The BF and I went to the 8:25 show of An Inconvenient Truth at the ArcLight last night. (No, we didn’t take public transportation; yes, we carpooled.)
I’m pleased to report that (a), the theater was close to full; (b), the fine citizens of Los Angeles asked mostly non-whackjob questions of director Davis Guggenheim in the surprise Q&A with L.A. film critic Jean Oppenheimer; and (c), the film and its central device, Al Gore and his little slideshow on the environment, are spellbinding.
I don’t even care if you debunkers want to jump on me or the film for ignoring “the other side” of the global warming argument; just go see the film this weekend anyway. Seriously. I mean, you should see it in order to debate it properly, right? And believe me, if nothing else, An Inconvenient Truth is a great, compelling film of a great, compelling presenter. And I do mean great.
Related posts:
Debunker schmebunkers. Talking about the other side of global warming is kind of like talking about the other side of the gravity “debate”. After all, there’s no PROOF that if you drop something that it will ALWAYS fall down.
There is no “other side” to this argument. No respected scientist has *ever* stated that there is a “debate” at all. Global warming is real, it is a deadly threat to all life on earth, and if we don’t do something to address it soon, our species is doomed.
The only people who are claiming “debate” are ignorant moonbat wingnuts who worship at the cult of Bush.
There’s plenty to debate – scientific data hasn’t been around forever to compare our current state of environment to and prove that we’re in anything less than a normal cycle.
I just think dismissing the counter arguments is a disservice almost as bad as Bush flat out saying he won’t see the film… albeit not as stupid as the anti-Gore crowd trying to distract from the movie by pointing out how much fuel he burns while travelling around the globe…
There will be a FREE showing of the film on June 24, 2006 at 8 pm as part of the Grand Performances. It’s outdoors in the plaza, (at Angel’s Flight),check out the other FREE performances, as well at: http://www.grandperformances.org/
It was a great film AND I met the director’s wife, Elisabeth Shue! She is really pregnant but really sweet when I gushed to her that I was a huge fan.
I’m always amused by those who are hellbent and convinced that human beings can destroy OR save the earth. Can we dirty up our little part? Yes. Can we foul the air we breathe in our little part? Absolutely. Can we clean up our mess? Hell, yes. But the earth is doing what it always does, people — it warms, it cools, it shakes, it shifts. And it’s gonna be here long after we are.
…albeit not as stupid as the anti-Gore crowd trying to distract from the movie by pointing out how much fuel he burns while travelling around the globe…
Yeah…how silly of them for asking Gore (not to mention the Hollywood elite) to practice what he preaches.
To be accurate, we are technically in a geological “cooling” period. This really allows us (speaking as a climate scientist) to extract the contribution of human activity to the observed average global temperature increase.
The case for significant human-induced global warming has grown much stronger in the last two years or so, and while it may have been more of a debate then, it certainly is not anymore. I mean, even Bush’s own climate task force agrees now.
Re: the naysayers…I really debated even offering up the debunker link, but since I’m hellbent on keeping this a NON-political issue, I didn’t want dismissed out of hand on “fairness” issues.
As for Gore hastening the end times by burning fossil fuel on the tour circuit, I’m sure the irony isn’t lost on him. Say what you want, the guy ain’t no dummy. He’s also quite clearly not an extremist. Besides, it ain’t like he’s sucking up fuel on Air Force One; he’s on a commercial bus that’s up there anyway (with empty seats!)–albeit in first class.
And according to Guggenheim, Gore’s goal is to keep up the talks *until* enough people know about this for him to pass the torch.
Lee, gotta agree with you there. It’s a little egocentric for us to think we can dramatically change the earth long term. We’ll end up changing our climate so much that we’ll extinguish ourselves – and hey – why not – we did it to ourselves, right? The earth might have a bit of a hangover – but she’ll recover. We might be the brain cells that get destroyed in the overheating.
Still, I am also in the camp of awareness, where it would sure be nice to know how we _are_ affecting the earth, so we have the option to NOT extinguish ourselves – at least until we evolve sufficiently.
Besides, it ain’t like he’s sucking up fuel on Air Force One; he’s on a commercial bus that’s up there anyway (with empty seats!)–albeit in first class.
Ummm…you were sayin’ something about keeping this a NON-political issue? Darn that Chimpy McBushitler and his fuel-sucking flying machine.
See…this is why a lot of us will choose not to sit in a theatre full of tittering environmentalists while Gore gets in a few subtle digs at his political adversaries. Not only is it extremely annoying but also insulting.
And just for the record…I voted for Gore in 2000 and I have to say that it his “I used to be the next President of the United States” shtick has grown really thin.
Yes…the election was “stolen” from you…we get it. Now for gawd sakes please move on.
Like Moore’s propaganda piece, “Fahrenheit 9/11″…I think I’ll wait till it comes out on DVD.
how silly of them for asking Gore (not to mention the Hollywood elite) to practice what he preaches.
I didn’t know Gore was preaching that all travel was bad. Sorry if my attempt to cut through the rhetoric (which you appear to gleefully delight in) offended you.
Hey, Ugly (and I don’t really like calling you that, but you picked it), please check your sensitivity settings.
I meant that Gore was not flying Air Force One like he did back in the day. Get it? I was comparing his travel now to his travel then, and…
Oh, for the love of muthatruckin’ pete. LIGHTEN UP!!! Everyone’s not against you, okay?
So please, WALK or BIKE or CARPOOL or WHATEVER THE HELL to the theater. This is an issue we can all get behind, no matter who we voted for or what crazy assumptions we’re used to making about each other.
Love is all we need. That, and some clean energy alternatives.
Heather: Word.To the “let’s beat up on Gore” folks: Drudge was wrong — he even posted a link to the accurate story.
It made over $78,000 Wednesday in 4 theaters. Yowza!
http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?page=daily&id=inconvenienttruth.htm
Dave: In defense of Gore…no…I’ve never heard him say that all travel is bad. And I wasn’t “offended”…but rather delighted by your remarks. Actually, you had me at hello (i.e. “I just think dismissing the counter arguments is a disservice”)…that is until your non-rhetorical “albeit not as stupid” remark. Still…you gotta admit that Gore flyin’ around the world burning fossil fuels whilst preaching about global warming IS pretty funny.
LOL Colleen…fair enough.
Well…I guess when you’ve had your USN Veteran and troop-supporting stickers defaced time and time again by peace-loving types, you tend to move more towards the questioning of motives and hypocrisy. But trust me…my sense of humor is still very much in tact.
Oh…and other bloggers call me TUA for short. Though I will fully admit that my name suits my apparent “ugly” nature just fine. It comes with the territory.
As a fellow Angelino, I really enjoy reading this blog even though I might not always agree with some of the opinions herein.
Just tryin’ to keep the conversation lively….
Oh…and sorry to be a nit-picker but Gore flew on Air Force Two, not One.
I love nit-picking!
Intact is one word. ;)
Ooops….haaaaaaa!!!
See what happens when yah try tah act like a know-it-all….LOL
Owning and using a bike is much cheaper than a car! That’s why I do it!
I just saw An Inconvenient Truth and might have to eat my earlier words… from what was presented in the movie, maybe there isn’t anything to argue about.
Still…you gotta admit that Gore flyin’ around the world burning fossil fuels whilst preaching about global warming IS pretty funny.
Sorta like how its funny that we have stage preemptive wars and kills thousands of innocents in the name of peace. Hilarious! Again, love the high school level rhetoric and mentality.
That said, is there a site that counters or argues what Gore presented?
Why if I didn’t know any better, I’d say that someone needs to check their sensitivity settings and lighten up.
Not sure why you suddenly felt the need to inject the Iraq War into this discussion but I’m just an immature knuckle-dragger, so what do I know.
Contrary to the assumptions you’ve probably made about me…I try not to make a point of dismissing people outright simply because their political beliefs happen to differ from mine. I still like to believe we all have more in common than not.
I applaud Gore for his earnest approach on this issue but it’s just that from everything I’ve read thus far…I believe that what he purports as science is still at best, very speculative. It’s also beginning to appear to me that some might make the mistake of emphasizing Gore’s film as the “final word” on the subject of Global Warming.
His film will indeed make for some interesting discussions but there are still many more questions than answers IMO.
Counterargument site link
I try not to make a point of dismissing people outright simply because their political beliefs happen to differ from mine.
Really? You also wrote:
…this is why a lot of us will choose not to sit in a theatre full of tittering environmentalists while Gore gets in a few subtle digs at his political adversaries.
But in all sincerity, thanks for the link. It provides evidence that this can be debated, and that Gore’s facts should be viewed with skepticism. Still, Ugly A., I encourage you to brave your imaginary crowds of “tittering environmentalists” and check out the movie. (and Gore’s “subtle digs” aren’t exactly subtle, but are relatively infrequent – this isn’t a hack job like “Fahrenheit 9/11″)
Weeeeeelll….alright.
But at the first sound of hissing I’m outa there ; )
For all the folks out there screaming about Gore flying all over for the movie, you should know that the production purchased carbon offsets to help mitigate the carbon emissions related to production and marketing.
So, dead issue, no?
http://www.treehugger.com/files/2006/05/an_inconvenient_3.php
I’ll wait until the DVD is manufactured in an environmentally friendly factory and delivered to me via bicycle or foot messenger.