"Gore is transforming into fiery climate evangelist"

[Paul Dlugokencky]

http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/06/09/little-gore/index.html

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Esprit de Gore

Gore is transforming into fiery climate evangelist
By Amanda Griscom Little
09 Jun 2005

Al Gore, once derided by the right as a stiff, wooden Ozone Man, is now recasting himself as the fiery, headstrong Climate Avenger -- a blunt and passionate spokesperson about what he calls "a collision between our civilization and the earth." He is currently in negotiations to play a starring role in a big-budget, feature-length documentary on climate change.

Last Saturday in San Francisco, the self-described "guy who used to be the next president of the United States" delivered an hour-long multimedia presentation on the scientific evidence of global warming to hundreds of guests crammed into a tent for the culmination of the city's five-day-long U.N. World Environment Day celebration. The audience, peppered with celebrities, members of Congress, U.N. officials, and dozens of mayors from around the world, erupted into a standing ovation when Gore wrapped up his quasi-evangelical call to action.

Thrusting his fists skyward, he rattled off the seemingly insurmountable challenges civilization has overcome in the past -- slavery, communism, restricted suffrage, segregation, disease, apartheid -- and roared, "So now we are called to use our political institution, our democracy, our free speech, our reasoning capacity, our citizenship, our hearts, and talk with one another, reason with one another, see the reality of this problem, act as Americans, and understand that it's a different issue than any we've ever faced." Then the crescendo: "We have to make our stand!" he thundered. "This is our home! We must keep our eyes on the prize! Help solve this problem!"

Not all of the speech was so histrionic. There were frequent moments of comic relief, including parodic animation from the producers of The Simpsons about how global warming works. And Gore succeeded in telling the climate-change story with surprisingly good narrative rhythm and in accessible terms rather than overly wonky or academic language -- something few public figures have managed, or even attempted, to do.

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more at http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/06/09/little-gore/index.html



http://www.cafepress.com/kickindemocrats

[patricia92243]

1. Wish AAR would have a program devoted to airing speachs made

by various Democrats that we would all be interested in but can't here - because we have no media.

[Paul Dlugokencky]

2. Possible Documentary Film of Gore's Presentation!

Further down in the story (http://www.grist.org/news/muck/2005/06/09/little-gore/index.html)...

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That's precisely what Hollywood producer-cum-eco-activist Laurie David aims to make happen. On Saturday, before the event, she met with Gore and a team of directors to discuss hitherto undisclosed plans to make a feature-length film out of his climate-change presentation. "It's a documentary of this brilliant briefing that he's been crisscrossing the country to deliver, with his own personal story woven through," David told Muckraker. "The idea is to make it as much a wake-up call on the climate crisis as it is a window into Al Gore and his 20-year commitment to this issue." She describes the stylistic approach as "equal parts Fog of War and Bowling for Columbine." If the deal goes forward -- and all the funding has been secured, so it's looking like a go -- David hopes to have the documentary released by December, in time for Academy Awards consideration.

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http://www.cafepress.com/kickindemocrats

[patricia92243]

5. I wonder if a Documentary would show the whole speechor just parts of it.

Farenheit 9/11 just showed a little of this and that, but no extended coverage on any one thing - like I wish could be done on Gore's speech. I have a feeling a documentary would be about global warming and Gore's speech would just be a small part of it.

[mcscajun]

3. Sounds like a great idea!

Why not let them know?

[pstans]

4. Good idea

It wouldn't take much effort from AAR's standpoint. Just get the clips and put them on. They wouldn't need a host, studio, and all that jazz. Just re-play the weeks speeches on the weekend instead of playing reruns of Franken, Rhodes, etc.

[slor]

7. Yes, we all need to see this...

we are the ones that will make the difference. This needs to be shown to the general public now.

[pstans]

6. I think this might make Gore a leading candidate in 08

I think this might make Gore a leading candidate in 08. The environment is an issue that current politicians put on the backburner. Bu$h is the worst environmental president ever and the current people in Washington aren't holding him accountable. The environmental problems are just getting worse under Bu$h. This means more and more people will become aware of the problems and the rise in gas prices and the dependence on foreign oil tie into that. Gore going out and speaking passionatly about the environment is going to resonate among voters.