1.5 - ‘About An Inconvenient Truth’ by Davis Guggenheim
Summary
• An Inconvenient Truth presents in film form an illustrated talk on climate by Al Gore, aimed at alerting the public to an increasing “planetary emergency” due to global warming, and shows re-enacted incidents from his life story which influenced his concerns about environmental issues. He began making these presentations in 1989 with flip chart illustrations; the film version uses a Keynote presentation, which Gore refers to as “the slide show”.
• The former vice president opens the film by greeting an audience with his well-known line about his campaign in 2000: “I am Al Gore; I used to be the next President of the United States.” He is shown using his laptop to edit his presentation, and pondering the difficulty he has had in awakening public concern: “I’ve been trying to tell this story for a long time and I feel as if I’ve failed to get the message across.”
• Gore then begins his slide show on Global Warming; a comprehensive presentation replete with detailed graphs, flow charts and stark visuals. Gore shows off several photographs of the Earth taken from multiple space missions, as Earthrise and The Blue Marble. Gore notes that these photos dramatically transformed the way we see the Earth, helping spark modern environmentalism.
• Following this, Gore shares anecdotes that inspired his interest in the issue, including his college education with early climate expert Roger Revelle at Harvard University, his sister’s death from lung cancer and his young son’s near-fatal car accident. Gore recalls a story from his grade-school years, where a fellow student asked his geography teacher about continental drift; in response, the teacher called the concept the “most ridiculous thing [he’d] ever heard.” Gore ties this conclusion to the assumption that “the Earth is so big, we can’t possibly have any lasting, harmful impact on the Earth’s environment.” For comic effect, Gore uses a clip from the Futurama episode “Crimes of the Hot” to describe the greenhouse effect. Gore refers to his loss to George W. Bush in the 2000 United States presidential election as a “hard blow” yet one which subsequently “brought into clear focus, the mission [he] had been pursuing for all these years.”
• A tiny, pale blue dot is contrasted against the vastness of space.
• The Pale Blue Dot, a Voyager 1 photo showing Earth (circled) as a single pixel from 4 billion miles (6.4 billion kilometres) away, is featured in the film. Al Gore points out that all of human history has happened on that tiny pixel, which is our only home.
• Throughout the movie, Gore discusses the scientific opinion on global warming, as well as the present and future effects of global warming and stresses that global warming “is really not a political issue, so much as a moral one,” describing the consequences he believes global warming will produce if the amount of human generated greenhouse gases is not significantly reduced in the very near future. Gore also presents Antarctic ice coring data showing CO2 levels higher now than in the past 650,000 years.
• The film includes segments intended to refute critics who say that global warming is unproven or that warming will be insignificant. For example, Gore discusses the possibility of the collapse of a major ice sheet in Greenland or in West Antarctica, either of which could raise global sea levels by approximately 20 feet (6 m), flooding coastal areas and producing 100 million refugees. Melt water from Greenland, because of its lower salinity, could then halt the currents that keep northern Europe warm and quickly trigger dramatic local cooling there. It also contains various short animated projections of what could happen to different animals more vulnerable to global warming.
• The documentary ends with Gore arguing that if appropriate actions are taken soon, the effects of global warming can be successfully reversed by releasing less CO2 and planting more vegetation to consume existing CO2. Gore calls upon his viewers to learn how they can help him in these efforts. Gore concludes the film by saying:
• Each one of us is a cause of global warming, but each one of us can make choices to change that with the things we buy, the electricity we use, the cars we drive; we can make choices to bring our individual carbon emissions to zero. The solutions are in our hands, we just have to have the determination to make it happen. We have everything that we need to reduce carbon emissions, everything but political will. But in America, the will to act is a renewable resource.
• During the film’s end credits, a diaporama pops up on screen suggesting to viewers things at home they can do to combat global warming, including “recycle”, “speak up in your community”, “try to buy a hybrid vehicle” and “encourage everyone you know to watch this movie.”
• Gore’s book of the same title was published concurrently with the theatrical release of the documentary. The book contains additional information, scientific analysis, and Gore’s commentary on the issues presented in the documentary. A 2007 documentary entitled An Update with Former Vice President Al Gore features Gore discussing additional information that came to light after the film was completed, such as Hurricane Katrina, coral reef depletion, glacial earthquake activity on the Greenland ice sheet, wildfires, and trapped methane gas release associated with permafrost melting.
Book Back Questions
1. Critically analyse the prose.
The prose About An Inconvenient Truth explains the message of the documentary directed by Davis Guggenheim and presented by Al Gore. The prose effectively combines scientific facts, visuals, and personal experiences to warn people about global warming. Gore uses graphs, photographs, and data to explain climate change in a clear manner. He also shares incidents from his life that shaped his concern for the environment. The prose criticises human activities that increase greenhouse gases and shows the dangers of inaction. It also refutes critics who deny global warming. Overall, the prose is informative, persuasive, and serious in tone, urging people to realise the urgency of the planetary emergency.
2. What is the major theme explored in the prose?
The major theme of the prose is global warming and environmental responsibility. The prose focuses on the dangers caused by human-generated greenhouse gases and their impact on Earth. Through scientific data and visual evidence, the speaker explains how climate change threatens life on the planet. The prose stresses that global warming is not just a political issue but a moral one. It highlights rising sea levels, melting ice sheets, and future dangers to humans and animals. The theme also includes individual responsibility, showing that every person contributes to global warming but can also help reduce it. Thus, the prose urges awareness, responsibility, and immediate action to protect the Earth.
3. What is the main idea of the prose?
The main idea of the prose is to alert people about the seriousness of global warming and inspire action to reduce it. The prose describes how Al Gore uses his slide show to explain climate change with facts, images, and examples. It shows that Earth is small and fragile, and all human history exists on a tiny planet. The prose explains the causes and effects of global warming and warns about future disasters if action is not taken. It also emphasises that solutions already exist, such as reducing carbon emissions and planting trees. The prose encourages people to make responsible choices to save the planet.
4. What is the moral of the prose?
The moral of the prose is that humans must take responsibility for protecting the Earth. The prose teaches that global warming is caused mainly by human actions, but it can be reduced through conscious effort. Al Gore reminds us that the Earth is our only home and must be preserved for future generations. The prose stresses that individual choices, such as saving electricity and reducing pollution, can make a difference. It also highlights the need for political will and collective determination. The moral message is clear: if people act now with responsibility and awareness, the harmful effects of global warming can be reversed.
5. Will this prose live test of time?
Yes, this prose will stand the test of time. The issue of global warming is a long-term and continuing problem faced by the world. The scientific facts, moral responsibility, and environmental concerns discussed in the prose remain relevant even today. The message that Earth is fragile and needs protection will always be important. The prose encourages sustainable living and responsible behaviour, which are necessary for future generations. As climate change continues to affect the planet, the ideas presented in the prose will remain meaningful and valuable. Therefore, the prose has lasting importance and relevance.
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