An Inconvenient Truth (2006)

“The era of procrastination, of soothing and baffling expedients, of delays, is coming to a close. In its place we are entering a period of consequences.” – Winston Churchill

Winston Churchill spoke these words in a different context. But these very same words aptly describe the kind of spot mankind is finding itself in today. Humans have indeed entered the “period of consequences” and it’s beginning to show. The ice caps in Antarctica are melting, the ocean level is rising dangerously, glaciers are retreating, unusual hurricanes, draughts, epidemics are occurring at an alarming frequency. All this because of something that the mankind is waking up to recently : Global Warming.

Al Gore’s critically acclaimed documentary “An Inconvenient Truth” tries to enlighten the viewers about the issue of global warming. When I got a copy of this, I was quite skeptical; not about the documentary, but about my own ability to sit through almost 100 minutes of talking where someone was going to throw a lot of data at me to prove his point. But I was actually pleasantly surprised and quite amazed by the simplicity and the clarity of this documentary. Yes, there’s a lot of data that Gore presents to drive his point home. But Gore presents it in a very simplistic manner which could be understood even by the meanest of intelligence. Though the documentary is mainly aimed at the American people, Gore acknowledges it as a universal issue. It’s something that’s happening worldwide. Almost no country has been spared from the effects of global warming. As the issue continues to aggravate more and more each year, mitigation of global warming has become an extremely urgent task for the mankind. The very existence of mankind and all the other species is being threatened.

The documentary is a recording of the slide show that Gore has been giving worldwide. Gore is absolutely comfortable on-stage and presents his data with conviction. He is an engaging speaker who knows how to present the matter. There are times when the documentary delves into Gore’s personal reminiscences. These occasional insights into Gore’s personal life are actually a little distracting as they try to take the focus away from the main issue. Gore says that global warming is not a “political” issue, it’s a “moral” issue. But there are times when it seems that he might be pushing his political agenda. Fortunately these instances are only sporadic. Gore stays loyal to the issue for the most part of the documentary. He shows how mankind is responsible for the global warming and what it can do to survive. He does not ask us to abandon our current way of living. But he only suggests a few alterations in our life styles to ensure less carbon emissions.

US Senator James Inhofe once asked: “With all of the hysteria, all of the fear, all of the phony science, could it be that man-made global warming is the greatest hoax ever perpetrated on the American people?” Well, the answer is out there. The scientists have all agreed upon it that global warming is for real. It is indeed as Gore says a “conflict between our civilisation and the earth”. The issue is real and we have brought it upon ourselves. And we are the ones who can change it again. What we need is a greater awareness among the public and a strong political will. So are we prepared to do this for the sake of this planet on which we are living?

Fore information on the climate crisis and what you can do for the mitigation of global warming, you may check out the following website:

An Inconvenient Truth