THIS IS REAL. (Rudi Caeyers Arctic Photography)
"I've been trying to tell this story for a long time and I feel as if I've failed to get the message across." Al Gore (2006)
"An Inconvenient Truth." Is this just something we feel inclined to shy away from, to avoid the powerful notions of the hugely asked question, well is this really happening to us? Shall we just ignore it a bit longer, because that seems the easiest thing to do.
In the documentary we see Al Gore, previously Vice President of the USA, hit the subject head on.
"There are people who hold this at arms length because if they acknowledge this and recognise this the moral imperative to make the big change is inescapable." Al Gore (2006)
The Climate Change Crisis is something that can no longer be ignored, it rightly so, deserves to be acknowledged, we cannot go on compromising the futures of generations to come, but it is how we go about this that matters. "An Inconvenient Truth" examines Climate Change (CC) in a very disputable way, it is no other than a hugely shocking piece of film, in which Gore uses a large power point with pictures, graphs, maps to portray this, you name it Al Gore has used it (even photographs of dying polar bears make an appearance.) Perhaps this is what we need...
But how much does a politician really know about Climate Science? Al Gore correctly tries to deter the critics by using data to reflect hard facts, referring to the rise in carbon dioxide levels, and the overall heating of the planet. Generally a feeling of exaggeration cannot help to be felt- particularly as he has no qualms about using what I can only describe to be a crane-like lift to demonstrate this drastic warming. Is this being blown out of proportion to gain public attention? Or is this a political tool? One cannot help but question whether he has an ulterior motive. Without the obvious digressions within the film, one could easily be fooled. But its his reminiscence of the 2000 election, and the sly political remarks that are made, that bring light to this. And so I cannot help but doubt the facts. Gore wastes no time showing us the horrendous effects of Hurricane Katrina and ice shelves collapsing, but are glaciers really melting that rapidly, and are sea levels really going to rise by 20ft? Well the answer is yes, but many of these points have been altered, and made a fraction ambiguous.
In may 2007 the documentary was challenged by a high court judge, echoing that Al Gore had actually made 9 "Inconvenient Truths" that were rather inaccurate, or an adjustment from the truth. Here is a link, for those who wish to actually read in detail :
So what does this tell us, well the judge ruled 9 inaccuracies overall, officially. And most of those either seem ambiguous or contentious, so it cannot be proved 100% incorrect or as to whether it was an over exaggeration. However i think it is fair to say that the minor in-discrepancies don't discount the general idea and the majority of the science in it is correct, If anything he offers the point of view towards the worst case scenario, so it is by no means impossible. This is i think in many ways a strength, it was an alarming shock-factor that keeps you engaged, what if it is slightly exaggerated -this is potentially what we need, ideas and scenarios are often what we need to enlighten an interest in something - particularly if they seem a fraction far-fetched, or of the "unlikely" category. Nevertheless "The judge ruled that the film can still be shown in schools, as part of a climate change resources pack, but only if it is accompanied by fresh guidance notes to balance Mr Gore's "one-sided" views." (Adam, D. 2007)
So what? If Gore is trying to gain attention here , putting his political aspirations aside, we all know in one way or another it's worked. Regardless of his motives, the message however, is clear - if we don't do something, then we are compromising the futures of further generations, lets think FIFTY years here, and not five hundred - that's certainly a scary thought, but most certainly a realistic one.
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"You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization. I believe this is a moral issue, it is your time to seize this issue, it is our time to rise again to secure our future." Al Gore
The nine points: fact or fallacy? ( National Geographic)
So what does this tell us, well the judge ruled 9 inaccuracies overall, officially. And most of those either seem ambiguous or contentious, so it cannot be proved 100% incorrect or as to whether it was an over exaggeration. However i think it is fair to say that the minor in-discrepancies don't discount the general idea and the majority of the science in it is correct, If anything he offers the point of view towards the worst case scenario, so it is by no means impossible. This is i think in many ways a strength, it was an alarming shock-factor that keeps you engaged, what if it is slightly exaggerated -this is potentially what we need, ideas and scenarios are often what we need to enlighten an interest in something - particularly if they seem a fraction far-fetched, or of the "unlikely" category. Nevertheless "The judge ruled that the film can still be shown in schools, as part of a climate change resources pack, but only if it is accompanied by fresh guidance notes to balance Mr Gore's "one-sided" views." (Adam, D. 2007)
So what? If Gore is trying to gain attention here , putting his political aspirations aside, we all know in one way or another it's worked. Regardless of his motives, the message however, is clear - if we don't do something, then we are compromising the futures of further generations, lets think FIFTY years here, and not five hundred - that's certainly a scary thought, but most certainly a realistic one.
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Hi Philippa
ReplyDeleteThe beginning of this blog post is very punchy and hard hitting which makes you sit up straight preparing to read on. But the ignorance of the worlds population may not be because they don’t want to know, it could be due to they do not understand the CO2 jargon, which Al Gore breaks down into simple English, so I do agree with you informational shock tactics is what we do need.
After reading how you have interpreted the film within which you feel that Gore may have an ulterior motive, I cant help but once again agree with you, the way he makes sly jokes is his way of knocking at others in government, and they way he is the one explaining to the world what climate change is makes him look like to the public that he knows what he is talking about so they should believe him.
But I have to ask, what did you personally think of the film?
Thanks
I have to say, personally, I think the film is great. Regardless of certain political agendas which may or may not exist; the film in itself is powerful, and very much needed in today's society. Its the wake up call we need.
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