[workinman]

it is ironic that when the first book came out Gore's huge house... well houses, were in NO way efficient or eco friendly.. while George Bush's(who most of us feel is the environments worst enemy) ranch was almost totally off the grid!
makes ya wonder!

[mollyL]

In what way is Gore not advocating sustainability? In what way did Gore not consult with scientists of every discipline? You are the one that is being misled. Al Gore is a good man who has been studying and speaking about the environment since before you were born. The fact that republicans started to call him "Ozone Man" in 1988 testifies to the years he has been trying to warn about global warming.

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

So now what do you plan to do with your newfound knowledge? Buy a hybrid (soon it may be economically viable)? Switch out all the incandescents?

Me personally? Nothing more than I do already actually, as the movie was didn't tell me anything I didn't already know apart from fact & figures.

But if someone is persuaded to buy a hybrid through watching the movie, or turns out the incandescents, then what's so wrong about that? Yes, one person replacing their gas guzzler with a hybrid won't save the planet, but collective action might just help.

As I'm not American, I really haven't been exposed to the same amount of media hype that many of you. I haven't listened to his political speeches, I don't know what his house looks like. And do you know what? I really don't care. The message, to my mind, is the important thing.

OK, people might be watching this movie because it's presented by an household name. But if you or I presented this story, who'd listen? So take advantage of his fame by all means. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the guy's business is politics, he'll immediately have an 'anti' lobby. It's just a shame that there are people who can't see past the individual to see the message.

[Roguegal]

Well, Green-Moo, in this country the vice president, no matter who it is, is usually a big joke. Whether it be good or bad, the vice president usually gets the bottom end of the stick. But, I agree with you. Who gives a sh*t what he has done in the past or why as long as he gets the message out!

[mollyL]

Originally Posted by workinman

it is ironic that when the first book came out Gore's huge house... well houses, were in NO way efficient or eco friendly.. while George Bush's(who most of us feel is the environments worst enemy) ranch was almost totally off the grid!
makes ya wonder!

I think that Jr Bush's ranch is off-grid not for any kind of environmental reason, but more for the rapture-survivalist beliefs of him and his minions.
There are plans in many utility companies now that offer an option of greener sources for your household utilities, but the customer must voluntarily opt to pay more for that energy. (But that's not as fun an explanation of Gore's higher utility bills; lest we forget he was also in the middle of building his "green" house at the time...

[stav]

I'm with Green Moo.. Any change won't happen overnight, and it may be years before any benefits are really showing... but if you start now then say in ten years the benefits are showing... if you wait another 10 years before starting, it it'll be 20 years before we see any benefit..

[tiberiustibz]

Originally Posted by Green-Moo

Me personally? Nothing more than I do already actually, as the movie was didn't tell me anything I didn't already know apart from fact & figures.

But if someone is persuaded to buy a hybrid through watching the movie, or turns out the incandescents, then what's so wrong about that? Yes, one person replacing their gas guzzler with a hybrid won't save the planet, but collective action might just help.

As I'm not American, I really haven't been exposed to the same amount of media hype that many of you. I haven't listened to his political speeches, I don't know what his house looks like. And do you know what? I really don't care. The message, to my mind, is the important thing.

OK, people might be watching this movie because it's presented by an household name. But if you or I presented this story, who'd listen? So take advantage of his fame by all means. Unfortunately, due to the fact that the guy's business is politics, he'll immediately have an 'anti' lobby. It's just a shame that there are people who can't see past the individual to see the message.

True, my position makes me uniquely fed up with all of this environmental garbage. You don't have to listen to a president send buckets of money to a doomed technology because a few uneducated voters think it's a good idea.

BTW, the majority of those "facts and figures" were exaggerated in comparison to the IPCC (the big international pooba climate change authority). They were quite biased. And if he gets VP out of it, people will stop saying that he doesn't have a political agenda. The individual people aren't going to change. Just because joe beerbelly sees this movie he's not going to sell his SUV.

Plus I don't think this sort of thing needs this much public hype. The public won't be able to change it, the change will come from corporations when the economics fit (soon, mind you, as gas prices in the US soar). The only reason people give it this hype is political.

[stav]

True, my position makes me uniquely fed up with all of this environmental garbage.

An interesting comment.. just to clarify how you arrived at your point of view, what exactly is your unique position?

[Green-Moo]

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

BTW, the majority of those "facts and figures" were exaggerated

I think pretty much any presentation where someone is trying to persuade someone else to their point of view uses only the facts and figures which support it.

I've read the hoo-ha about the supposed exaggeration, and it doesn't make a bit of difference to how I view the message.

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

The individual people aren't going to change. Just because joe beerbelly sees this movie he's not going to sell his SUV.

I think you're right. But when he comes to replace his SUV he might remember the message & pause for thought. Think the drip, drip effect.

Originally Posted by tiberiustibz

Plus I don't think this sort of thing needs this much public hype. The public won't be able to change it, the change will come from corporations when the economics fit (soon, mind you, as gas prices in the US soar). The only reason people give it this hype is political.

Corporations are ultimately run by people and financed by shareholders and customers. People equals public.

[RFL1986]

I find that tidbit about GW Bush's house being off the grid sort of interesting actually.

In the end I think it boils down to the fact that Gore, no matter what he hoped to achieve by it, put out a message that may have educated a public who were unaware of environmental issues. I just can't take objection to that no matter his personal life or ulterior motives.