconvenient Truth. Please, go out and see it. Make it a priority. Get all your friends to see it. And your politicians, from local government right through to the top.
This well-crafted feature documentary brings to a global audience a ‘slide-show’ which former US Vice President Al Gore says he has given over a thousand times. His polished and absorbing presentation of scientific fact is interwoven with glimpses into Gore’s private life and motivation as an environmentalist (endless shots of him driving cars and catching planes, notwithstanding).
It brings home with shattering force that the theft of the 2000 US Presidential election by George W. Bush was not just an outrage, it was a tragedy. A tragedy for all of us affected by the agenda at the White House, which is all of us. It was a turning point in human history, and in the history of at least half of all remaining species.
The wronged candidate in that race, Al Gore, aims his film primarily at climate-skeptics, but everyone should see it to help get their facts straight and their belly-fire stoked. It’s a persuasive, moving account of the gravity and urgency of our collective predicament, with impressive scope for its 107 minutes.
It was nearly 20 years ago that I first learnt about global warming in high-school geography. It was presented as uncontroversial fact. Though not with the dramatic sequelae of consequences, or the oratorial flair of Gore’s film. Why has it taken so long for a public response to gather momentum?
Gore’s film stops short of exposing the reasons why the 2000 election was such a travesty of democracy in Florida, or why popular media tend to present climate change as a contested theory, failing to report the complete unanimity of scientific opinion on the matter. Who stands to gain from public confusion and inaction? (Well might we ask, Who Killed the Electric Car?) Instead, Gore calls for worldwide public action to cement political will.
It can be frustrating, confusing and perhaps immobilising to be faced with a multitude of complex, urgent concerns. Some days I feel convinced that labour rights and fair trade will provide the ‘big answer’ to the mess the world is in, while other times I think we need to focus more on education and health, still other times I think that women’s rights, or children’s rights have to take front seat. Of course, all rights are interrelated, indivisible, so it’s a false choice. But the appalling truth is that none of it will matter if we all get wiped out in a tumult of unnatural disasters.
The emerging field of environmental (human) rights falls into two categories: (1) prevent and clean up environmental pollutants, such as greenhouse gases and (2) ensure democratic and non-discriminatory use of natural resources by present and future generations. From both angles, climate change is a human rights concern.
Despite the Australian Government having no strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, I was heartened by a recent poll that placed climate change ahead of terrorism as a concern to Australians. Says Lowy Institute director, Allan Gyngell, "This has become mainstream; it’s no longer just an issue for Greens and people dressed up in koala suits." Whew.
The day after seeing An Inconvenient Truth, I called my state and federal MP and asked whether they had seen the film. And I will continue calling every day until they have, and then ask them what they’re going to do about it.
What are you going to do? Here are some more ideas to save energy and the planet:
- replace light globes with compact flourescents
- drive less, car pool, cycle, walk, use collective transport
- keep car tyres properly inflated to improve fuel efficiency
- reduce, re-use, recycle
- use less hot water, e.g., use the cold cycle on your washing machine
- choose products with less packaging and take your own shopping bags
- adjust your thermostat up 2 degrees in summer and down 2 degrees in winter
- plant trees
- turn off electric appliances when not in use
And go to see An Inconvenient Truth.
Australian cinema-goers may like to take advantage of this offer: keep your ticket from ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ and post it to
Intrepid Travel Ticket Offer
360 Bourke Street, Melbourne, VIC, 3000
to have the ticket price refunded. See: http://www.intrepidtravel.com/inconvenienttruth
I feel this issue is starting to develop some long awaited momentum – see the Channel 7 Sunrise program website and their online petition – Cool the Globe, which calls on the Australian Government to continue solar electricity rebates. Even if you don’t watch Sunrise – sign the petition!
Mark International Day of Action on Climate Change on Saturday 4 November (11 November in Africa) by joining a Walk Against Warming. There will be Walks all over Australia and in at least 44 other countries. It’s important to demonstrate to governments how many people care about this issue.