Al Gore: Doing What He Does Best
Written by Major Tom
Filed under: Earth & Environment, News & Info
July 7, 2007
As of this moment, the Australian segment of the Live Earth concert had just kicked-off and among those to perform is one of my most fave rock band of all time, Crowded House. The news had gathered that tens of thousands of participants have shown up in various venues around the globe in order to partake and witness this very historic event that aims to create global awareness on global warming and the negating effect it brings or has already brought to our environment. Looks like it is bound to be one successful giant event and therefore a great feat for its organizers.
Al Gore must be feeling so pleased as of this moment, savoring this latest achievement. We, who are concerned so much of our environs, could might as well be thanking the high heavens for letting Al Gore lose his presidential bid some years ago and then having a weak nomination bid for the Democratic Party standard-bearer just recently. While some said that his extraordinary effort in combating or publicizing the effects of greenhouse gasses to our atmosphere—winning an Oscar in fact for “Inconvenient Truth”— he deserves all the more to be president of the United States of America. But if he was in Washington D.C., he would possibly have no choice but to protect the economic interest of America and push back any call for reduction of industrial emission; for this would surely make American industries all the more uncompetitive against rising industrial giants like China and India, as well as perennial rivals in Japan and Europe. So it would be good if he were not president. This way, he won’t be tied to any political interest and could decide and act more appropriately. This way, he’d be doing what he does best and be so effective in it.
In initiating anti-global warming activities like Live Earth, Mr. Al Gore is surely in his ocean, in the air that he breathes best. With this, I give my most heartfelt salute to Mr. Gore. I had not always been a fan, especially years back when he was just a seemingly stoic and one-sided politician; but now, he shows what he really can do and what he can achieve.
People should be concerned about the environment. In our village, our neighbors keep on burning leaves and dried stuffs. They’re blind and indifferent, specifically, apathetic about the environment. As if they don’t feel the extreme heat and humidity emitted/generated by the sun.
I haven’t watched the Inconvenient Truth, any idea where I can buy a copy, Major Tom? Haven’t looked at the pirated CDs market yet.
Comment by JV — July 7, 2007 @ 9:32 pm
Oh I think he’s at his element on this one. He should do more projects like this instead of anything politically related. There’s a new crowded house album by the way. Listened to it and the sound good. Still have a touch of the 80’s but there are tracks that stands out still.
Comment by Ferdz — July 7, 2007 @ 11:20 pm
To JV: Burning unnecessarily is one sure thing to be such an aggravator of global warming considering the C02 that it would produce and if you multiply them by thousands, then were talking about a stageering amount. In fact in Australia, scientists there had to vaccinate all, or plan to vaccinate all cow and sheep livestock there just just so that they woudl minimize the methane exumes into the atmosphere; apparanetly high methane concentration in the air becomes deleterious.
Original copies of “The Inconvenient Truth” has been available on rental for some months now; you could possibly visit nearby video rental stores.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 6:02 am
To Ferdz: He should be like a fish in the water on this kind of endeavor—and not “on a bicycle”, like Bono of U2 once sang.
Thanks for the info on Crowded House new album. I am sure the Finn brothers would have more melodies to share and on a more mature note.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 6:06 am
To Ferdz: He should be like a fish in the water on this kind of endeavor—and not “on a bicycle”, like Bono of U2 once sang.
Thanks for the info on Crowded House new album. I am sure the Finn brothers would have more melodies to share and on a more mature note.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 6:20 am
Yeah, we should really salute Al Gore for this endeavour.
The concert in Shanghai with Sarah Brightman was also shown here in SG and I liked it.
Comment by Luchie — July 8, 2007 @ 7:41 am
To Luchie: He should win the Nobel Prize for this and if it’d be by wide voting, I am sure he’d be a shoo in.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 8:52 am
It’s just sad that not many really care about global warming. Maybe it’s because it’s happening gradually that people don’t feel the immediate effect. Or because it’s happening to us all so we don’t feel threatened as individuals.
Comment by Abaniko — July 8, 2007 @ 10:04 am
Well, it’s great that people care about the environment. Is the concert a fund raiser or they just want peoples’ concern on global warming?
I didn’t like Al Gore’s video on global warming by the way.
We should be after those multinationals who earn by polluting the environment.
Well, just my thought.
Comment by ipanema — July 8, 2007 @ 10:35 am
I just hope that this event succeeds in what it set out to achieve. =)
Comment by houseband00 — July 8, 2007 @ 12:59 pm
you’re right. it’s better to serve the country without a political agenda because sincerity becomes a lot more recognizable.
Comment by evi — July 8, 2007 @ 2:57 pm
Cool site.. was hoping if i could link u up to mine..
Comment by James — July 8, 2007 @ 3:04 pm
To Abaniko: That’s the thing about this problem, it is so gradual that it is mostly unfelt. But if it is so gradual, then why worry. The thing is, if the increases in temperature accumulates and expnentiates in a hundred years time, the effect would be tremenously disastrous just a century from now. If only many would realize this, especially governments like huge industrial countries like America and China, in order to bring down emission level to more reasonable volume.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 5:06 pm
To ipanema: I have yet to see Al Gore’s “The Inconvenient Truth” since by the time it was available on rentals, my DVD player just gone wonkers and got no time to have it fixed. But I think I’ve got to see it sonnest time possible.
BBC was actually asking the question just about hours ago if in fact those who had attended the concerts were there in order to be environmentally aware. But of course, it was thought that probably, they must have come for the music and the rock bands. But it’s a good start they say. This sort of undertaking would ceratinly boost global warming awareness across the globe.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 5:10 pm
To houseband00: I do certainly hope so. If they do this often, then there’s no reason to fail.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 5:11 pm
To evi: That’s the right term evi, political agenda. If one ought to be effective fighting cause that usually goes against the grain, it would certainly help to be free from any political baggage—with all those lobbyists in Washington having huge money and influence. They could actually make aor unmake a politician’s career.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 5:13 pm
To James: Please do have the link to my site. It would be my pleasure and honor. I did like your site too when I was there. I’d be linking to your site soonest time possible.
Comment by Major Tom — July 8, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
His detractors say he has a political agenda and is just “piggy backing” on the global warming issue. Well, he may be, but at least he’s raising awareness, and in a big way too.
Al Gore may not have the chance to become President of the US, but he will sure leave a more lasting legacy to humanity than President Bush.
Comment by snglguy — July 9, 2007 @ 12:19 am
The most important issue of Today is the environment. Surveys after surveys here locally indicates it is the top issue that people here are more concern compares to Terrorism and Crimes. And the Governments are quite responsive to the issue. Just recently as we all know that Vehicle Emissions is one main cause of pollution, the Government had imposed punitive taxes to “gas guzzlers” while giving credits to “green” vehicles and encouraging new technology like hybrid, bio-diesel, ethanol and even giving tax credits for use of Public Mass Transport, and designating dedicated lanes for public transport, that yours truly no longer drive to work after more than 30 years of burning fossil fuels and it is cheaper too. And to top it off Garbage are now separated for recycling and it is our responsibilities to do so.
Comment by vic — July 9, 2007 @ 6:22 am
To sngl: The naysayers would always be there and they wont disappear. One thing is sure—as you said—Al Gore would be remembered so well for this, far more than just another American president.
Comment by Major Tom — July 9, 2007 @ 7:51 am
To vic: In my readings about this issue, Canada seems to be the forerunner in the implementation of the Kyoto protocol and it should be commended for this and in fact it is leading in the use and research on use of cleaner energy source like deuterium or “cold water”. In fact, they have created an agency just to oversee the application of the Kyoto protocol there—I just forgot the name.
What happens now is that since states in general are not really inclined to be agreeable to emission reduction since this would affect industries and economic production as a whole, it would be ideal for smaller government units like cities and municipalities to legislate emission reduction, regulating the industries within the cities and giving incentives to those who use vehicles with cleaner energy, like hybrid cars. I know it is not an easy task since this would discourage investments and economic activity but I believe the city of Chicago and Canada have already done such action. I don’t see why others can’t be brave enough and as resolute.
Comment by Major Tom — July 9, 2007 @ 7:57 am