I've never been a believer in global warming caused by man. The issue seemed to me too politicized, the science too debatable, to blame everything solely and completely on our piddly little influence. My opinions became more entrenched when I read of the measures believers were willing to go to to reverse this so-called man-made rush to destroy the planet. Measures like keeping third-world countries in their natural state of poverty and despair, rather than letting them better their lives with industrialization. Measures like setting our own standard of living back hundreds of years.
And if the conflicting reports I read from various scientists weren't enough to keep me from committing fully to the idea, something else led me to regard the whole topic with suspicion. Any time the bulk of Hollywood throws their weight behind an issue my nonsense radar starts beeping incessantly. I'll be honest -- because of this radar, Al Gore's An Inconvenient Truth didn't get a fair shake with me from the beginning. Regardless of what I think of the man, the idea of the movie -- excuse me, documentary -- was too political in nature. It reeked of propoganda.
Over the weekend I discovered that my thoughts weren't too far off the mark. A high school student in Northern Ontario finally complained after he was shown the documentary in his world history class...then his economics class...then his world issues class...then his environment class. Each time it was shown as basic fact, with no opposing viewpoints. And it's not just Canada, apparently individuals and groups are donating copies to schools all over the world. Governments are also buying in:
In England, the government has made the movie part of the public curriculum.
In Spain, the government is buying copies of the movie for all of its schools. In Australia, private donors are buying copies for schools.
If schools want to show this documentary, I have absolutely no problem -- as long as they show the other side. The issue of global warming is not a settled matter that everyone agrees on and presenting only one side is not education, it's propaganda. I've written my opinions about this values-based teaching style before. When educators cram homosexuality down the throats of young, impressionable kids they're employing the same tactic.
Here's one reason An Inconvenient Truth should be shown within the context of a two-sided debate:
Among other things, since the film's release last year, scientists have rejected Mr. Gore's claims that 2005 was the warmest year on record (temperatures have been receding since 1998), that polar bears are heading for extinction (their numbers are growing), that Antarctica is warming (interior temperature readings show cooling) and that sea levels will "rise 18 to 20 feet," swamping coastal cities (the International Panel on Climate Change predicts a few inches).
There's also interesting news coming from the U.S. Senate Committee on Environment & Public Works. Hal recently linked to an article published on their site which discusses:
...the recent and quite remarkable momentum shift taking place in climate science. Many former believers in catastrophic man-made global warming have recently reversed themselves and are now climate skeptics.
The page goes on to list a number <not just two or three> of reputable scientists who were firmly in the man-made global warming camp and have recently been persuaded by the science to change their theories.
I am in no way saying the issue is settled, I just think there's still room for debate. Not surprisingly, my opinion is at odds with famed scientist expert actor Leonardo DiCaprio, who recently commented about his new 'eco-documentary:'
it was about giving them <the scientists> a platform where they didn't have to argue about the science. Because, and I keep stressing this, this is the overwhelming majority of the scientific community that believes in this. Not to have to be challenged about the science, about if their opinions were correct or if their opinions were valid. It was about them being able to express ideas and being able to give us, the public.
Thanks for the thoughtful consideration of what I, as a member of the public, am looking for. Not a thoughtful, reasoned presentation about why certain theories are correct. Rather, I'd like to listen to scientists talking about the looming end of the world while I see "apocalyptic visions of gurgling volcanoes, massive mudslides and clubbed baby seals -- all set against images of America's insatiable consumerism."
LA Reader finally identified herself, so today I'm popping in the mail this lovely silver necklace, handmade in Jordan. Just wanted my illustrious readers to know I was following through so that next time I run a contest you might be persuaded to enter. ;)