In 2006, former Vice President Al Gore
produced a documentary called “An Inconvenient Truth.” In this documentary he
included scientific analysis of the deterioration of the protective ozone layer
of the Earth, trapped CO2 causing the greenhouse effect and consequent warming
of the Earth’s atmosphere and mankind’s contribution to this process,
accelerated by use of fossil fuels. He presented that Earth’s future is at
stake if drastic measures are not taken by mankind to help slow down and correct
this process.
I had the awesome pleasure of being
able to attend one of Al Gore’s presentations.
He explained global warming and how it causes the ocean temperature to
rise and storms that form in the ocean to get stronger. In addition there are
several ecological problems that can occur due to global warming. Some of the
problems are: bleached coral reefs, extinction of animal species, melting of
the glaciers, drowning of the polar bears because the ice is melting, chicks
and caterpillars hatching earlier, new diseases and the re-emergence of old
diseases that were under control. What I found extremely interesting is that
ice bubbles trapped thousands of years ago in glaciers can tell us exactly what
year the bubble was formed and what the temperature was during that year.
Immediately after his presentation I purchased
the DVD “An Inconvenient Truth” and watched its’ content in its entirety. I
support Gore’s documentary because the Earth’s climate activity is changing,
however the Earth could be experiencing a warming trend to cool again in the
future as past history indicates.
Gore’s documentary has experienced extreme
criticism and has been critiqued by a variety of disciplines. A poll was
taken on public perceptions about global warming.
|
Statement
|
% agree
|
Year
|
|
49
|
2006
|
|
|
90
|
2006
|
|
|
79
|
2007
|
|
|
59
|
2007
|
|
|
(Weart, 2007).
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
The
debate continues even though many denounce its accuracy. There does seem to be
a scientific consensus that mankind is warming the Earth, but politics and
debates within the media have slowed down the work to prevent future warming
and correct past emissions.
The
documentary film, "An Inconvenient Truth," provides an unequivocally
thorough and critical analysis of the Earth’s current environment that is
experiencing climate change and global warming. Gore educates, instills interest,
raises awareness and advocates for a need to change the thinking for the
benefit of the future.
Before I went to this
presentation I did not understand the changes occurring to the Earth. Seeing
his facts, diagrams, and pictures made me realize that something needs to be
done no matter how small. I had always been a minor ecologist by nature;
however after this presentation I became more serious about the Earth. I
actively collect pop cans for return, pick up trash along the road, turn off
the lights when I leave the room, turn off electronics when I am not using
them, recycle everything possible, stopped using aerosols and turn off the
water when I brush my teeth. These are just some of the things that I do to
help the Earth on a daily basis. I initiated a recycling program at my high
school because of Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth” and its impact upon me. My
high school recycles pop cans and paper because I encouraged and collected
these items every day.
It upsets me when people do not help
the Earth. I educate and remind the people around me to recycle, turn off the
lights or do any action that can help the Earth. One of the selling points for
me to come to Alfred State College was because there was on campus recycle
awareness with receptacles. The smallest things can make the greatest difference
to strive towards improvement of mankind’s future and it is amazing the impact
that one person makes.
Works
Cited
“An
Inconvenient Truth.” Retrieved from http://www.documentarywire.com/an-inconvenient-truth
Retrieved April 29, 2014.
Weart, Spencer (2007). "The
Public and Climate Change."The Discovery of Global Warming. American Institute of Physics. Retrieved May 1, 2014.
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