Collabrative Essay
Thomas Fuss
Steven Ferneding
Colleen Huey
Nikki Georgeson
An Inconvenient Truth is a documentary of Al Gore’s presentation about global warming. The movie follows
Gore through the presentation and how Gore got involved in the global warming movement. The movie can be looked at in both a philosophical and biological perspective. Gore uses prime scientific examples of how global warming is affecting global society, morally and emotionally. The film argues that we are a major contributor to global warming and the effects can be seen in the glacial ice caps through scientific research. Gore examines how we see the warning signs for global warming but we are just ignoring them. Gore brings in his experiences and how he got involved in the global warming movement digs into the viewers
emotions and values.
Al Gore thoroughly explains the effects of global warming and the impact it has on humanity. Using examples from around the globe, he shows results of how global warming is affecting agriculture and land as a whole. The increase of CO₂ levels changes the frequency and severity of levels of moisture, droughts, floods and many conditions that affect crops and glaciers in the United States that are critical for food and water supply. Gore uses the example of how ice glaciers in iconic places around the world are now deteriorating because of global warming. He references Glacier National Park, Columbia Glacier in Alaska, Glaciers in
Nepal, and Mount Kilimanjaro to show the forty percent of all people in the world receive their drinking water from river and spring systems. He says that these people are fed more than half from what comes from glaciers. Within the next half century, those forty percent are going to face a serious shortage. For example, National Geographic states, “Glacier National Park was home to an estimated 150 glaciers. Since then the number has decreased to fewer than 30, and those remaining have shrunk in area by two-thirds.” The effect of the loss of glaciers and crops is severely increasing now more than ever. Not only are glaciers iconic, but they serve a greater purpose just like agriculture. The combination of effects that changes the rise of global sea level, which can be
affected by glaciers. When temperatures rise and ice melts, ocean water expands in volume, which can be caused by the deterioration of glaciers and the loss of snow. Gore uses these examples not only because global warming is affecting humanity now, but it will worsen for future generations. Scientists work to provide research to inform people of what they need to do to participate in saving our land for our future children.
By discussing the issues of Global Warming causing the melting of glaciers Gore, inevitably strikes fear into the eyes of the viewer. In this film there are a number of examples in which Gore displays the worst possible scenarios. These scenarios show which places around the world would be underwater if the glaciers keep melting the way they are now. The decision to choose these extreme examples over the more common, less detrimental outcomes was made by Gore in order to grasp the attention of the viewer towards this issue. The issue being that the consequences of our actions can surely affect our lives, sooner than we
may think. Seeing places like Florida, parts of Australia and Europe underwater creates a lasting impression in the minds of the viewer. This impression raises emotion inside the viewer, giving them ambitions to change the way they live immediately. These reactions are exactly what Gore and his team wanted as a result of his tactics.
The film presents the dangers of global warming, which created a lot of publicity about the environment. While presenting facts, Gore brings his own life into the presentation. He specifically talks about his life when he was a boy on his family’s farm where tobacco along with other crops was grown. Gore goes on to explain that his sister Nancy, who he was very close with, started smoking as a teenager. She passed away from lung cancer. Al Gore’s father grew tobacco on that farm all his life, and could not take the fact that tobacco was responsible for his daughter’s death. His father stopped growing tobacco. Gore’s main point during this segment of his presentation was to point out it would have been better to stop growing tobacco when the first warning signs were discovered. He relates this to the environmental dangers our society is faced with. If we know the dangers humans are putting on the environment, why don’t we make difference? Humans learn from past mistakes, but this mistake can never be reversed. An
article titled Global Warming-Global Responsibility? says, “…the matter of responsibility is of great significance considering the salience of and scientific uncertainties surrounding environmental issues” (Olausson, 422). Ollausson goes on to explain that this global problem needs to be fought together. Gore presents factual information throughout his keynote, and nears the end of his presentation with a quote “Making mistakes, in centuries and generations past would have consequences that we could overcome. We don't have that luxury anymore” (Gore, 2006). He explains that global warming is something that cannot be stopped unless we make drastic changes. Which is why we need to start now.
When Gore develops his argument over the negative effects of global warming, he does so with an emotional and ethical approach. By explaining sentimental experiences that relate to the evidence shown, Gore can capture the spirit of the viewers, overall giving them a sensitive reaction towards the issue. When Gore discusses the effects that tobacco had on his sister he is bringing up an experience that many viewers can relate to emotionally. Whether each viewer has had this similar experience or not they still might find themselves having sympathetic feelings towards the issue, indirectly drawing them towards the
negative connotation of tobacco. Gore relates the story about tobacco to the issue of global warming by expressing the idea that, it is the responsibility of the people to act ethically by changing the way we do things when we realize that there is a problem. He backs up the idea that the population as a whole fails to act this way when he says, “We routinely choose to indulge our own
generation at the expense of all who will follow” (Gore, 241). However, Gore believes that on a larger scale, the entire population on earth can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we release in the same way his father halted his production of tobacco. Throughout the film Gore continues to entice the viewer back to their emotional senses through the demonstration of common experiences and expected scenarios.
Gore’s presentation uses prime examples of scientific research and relates to societal morals and emotions on global warming. Throughout Gores presentation he leads to the idea that we are the cause of global warming and without any action the
Earth could end up like his sister by losing important environmental factors like cities and polar ice caps. We cannot do it alone though. Every nation in the world will have to work together to reduce our carbon footprint but it starts with one person like Gore. Without change we may lose many environmental factors that we rely on and need for sustainability on Earth.
Work
Cited
An
Inconvenient Truth: A Global Warning. Dir.
Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Al Gore. Paramount, 2006.
Gore,
Albert. "Environmentalism of the Spirit." Earth
in the Balance: Ecology and the Human
Spirit.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. 239-63. Print.
Olausson,
U. "Global Warming--global Responsibility? Media Frames of Collective Action and
Scientific
Certainty." Public
Understanding of Science
18.4 (2009): 421-36. Print.
Essick,
Daniel. "Signs From Earth: The Big Thaw." National
Geographic
10 Feb. 2011: 1-6.
Print.
Thomas Fuss
Steven Ferneding
Colleen Huey
Nikki Georgeson
An Inconvenient Truth is a documentary of Al Gore’s presentation about global warming. The movie follows
Gore through the presentation and how Gore got involved in the global warming movement. The movie can be looked at in both a philosophical and biological perspective. Gore uses prime scientific examples of how global warming is affecting global society, morally and emotionally. The film argues that we are a major contributor to global warming and the effects can be seen in the glacial ice caps through scientific research. Gore examines how we see the warning signs for global warming but we are just ignoring them. Gore brings in his experiences and how he got involved in the global warming movement digs into the viewers
emotions and values.
Al Gore thoroughly explains the effects of global warming and the impact it has on humanity. Using examples from around the globe, he shows results of how global warming is affecting agriculture and land as a whole. The increase of CO₂ levels changes the frequency and severity of levels of moisture, droughts, floods and many conditions that affect crops and glaciers in the United States that are critical for food and water supply. Gore uses the example of how ice glaciers in iconic places around the world are now deteriorating because of global warming. He references Glacier National Park, Columbia Glacier in Alaska, Glaciers in
Nepal, and Mount Kilimanjaro to show the forty percent of all people in the world receive their drinking water from river and spring systems. He says that these people are fed more than half from what comes from glaciers. Within the next half century, those forty percent are going to face a serious shortage. For example, National Geographic states, “Glacier National Park was home to an estimated 150 glaciers. Since then the number has decreased to fewer than 30, and those remaining have shrunk in area by two-thirds.” The effect of the loss of glaciers and crops is severely increasing now more than ever. Not only are glaciers iconic, but they serve a greater purpose just like agriculture. The combination of effects that changes the rise of global sea level, which can be
affected by glaciers. When temperatures rise and ice melts, ocean water expands in volume, which can be caused by the deterioration of glaciers and the loss of snow. Gore uses these examples not only because global warming is affecting humanity now, but it will worsen for future generations. Scientists work to provide research to inform people of what they need to do to participate in saving our land for our future children.
By discussing the issues of Global Warming causing the melting of glaciers Gore, inevitably strikes fear into the eyes of the viewer. In this film there are a number of examples in which Gore displays the worst possible scenarios. These scenarios show which places around the world would be underwater if the glaciers keep melting the way they are now. The decision to choose these extreme examples over the more common, less detrimental outcomes was made by Gore in order to grasp the attention of the viewer towards this issue. The issue being that the consequences of our actions can surely affect our lives, sooner than we
may think. Seeing places like Florida, parts of Australia and Europe underwater creates a lasting impression in the minds of the viewer. This impression raises emotion inside the viewer, giving them ambitions to change the way they live immediately. These reactions are exactly what Gore and his team wanted as a result of his tactics.
The film presents the dangers of global warming, which created a lot of publicity about the environment. While presenting facts, Gore brings his own life into the presentation. He specifically talks about his life when he was a boy on his family’s farm where tobacco along with other crops was grown. Gore goes on to explain that his sister Nancy, who he was very close with, started smoking as a teenager. She passed away from lung cancer. Al Gore’s father grew tobacco on that farm all his life, and could not take the fact that tobacco was responsible for his daughter’s death. His father stopped growing tobacco. Gore’s main point during this segment of his presentation was to point out it would have been better to stop growing tobacco when the first warning signs were discovered. He relates this to the environmental dangers our society is faced with. If we know the dangers humans are putting on the environment, why don’t we make difference? Humans learn from past mistakes, but this mistake can never be reversed. An
article titled Global Warming-Global Responsibility? says, “…the matter of responsibility is of great significance considering the salience of and scientific uncertainties surrounding environmental issues” (Olausson, 422). Ollausson goes on to explain that this global problem needs to be fought together. Gore presents factual information throughout his keynote, and nears the end of his presentation with a quote “Making mistakes, in centuries and generations past would have consequences that we could overcome. We don't have that luxury anymore” (Gore, 2006). He explains that global warming is something that cannot be stopped unless we make drastic changes. Which is why we need to start now.
When Gore develops his argument over the negative effects of global warming, he does so with an emotional and ethical approach. By explaining sentimental experiences that relate to the evidence shown, Gore can capture the spirit of the viewers, overall giving them a sensitive reaction towards the issue. When Gore discusses the effects that tobacco had on his sister he is bringing up an experience that many viewers can relate to emotionally. Whether each viewer has had this similar experience or not they still might find themselves having sympathetic feelings towards the issue, indirectly drawing them towards the
negative connotation of tobacco. Gore relates the story about tobacco to the issue of global warming by expressing the idea that, it is the responsibility of the people to act ethically by changing the way we do things when we realize that there is a problem. He backs up the idea that the population as a whole fails to act this way when he says, “We routinely choose to indulge our own
generation at the expense of all who will follow” (Gore, 241). However, Gore believes that on a larger scale, the entire population on earth can reduce the amount of greenhouse gases we release in the same way his father halted his production of tobacco. Throughout the film Gore continues to entice the viewer back to their emotional senses through the demonstration of common experiences and expected scenarios.
Gore’s presentation uses prime examples of scientific research and relates to societal morals and emotions on global warming. Throughout Gores presentation he leads to the idea that we are the cause of global warming and without any action the
Earth could end up like his sister by losing important environmental factors like cities and polar ice caps. We cannot do it alone though. Every nation in the world will have to work together to reduce our carbon footprint but it starts with one person like Gore. Without change we may lose many environmental factors that we rely on and need for sustainability on Earth.
Work
Cited
An
Inconvenient Truth: A Global Warning. Dir.
Davis Guggenheim. Perf. Al Gore. Paramount, 2006.
Gore,
Albert. "Environmentalism of the Spirit." Earth
in the Balance: Ecology and the Human
Spirit.
Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1992. 239-63. Print.
Olausson,
U. "Global Warming--global Responsibility? Media Frames of Collective Action and
Scientific
Certainty." Public
Understanding of Science
18.4 (2009): 421-36. Print.
Essick,
Daniel. "Signs From Earth: The Big Thaw." National
Geographic
10 Feb. 2011: 1-6.
Print.