“An Inconvenient Truth” is time well spent
I thought it was interesting that the “Live Earth” concerts last weekend coincided with my reading Al Gore’s book “An Inconvenient Truth.” At least ten concerts within 24-hours, held worldwide and reportedly watched by at least 10 million people, were designed to trigger a mass-scale movement to combat our climate crisis.
I finished Gore’s book the same day I checked it out from the library. It is a brilliant presentation of facts about global warming and its effect on the environment. A recent documentary film is based on the book.. Apparently they were the impetus for the concert productions.
It is encouraging that the public is finally catching on to the fact that something needs to be done to prevent any further damage to our environment. Mr. Gore’s book lists numerous things that can be done, many that we already know. I have noticed that many stores now stock low-energy light bulbs. The book suggests that, if every household in the United States substituted one conventional light with a compact florescent bulb, it would have the same effect on pollution levels as removing a million cars from the nations highways. 90 percent of the bulbs at our home are the new CF type and have resulted in significant savings. The book lists dozens of helpful hints which are not difficult to achieve.
Speaking of saving money, and I don’t want to get started on gasoline prices, but there are many ways to reduce fuel consumption such a combining trips (which we practice at our house), lowering speed, keeping tires properly inflated, avoiding heavy traffic periods when possible (which wastes fuel sitting still) and the list goes on and on.
In my opinion, reading “An Inconvenient Truth” is time well spent.
Gene Sellers
Mt. Croghan
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2 comments:
I applaud your desire to conserve and reduce pollution, but please do not use the tripe that Al Gore supposedly believes in about environmental issues as a crutch to prop up your desire to save the environment.
I always find it humorous that Al Gore shouts loud for conservation when he lives in a 10,000 square foot Tennessee mansion and uses approximately 10 times the amount of electricity as the average house in Nashville. In 2006, Gore consumed over 220,000 kWh a year while the average house was about 10,000 kWh. Since he released An Inconvenient Truth his power consumption has increased every month. His bill averaged was $1,080 per month last year and he paid nearly $30,000 in electricity and gas bills in 2006. source for numbers is here
I have nothing against accumulating wealth nor spending your money any way you want. I just feel that if you put yourself out as the "expert" on an issue, you should live your life accordingly.
A very good friend of mine asked me to sign an online petition on climate change. I looked over the organization promoting the petition and what the petition said. I could not participate.
Here is the letter back to my friend:
Thanks for thinking of me! I can't in good conscience sign however.
While I believe in global warming and the effects humans have in
climate change I do not believe in the Apocalyptic versions offered by
the climate change movement. I am also scared that the "movement" is
fast becoming a religion and is adopting religious/cult like attitudes
that guard against any challenge. Including valid scientific
challenges.
If I had my way the debate would framed in a way that promoted
"Leadership by example." Individuals, companies and governments would
be challenged to exhibit leadership in their respective actions for
reasons of environmental protection and conservation. Stewardship
would be the call to arms not wild speculation about the death of our
planet.
Having said this I am not fore-square against these climate change
movements because many of the desired outcomes are outcomes I promote:
efficiency, conservation and alternatives. The means do matter though
even if the end is a shared goal. So, as long as the movement
refrains from being a "religion" I will give it passive support. But
if the means continues to move in the self-defeatist and polarizing
direction I see it moving towards now I will remove all support and
work against it.
http://arenablog.blogspot.com/2007/04/climate-change-letter-to-friend.html
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