Anyone else excited to see this movie? Should be interesting to say the least. I'm always curious why people seem so reluctant to believe the climate scientists concerned with this development, particularly those people in positions of power that seem unwilling to listen to the warnings, perhaps due to a few well-funded cronies. Anyhow, to continue my liberal, tree-hugging, pinko-communist, terrorist-loving, (*insert generic slander here*), diatribe, allow me to point out the following rather interesting rebuttal from a group of canadians: I am not trying to prove that all global warming data/theories are infallible. But I always think it interesting to look at the institutions and background of those claiming a strong position on either side. The last salvo (that I recall) from the pro-warming crowd came from James Hansen: Now compare that with the "experts" complaining in the above article: Tim Patterson is a geologist not a climate scientist. One might wonder what right a geologist has to criticize the work of climate scientists, especially considering that the article fails to mention what his research is, or even references any hard data of any sort. Boris Winterhalter is another geologist posing as an expert in climate studies. Bob Carter is not even a full professor at his tiny college. Timothy Ball works for EnviroTruth.org, a subset of the National Center for Public Policy Research, a front of anti-greenhouse propoganda paid for by Exxon and other "interest groups". Wibjorn Karlen seems to contradict his own research. Dick Morgan apparently just lied, seeing as he has no Exeter Page or any easy to find association to the WMO. He does however, have a link on EnviroTruth as a "myth expert" - shocking, that. It seems that every time I see some article like this, the obvious biases of the authors and influence from corporate oil are just two or three clicks away. And ironically, this type of obvious disinformation feeds the whole "liberal media conspiracy". It's incredible how easy the real conspiracy is to find: What we have here is a group of well-paid greenhouse deniers, no doubt influenced by the rather large canadian fossil fuel industry (#1 supplier to the USA, I believe). Like I said, I don't think all global warming research 100% true. But I do know that if you follow the money trail, the two sides are NOT equal in merit. And it certainly seems that this type of disengenuous dialogue is much more prevalent from those with a serious cash stake in greenhouse denial. EDIT: Forgot to add a link to great google video. It's an hour or so, but worth your time. http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1851792711442224485
I highly recommend seeing this movie to everyone. Whether you are a skeptic of global warming, a believer, or merely indifferent, as I admit I have been, it is definitely worth your time. The most compelling evidence is the simplest to comprehend. That is because it has happened right before our eyes. The 10 hottest years in recorded history have been in the last 14 years. 1995 was the hottest. All you have to do is look at the record storm season of last summer and its impact to see that the consequences of global warming are already coming home to roost. The best thing about the movie is that it is not apocalyptic in tone. Nothing is inevitable at this point. All it will take is the courage of each individual to shake loose of the status quo and make a few changes. That, and encouraging local, national, and international debate. If our leaders are not going to act, we as citizens must. I don't mean to sound too preachy, but I was (obviously) inspired by this film. I feel we owe it to future generations to take this evidence seriously.
I just wanted to respond to your signature quote. "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson
I went and saw it last week. Anyone who questions the facts of global warming need to educate themselves. Only selfish irresponsible jerks would dismiss an issue like this. The people who think global warming is a hoax never have any facts to back up their assertion. Its as bad as people who don't think we landed on the moon! I guarentee anyone who trashes this movie in this thread is someone who hasn't even seen it. It's hilarious seeing people fight science with facts put out there by Exxon. Hilarious and extremely sad.
I agree Global Warming is a very complicated issue that is often hard even for the most educated to understand. Whether Global Warming is true or not or even if true how dire it might be I always think why risk it when the possible consequences could be very dire. Also cutting down on greenhouse gas emissions makes sense over the long runs for a lot of other reasons such as ending our dependence on fossil fuels.
I'm so down the middle on this issue, it's silly. To be fair...no one is arguing that global warming isn't happening...they're arguing as to whether we are the cause, or whether it's one of nature's cycles. We know the earth's temperatures fluctuate naturally. And also in fairness...when you say "in recorded history" that doesn't mean jack. We haven't been recording long enough to get anything remotely close to what you'd call an adequate sample size given the age of the earth, or our best guesses at it. I can tell you that there have absolutely been hotter times on this planet than there are now, because the poles were once tropical, according to recent reports. Having said all that...I think there are tons of reasons to play this safe. I think we should be reducing emissions and pollution, even if we're not contributing to global warming. And I'd love to have some sense of energy independence, which we will not be as long as we're so bent over by oil.
No matter who you are, you need to see this movie. It's as much of a cold slap upside the head as it is an inspirational rallying cry to humanity. If you hate Gore, please put away your slings and arrows before you walk into this movie. I went to see this with two of my conservative friends because they were curious about the global warming issue, they came away having thoroughly enjoyed it, and with a vastly different view of Al Gore the person, instead of Al Gore the Politician.
There have absolutely been hotter times, but not when there are 6 billion, very climate dependent people, many of whom (such as you and me) living near the coast.
Excellent movie. Changes need to be made, especially in this country. Also, you can make the connection that George Bush has contributed greatly. Ever wonder if Gore got elected, how much more attention would be paid to the environment? Things need to change or nature will have its revenge on mankind.
Our rapidly dissolving ozone layer was just nonsense from a bunch of tree hugging liberals ~ for a while... Then we were forced to take action.
Yes, if action is taken then this problem can be solved as well. The resources are there, but someone in charge needs to lead the way.
I was waiting for it. You win SlickVik! George Bush is to blame for global warming!! It must have been when he told OBL to fly those planes into the WTC. That smoke must have heated the entire earth!
*sigh* He didn't say that. Quit with the straw man. Feel free to show me how environmentally concious George Bush has been.
Go see the flick. I went to see it with my 15 year old son, and one of his friends, and it is truly excellent. Scares the hell out of you, but in an intelligent and even amusing way. You see a side of Gore that would have easily won the 2000 election for him. (I know, he won it and had it taken away, but it wouldn't have been close) Keep D&D Civil.
I posted this as a topic weeks ago and got one reply. http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060502...TdmBHNlYwM3NTM- Global Warming Differences Resolved By RANDOLPH E. SCHMID, AP Science Writer A nagging difference in temperature readings that had raised questions about global warming has been resolved, a panel of scientists reported Tuesday. "This significant discrepancy no longer exists because errors in the satellite and radiosonde data have been identified and corrected," researchers said in the first of 21 assessment reports planned by the U.S. Climate Change Science Program. The findings show clear evidence of human influences on climate due to changes in greenhouse gases, aerosols and stratospheric ozone. There has been increasing concern about global climate change being caused by human activity, in particular the release of gases such as carbon dioxide into the atmosphere by automobiles and industrial activity. But while temperature readings at the surface showed this increase, readings in the atmosphere taken by satellites and radiosondes — instruments carried by weather balloons — had shown little or no warming. There are still some questions about the rate of atmospheric warming in the tropics, but overall the issue has been settled, said Thomas R. Karl, director of the National Climatic Data Center. The White House Council on Environmental Quality issued a statement saying that the climate change program was established to reduce scientific uncertainties and "we welcome today's report because it represents success in doing so with respect to temperature trends." Findings of the report include: • Since the 1950s all data show the Earth's surface and the low and middle atmosphere have warmed, while the upper stratosphere has cooled. Those changes were expected from computer models of the effects of greenhouse warming. • Radiosonde readings for the midtroposphere — the nearest portion of the atmosphere — show it warming slightly faster than the surface, also an expected finding. • The most recent satellite data also show tropospheric warming, though there is some disagreement among data sets. This may be caused by uncertainties in the observations, flaws in climate models or a combination. The researchers think it is a problem with the data collection. • The observed patterns of change over the past 50 years cannot be explained by natural processes alone. The report came a day after the government reported that the greenhouse gases widely blamed for raising the planet's temperature are still building up in the atmosphere. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration said Monday there was a continuing increase in carbon dioxide and nitrous oxide in the air last year, though methane leveled off. Overall, NOAA said, its annual greenhouse gas index "shows a continuing, steady rise in the amount of heat-trapping gases in the atmosphere."
So tell me about the flick. I'm receptive to the message -- but paying movie prices to sit in a theatre watching a film of Al Gore (or anyone else) droning on about global warming just doesn't appeal to me. What's so good about the movie? What makes it worth a couple of hours of my time and a few dollars from my wallet?
