Reading Response #11: An Inconvenient Truth

Al Gore’s documentary about the current environmental crisis combines the matter-of-fact-ness of scientific evidence with Hollywood producing. He didn’t want to just target science or environmental gurus, he wanted to rope in a general audience. Putting together a documentary rich with information that’s still entertaining to the average Joe is no small task. This documentary was a box office hit- rare for a documentary, especially one of this nature.

The basis of the movie was a sincere warning. He showed pictures of changing ecosystems and combined them with award-winning music. One of the most important issues he covered was that of the ice melting that is happening as a result of global warming. If the Greenland ice cap should melt, he showed how detrimental this would be to millions of coastal-dwelling people, let alone the economy and biodiversity.

This movie was effective because it succeeded in generating emotions. He made note that the issue really does in a way come down to humanity and the behaviors we’ve all chosen. Changing the behaviors of human beings is what has the potential to reverse or slow down global warming. Politics isn’t necessarily what will singlehandedly fix the issue. The most innovative policy could be written and passed but without behavioral change we aren’t going to get very far.

Critics might call Al Gore’s documentary an exaggeration or “a little over the top”. But the truth is, that is what we need right now.

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