A review of Al Gore's new book, "Our Choice"

[Louisiana1976]

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Global warming is an "unimaginable catastrophe that would unfold on this planet if we don’t start making dramatic changes immediately" (p. 12). Our Choice describes Al Gore’s plan for averting this impending disaster. Although Gore believes that we are near a political tipping point, and it is possible to have a global and collective effort to avert disaster, I fear that some key elements of such a unified response are missing.
The book has six sections. In "The Crisis" Gore describes the nature of global warming and how we must respond. We do not need to invent or develop new technology. We already have the means to solve three or four climate crises "and we only need to solve one. The only missing ingredient is collective will" (p. 15). This "collective will" must involve our entire planet and the time is limited for the emergence of an extraordinary level of international cooperation. We must quickly shift from using coal, oil, and natural gas to sustainable energy such as wind, solar, and hydrothermal. Gore detours briefly to look at the "birther" movement, which is a claim that President Obama is not legally President because he was not born in Hawai’i, as his birth certificate states. The example highlights the extremes to which individuals in the media will go to deny reality. Gore then draws a parallel with those who deny the reality of global warming in the face overwhelming evidence that the planet is warming up due to human activity (Note 1). The "powerful ideologues and self-interested corporate advocates" involved in climate denial are well-organized and command an audience through the mass media. It is a serious challenge to counter them and facts alone, no matter how powerful, may be insufficient for the task.

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http://www.dailykos.com/story/2009/11/29/183315/86

[Name removed]

1. Deleted message

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[netsurfer2]

2. Wondering

I wonder what sort of changes Al Gore has made to his own lifestyle. Lecturing people about excessive consumption is hypocrisy when you live in a mansion.