An Inconvienient Truth - film in Stroud

Al Gore's documentary, "An Inconvienient Truth", on global warming showed in Cheltenham over a month ago. Green party colleagues were out every showing handing out leaflets to film-goers to raise awareness about what actions people can take. I missed the film then so was therefore delighted to be at the showing last night at the Apollo cinema put on by Ecotricity.

Before it began I was surprised to find myself, as the lone councillor present, dragged out for a photo with Dale Vince and Stroud District Council's Head of Planning Barry Wyatt.

Anyhow the film was considerably better than I had expected - infact with Al Gore's reputation I had thought the film might be boring but I would strongly recommend it - indeed it should be mandatory viewing!

The film effectively demolishes any doubts about whether or not catastrophic climate change is real. It completely dismisses the nonsense we've seen from climate change deniers (see my blog on 18th November 2006).

We basically face an uninhabitable planet unless we pay attention to the folly we are committing, and take the necessary urgent steps. The film is a very loud call to arms for us all to act now.

Al Gore provides all the statistics: out of 925 recent articles in peer-review scientific journals about climate change, there was no disagreement. Not one. Gore says that although there is "100 percent agreement" among scientists, a database search of newspaper and magazine articles shows that 57 percent question the fact of global warming, while 43 percent support it.
These figures are the result, he says, of a disinformation campaign started in the 1990s by the energy industries to "reposition global warming as a debate." It is the same strategy used for years by the defenders of tobacco.

The 10 warmest years in history were in the last 14 years. Last year South America experienced its first hurricane. Japan and the Pacific are setting records for typhoons. Hurricane Katrina passed over Florida, doubled back over the Gulf, picked up strength from unusually warm Gulf waters, and went from Category 3 to Category 5. There are changes in the Gulf Stream and the jet stream. Cores of polar ice show that carbon dioxide is much, much higher than ever before in a quarter of a million years. It was once thought that such things went in cycles. The Larsen ice shelf that scientists said, even with climate change, would be around for another 100 years has completely gone already.

Gore stands in front of a graph showing the ups and downs of carbon dioxide over the centuries. Yes, there is a cyclical pattern. Then, in recent years, the graph turns up and keeps going up, higher and higher, off the chart - infact Gore has to use a lift to reach the point where the graph will be in 2050 - gimick yes but effective.

Al Gore's book of the film has been described to me as very depressing - this film is less so although certainly could make you weep in places - but at the same time shows there is a way forward. If you haven't switched to a green energy company do it now. We really haven't got time. We all need to pull together on this one.

After the film there was a chance to talk in the bar with others and more popcorn - some great talk with other film-goers - good to feel that those of us trying to push this issue are not alone! The good news is that if you missed the film, the cinema are hoping to show it again here in Stroud.