An Inconvenient Truth

I give the book an A- (I haven't seen the film) rather than an A, because, although extremely well done and convincing, I don't agree with parts of it. I think Mr. Gore has actually underplayed the catastrophe already upon us. I would have preferred a little more hard science.

Why am I, as usual, disagreeable? As stated in these pages, the "hydrogen economy" is, for the foreseeable future, mostly a dream. The problem is the basic chemistry and physics of making hydrogen: more energy in than energy out. Where are going to get the hydrogen? Mr. Gore ignores the only likely source: electricity from nuclear power, whether fission or fusion. I think this is a major flaw in the book, because it shows political preferences (in this case, liberal) still powerfully overshadow physical reality.

That said, I was pleased to attend Mr. Gore's lecture on the book held at Book Passage, Corte Madera, Calif., last night. More than 1200 people attended the event - far more than the store expected or could hold, and far more than the 1200 available copies of the book. Attendees were prominently Baby Boomer women, sometimes accompanied by older men. There were very few young men - those under 35 - in the audience. (This reflects recent education, literacy and voting patterns.) Those attending were incredibly supportive of Mr. Gore, giving him a lengthy standing ovation. It was nearly unanimous that this audience wants Mr. Gore to run again for President.

In my conversations with some of the women present, I suggested that perhaps Mr. Gore was a better advocate for their causes as a non-candidate than a politician. They agreed, but still want him for their leader. But Mr.Gore put aside that ambition in writing the Introduction to the book.

Because of the pressure of the book signings - 1200 in a night, 3 seconds per person! - Mr. Gore only spoke for about 15-20 minutes. What he said was a haphazard summary of the book's Introduction. The important points are that climate change is "a challenge to the moral imagination," and a "planetary emergency." Mr. Gore spoke of the many consequences of environmental destruction, including acidification of the oceans and AIDS. His main point is that this is, indeed, a crisis, which, according to the Chinese characters for the word, is also an opportunity.

Mr. Gore urged people not just to attend a lecture or read a book, but to take action. The book has many references, websites, etc where people can find an outlet for their energies. I strongly endorse this call for action. Please look at the book or the Climate Crisis website and find a place that suits you. Then contribute: DO SOMETHING.

Near the end of the book, Mr Gore repeats The Graduate Student's Question: "Whatever were you thinking ...?" It does seem that, among those thinking about the problems, there is convergence of mind.

Al Gore, disconnected from major party politics, is an effective speaker and recruiter for environmental and other Utopian causes. His book represents the science of ecology and the Gaia concept in a very straightforward, easily understood manner. That this is a picture book makes it very different from the usual, literate scientific presentation, but scientific nonetheless. Most people who are classically educated, including myself, are strongly oriented toward the word rather than the picture. (One of the problems with pictures is exactly that they are worth a thousand ironic words, many of them contradictory and disingenuous.) Nonetheless, the world of The Medium is the Message is ours; the world in which most people conduct their lives. Al Gore has mastered the medium for his purpose.

I am very hopeful Mr. Gore's methods will work, and bring about a sufficient, active consensus on our global environment. If so, he will have achieved where the rest of us, so far, have tried and failed.