This is the first time I have heard Al Gore in person. He spoke tonight at the River Centre in St. Paul, MN. Al Gore was truly inspiring, truly passionate.
I realize he has received a lot of bad publicity about being boring but he was not boring tonight. I could have done with a few less graphs because it was a bit overwhelming for my liberal arts edcuated mind.
But graph after graph told an important story.
Our carbon dioxide emissions have dramatically increased over the last 40 years. Glaciers all over the earth are shrinking up to the point that they will be gone soon. He showed before and after photos of 8-10 glaciers. A photo from a 100 years ago would have a huge massive glacier. A photo today would have what looked like a bit of snow.
Gore mentioned Edmund Hillary's recent concern about Mount Everest. Hillary seems to be quite concerned that the Himalayan environment has warmed noticeably over the last 50 years. Global warming has caused several and severe floods from glacial lakes and much disruption to the environment and local people. More can be read at this link.
http://www.enn.com/today.html?id=8204
Gore discussed hurricanes. He said that there is not evidence yet that global warming causes more hurricanes but there is evidence showing that global warming has caused more intense hurricanes. He said that there have been more hurricanes in the last ten years than every before but not enough time has passed to truly evaluate if global warming is the cause of this increase in hurricanes. It seems quite likely to me.
Gore showed map after map of Florida, New York City, Calcutta, and many other places being under water. This would occur if the ocean depths increase due to global warming, which appears to have already started.
I cannot possibly list off all his statistics but I will tell you that it was a very powerful presentation. Al Gore is not running for any office. The press was not there. He referred to himself as a recovering politician. He was there because he is extremely worried about global warming and its affect on our world.
He ended the speech discussing other challenges human beings have faced. Putting a man on the moon. Finding a cure for polio. The fall of the Soviet Union. He mentioned that our reduction in CFC carbons has significantly decreased the ozone hole over the antarctic.
His point was very well received by the crowd. We need to take responsibility for our earth. Now. It is not an impossible undertaking. We can reverse global warming and its effects but time is not on our side. He showed slide after slide of likely destruction by 2050.
I am 36 years old. I plan to still be alive by then. And want our earth to be a liveable place for all of mankind for centuries to come.