Nov 26, 2006 12:04 PM
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Majority of us asked this question one time or other - Is Global Warming real? If yes then how worse it is? If crisis is getting worse then how we can prevent further damage? If we can prevent damages then how can we reverse it? Al Gore, A long time environmentalist and former US Vice-president as deputy of Bill Clinton unleash answers of all questions and myths regarding Global Warming with his new documentary-movie called An Inconvenient Truth (2006).
As far as movie, it was eye-opener at least for the person like me who is illiterate about Global Warming issues. Al Gore uses all theories, facts, charts, graphs, known quotes, practical jokes to convey his message regarding what's causing Global Warming issues, how Global Warming issues are must be taken seriously, and what we can do to prevent further damage to save our beloved earth and environment for future generations.
Movie begins with Al Gore standing on stage at the backdrop of giant widescreen explaining how beautiful our earth is and how it looks like from earth. Within five minutes Al Gore explains basic theory behind Global Warming for dummies. He explains basic theory of how sun rays penetrating on earth to make sure earth's temperature stay normal (doesn't freeze like Ice age) and maintains proper environment for vegetation, animals, and humans. He explains importance of outer layer which denies sunrays reflecting back to the outer space and how pollution, population, carbon dioxide thickens that layer and how it prevents more and more sunrays going back to the outer space and what kind of damage has done by sunrays in last 30 years and what's potential damage we should anticipate in the future.
Within half-an-hour into the movie, you know that Al Gore is not lying and he is not part of any propaganda. He is explaining facts supported by proofs like actual images taken in last 30 years world wide, recent catastrophes all over the world, or computer generated theories. Al Gore shows us lakes are shrinking. He shows us earth's shocking “before and after” images of different parts of Himalaya in Asia, Alps in Europe, Andes in South America, Rocky Mountains in North America, Kilimanjaro in Africa to demonstrate glaciers are retreating. I have just been to Canadian Rockies and seen how much glaciers are retreated in last 100 years through my eyes.
Al Gore shows us dramatic images of Antarctica where snow is melting faster than what scientists think and their shorelines are retreating. He also provides us statistics - South America experienced its first hurricane in 2005, 10 warmest years in history were in the last 14 years with 2005 is hottest to date, Pacific setting records for typhoons, Atlantic setting records for hurricanes, US is setting records for twisters, Flooding in Mumbai India in 2005 with 37 inches of rain in 24 hours, Europe had biggest heat wave in centuries in 2003 killing more than 45000 people, and Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans in 2005. He shows us if ice on North Pole and Antarctica melt then sea level will rise and how biggest cities on world like New York, San Francisco, Calcutta, Shanghai, Tokyo, Beijing will be flooded by water leaving traces of aftermath or how low regions like Denmark will be wiped out from world map. He also shows us aftereffects of Global Warming on ecosystems when species like polar bear will be extincted when there is no ice on earth.
Al Gore explains population and pollution numbers are going out of chart. It took more than 10000 years to reach world population to 2 billion. With in last 50 years, it crossed 4 billion and after baby boomer generation, it will cross 8 billion in next 50 years. In short, with in one human lifetime of 100 years by 2050, world’s population will be 4 times of what it took 10000 years. As population increases, need more supply of water, food, shelter. Humans are moving into jungles creating serious issues like greenhouse effect. Carbon dioxide is all-time high and going out of chart. Studies say carbon dioxide retains temperature on earth. Higher concentration of carbon dioxide will harbor higher temperature. He also explains theory of how heat will stay on earth by explaining how glaciers reflect sunlight but seawater absorbs it, the more the ice melts, the sea will retain the more of the sun’s energy.
A last half an hour of the movie, Al Gore explains it that we mankind must wake up on Global Warming issues. We must accept the fact that mankind caused Global Warming issues with pollution and population. All humans and governments must begin immediate action to halt it and reverse it. He explains different approaches to prevent further damage and with our determination, how we can reverse it. He explains how mankind especially USA overcome with problems like woman rights, slavery, fearsome deceases like polio, civil wars, world wars, moon landing, fixing the ozone layer, and how they are capable of reversing aftereffects of Global Warming by using energy-efficient transport and appliances, alternative energy sources like solar or wind, and growing more plants and trees.
After watching Al Gore’s documentary on Global Warming, I have mixed feelings. I loved it because it gave me awareness on Global Warming issues and what's lying ahead for next generations, if we don't learn from our mistakes. At the same time, I didn't enjoyed enough because of it was anchored by Al Gore. It seemed like more Gore than Global Warming. Some of moments like Al Gore's personal moments of Global Warming education all over the world, his cousin died in lung cancer after smoking throughout her life, thinking about future after his son on hospital bed, his personal experience in living farms when he was kid, and bringing up his close defeat in US Election doesn't gel well with the main theme of the movie. All of these things seemed like political agenda, even though he seemed genuinely concerned about global crisis. I really think even though this is Al Gore's dream, it should have anchored by someone else to be more effective.
Doesn't matter my mixed feelings about the movie, one thing I know, if there is smoke then there must be a fire. If scientists, politicians, or environmentalists talk about Global Warming issues then there is something out there. It doesn't matter this movie looks like political agenda or educational awareness of crisis; everyone on the face of earth should see this movie despite their race, religion, country, or political allegiances.
