From the mountains of Kilimanjaro to the Swiss Alps the evidence is startling:  We are killing this planet.   Or so says former Vice President and former next President of the United States, as he introduced himself to audience laughter, Al Gore, in the powerful, passionate and somewhat self-aggrandizing documentary lecture film on the dangers of global warming in ‘An Inconvenient Truth’.

I tend to approach most things with just a touch of skepticism, particularly when a career politician is telling these things to me, but Mr. Gore goes to great painstaking detail with the use of precise charts, graphical slides, and startling photographs to illustrate his contention that if serious changes aren’t made, the consequences will be severe.  As most of are probably aware, global warming is caused by a thickening of the atmosphere layer, likely caused by pollution as well as other factors, which while still allowing the suns rays in, creates greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere which hinders the ability of heat to leave.  This, of course, alters the delicate balance of the earth’s eco-system and if left unchecked will lead to catastrophic events.  Mr. Gore contends that in as little as fifty years, large sections Florida, San Francisco, India and Manhattan will be underwater unless changes are made.

While watching the film it would be difficult for anyone to disregard what the man is saying.  Numerous pictures of ice capped mountains and flatlands from 30 or 80 years ago in which the ice has melted away today.  Ten of the hottest years on record in the last 100 years have occurred within the last 14 years, with 2005 being the hottest year

ever.  Inland lakes completely evaporating, due to the warming the land.  The warming is also causing subtle shifts in the seasons, which is playing havoc with the delicate predator-prey balance of the planets wildlife as well.  Example after example is given.  If Al Gore had a bat, he would have jumped off the stage and hit everyone on the head with it.

As a former scientist and one who has immense respect for the scientific community, the science is sound.  There is almost no argument that this happening, which is rare among scientist.  The main problem, as always, comes with the politics involved.  Mr. Gore spares no quarter in lambasting both Bush administrations and the Reagan administration for its deplorable record on the environment, and rightfully so in most cases.  George W. Bush did name an oil lobbyist (Phillip Cooney) as the environmental council Chief of Staff, who summarily had to quickly resign due to various improprieties.  But it is surprising that Mr. Gore didn’t give his lecture with his arm in a sling from patting himself on the back so often.  He’s been fighting for the environment since he was an undergraduate.  If you don’t know, just ask him.  There are numerous vignettes in between lecture points describing various stages in his life.  The death of his sister from lung cancer, his life on his fathers farm, his six year son’s a near fatal car accident, the Florida boondoggle in the 2000 election, all cleverly tied in to what drives him on this cause, but also letting us know what a great an honorable man he is.  Lest we forget though that in between Bush administrations, Mr. Gore was in the white house for eight years as well.  Whatever the environmental record was during that time, was not discussed at length in this film.

Does he have an agenda?  Of course he does.  He’s a politician, and one who’s run for president three times.  So how altruistic are his designs?  Is he planning to take over for President Jimmy Carter as the new world ambassador, his only goal being the tireless service and dedication to mankind?  Or is he simply getting himself out there in preparation for yet another run at the presidency?  Only he, and those close to him know for sure.  What I know is that I don’t have the time or the energy to research every issue, so I have to listen to people who are knowledgeable and decide whether or not to trust or distrust what they are telling me.  And on this issue, former next president Al Gore, I trust what you are telling me.  Something must be done.