I saw "Inconvenient Truth" on Friday night. It's a documentary warning about the effects of Global Warming produced by Al Gore. It's really about his mission to make people aware of global warming, why it's happening, what the effects are and what we can do about it.
In some cases it might have been quite sentimental (which is ok), but generally I found it interesting and quite inspiring (i.e. it makes me want to take action). I covered some theory about global warming in my geography courses at UCT and was pleased not to notice any major inconsistencies between the facts presented and my education.
I think Al Gore makes a really strong argument why we should take global warming seriously while trying to make the science understandable and adding a human touch.
The human suffering caused by storms and droughts will be immense, but what really upset me was the reminder of how global warming will effect animals. In the Arctic, it's been found that polar bears are drowning before they are able to find the shore of the rapidly receding ice shelf : ( And, really it won't just be the polar bears that suffer as life cycles are put out of sink and habitats made inhospitable.
We really are heading to a mass extinction. It also makes me wonder if I'm investing my time in the right conservation activity. Trying to protect little remants of vegetation to preserve habitats etc. won't really help when that habitat transforms with climate change.
I didn't search long but here's quite a nice post about the movie.
I urge you to go see it and "The March of the Penguins" to make you realise how they will be effected too.
2 comments:
Sorry to burst your bubble, but, Al Gore is a phony and his movie has been debunked by a fifteen year old girl. Check out ponder the maunder http://home.earthlink.net/~ponderthemaunder/index.html Also if you like to ski check out the Canadian Rockies. We've had snow since August and it looks like Banff/ Lake Louise is the place to be this year. Also please do not equate global warming with pollution. Pollution is a serious problem and will not be solved by the farcical method of buying credits. Al Gore is one of the biggest polluters on this planet and is in the business of self promotion. Try not to worry about the polar bears. Their population has quadrupled in the last four decades. BTW,loved the kitty pic!
Thanks anonymous. As you can see I haven't posted a blog in nearly year - due to a change of job which keeps me very busy!
I have heard some bad reports about Al Gore - using 26 x more energy in his household compared to the average U.S. citizen!
Not sure what you mean about not equating global warming with pollution - this has been well established by a very large scientific community. There is always room for sceptism and further studies, but CO2 and methane emissions still offers the most likely explanation thus far.
Polar bear populations may be on the increase due to stricter hunting/poaching regulations, etc., but that doesn't mean they won't ultimately suffer when there natural habitat changes irreversibly.
About snow and skiing - I'm actually heading to Calgary at the end of December this year! I don't ski though - South Africa doesn't have much snow. Do you live near Banff area? It looks incredibly beautiful!
Tracy
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