Monday, December 10, 2007

Nobel Winner, Al Gore - Are We Listening?

To launch LifePrints my first post was about meeting Al Gore while he was stumping for Tessa Haffen, a democratic candidate for congress from Nevada. My family and I staked out front row seats. We shook his hand and spoke with him for a few minutes. We told him how his work on Global Warming awareness had changed the way we do things in our household. He was gracious and genuinely listened to what we said. I've always liked the man.

When making decisions about politicians I trust my gut.For me it's less about the issues and more about the person who will act in Washington on my behalf. And I have to do this through media images, sound bites and debates because my chances of meeting an influential politician face to face are very slim. So I was very excited about meeting our former Vice President.

When I look into someones eyes I get a strong feeling about their general intentions (good or bad, honorable or corrupt). I've learned over the years that my instincts are usually correct. I looked former Vice President Al Gore in the eye and my feelings were confirmed. His expression was open and kind. His intentions good.

My feelings about him were again confirmed by his impact on the world's attitude about Global Warming. Since his documentary, An Inconvenient Truth, I've seen a shift in my country. We are talking, making plans, and committing to change for the first time since I first heard the words Global Warming over 20 years ago. But will it be enough. Mr. Gore is hopeful so I will be hopeful also.

Here is an excerpt from the speech he will give today in Oslo, Norway when he accepts his Nobel Prize:

Even though I fear my words cannot match this moment, I pray what I am feeling in my heart will be communicated clearly enough that those who hear me will say, “We must act.”

The distinguished scientists with whom it is the greatest honor of my life to share this award have laid before us a choice between two different futures – a choice that to my ears echoes the words of an ancient prophet: “Life or death, blessings or curses. Therefore, choose life, that both thou and thy seed may live.”

We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.

However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”

I applaud Mr. Gore for his continued efforts on behalf of our future.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

IT HAS BECOME OBVIOUS THAT THE NOBEL COMMITTEE AWARDED THIS PRIZE TO GORE IN RESPONSE TO PRESSURE FROM THE PIAPS CAMPAIGN. GORE AGREED TO ACCEPT THIS ARRANGEMENT IN EXNCHANGE FOR STAYING OUT OF THE PRESIDENTIAL RACE!!!!

KING HARALD’S PARTICIPATION IN THIS TRAVESTY IS A GESTURE OF HOSTILITY TOWARDS AMERICA ON THE PART OF A FOREIGN HEAD OF STATE!!!!!

THE STAFF AT THE NORWEGIAN EMBASSY IN WASHINGTON WAS REPEATED ADVISED ABOUT THIS!!!!

AMERICA MUST PLACE SEVERE TRADE AND TRAVEL RESTRICTIONS ON NORWAY!!!!!!!

Lisa McGlaun said...

Ralph,

I'm not sure what you are talking about. I'll spend some time looking up the issues you've mentioned. Are you from Norway? As always stories that make the headlines in one country are not reported in others.

Thanks for the input.

Sincerely,
Lisa

Francis Scudellari said...

Hi Lisa,

I put up a post about the speech at the Climate of Our Future blog earlier today as well ... even using the same passage, plus a bit more.

I don't know why some people have a visceral dislike for Gore, but I think it's part of a general right-wing hatred for anything that was ever associated with Bill Clinton.

I agree with you, he seems like a good man, and doing us all a great service by bringing attention to this issue. It's too bad some people can't get past their petty prejudices to listen to his message.

Lisa McGlaun said...

Francis,

So often you and I are on the same wavelength, so today we blogged about the same issue..I'm not surprised..:)

I'm with you about the reactions. No one is perfect or liked by everyone. Sometimes I think it's good to be controversial, I don't mind that at all in a person I admire.

Peace,
Lisa

Lisa McGlaun said...

Ralph,

I attempted to look up PIAP'S and found nothing that related to Gore. Actually, I found no mention of the acronym, except on your blog, which seems to be extremist..at least in my humble opinion.

If you can enlighten me as to what you are talking about, please do so.

Sincerely,
Lisa

La delirante said...

Hi Lisa! I watched the documentary some months ago and really liked it. I thought it should be "a must" that should be shown at schools.

I am happy that as you said, now things are changing thanks to people like him and also because of his documentary.

(I hope this comment is posted successfully this time ;) Have a nice day!

Lisa McGlaun said...

Wen,

It worked!..I'm so sorry you've had trouble posting comments. I always look forward to reading what you have to say.

My husband and I saw the film in April of 06. I left the theater so upset and ready to do things differently. We took our children baack a few days later along with some of my teenager's friends.

We made the quick easy changes like our lightbulbs, lowering the thermostat and insulating better. Other things are not so simple. We replaced one of our cars with a hybrid, put a more efficient air conditioner and water heater in our house. Soon we plan to covert our yard to water saving zeroscaping (which is recommended in the area were we live).

It's not an overnight solution but we are doing our part. I would like it to be more.

The main changes need to be made on the corporate and government level. We must keep talking to our officials so that they know how important this issue is to us.

Thanks..didn't mean to go on so long..:)

Hugs,
Lisa

Michael J. Kannengieser said...

Hi Lisa,
The older I get, the more my old ideas and beliefs are falling by the wayside. What can be more important than the world we live in and how clean it is? I didn't vote for Al Gore, and I try to keep my politics personal, but this is serious business, global warming, and we need to stop talking about it as a nation and just act. I do what little I can, and I know you do. Thanks for the post. Have a great day. -Mike.

Lisa McGlaun said...

Mike,

Many of the ways that I used to make decisions don't work anymore. Recycling is very important to me where once it wasn't..especially when I lived in a rural area and I would have had to cart of the recyclables myself instead of having them picked up curbside. I didn't do it. I would now.

Thanks for the comment.

Peace,
Lisa

Heather said...

I loved his documentary and couldn't agree more about "reading" a person via his/her eyes.

lucky you for having the opportunity to meet him! He comes across as very approachable.

Lisa McGlaun said...

Heather,

He was very approachable. So much so that he walked up to us as soon as he stopped speaking..but then again we were seated directly under his nose. He couldn't have avoided us if he'd tried..lol.

Check back tomorrow..I'm passing on the badge you gave me. I planned to do it today but my computer has PMS today..:)

Best Wishes,
Lisa

Anonymous said...

Hi Lisa
I watched Al Gore's Documentary about a month ago. Certainly enlightening and frightening. Being a Canadian I am extremely angry with this government's about face on the Kyoto accord and their subsequent excuses and foot dragging; and their stone walling in Bali. I mean it doesn't take a genius to see what effect we humans are having on the earth. I can see it in my back yard.
Excellent post BTW. Keep it up.
Take care. Peace.
~JD