Name: Albert Arnold Gore, Jr Age: 58 Nationality: American Claim to fame: From the guy-who-was-almost-the-president to an environmentalist
JUST as some people have greatness thrust upon them, others have greatness snatched from right under their noses. Al Gore is one of the latter types who was almost proclaimed as the next US president in 2000 but the recounting of votes in Florida and the Supreme Court’s decision led to George Bush’s victory.
Having kept an almost low profile since his vice presidency days, Gore is back in the news. Though not as an opponent of Bush, he is definitely a critic of the President’s policies on environmental issues. He global-warming documentary An Inconvenient Truth, opened in US theatres last week and Gore was in Cannes Film Festival with his film.
When asked if he would be watching the documentary, Bush, who is known for his lack of concern and commitment regarding environmental issues, expressed his doubts. But it is people like the President of the United States and other influential leaders the world over who should be watching this documentary on global warming and how today’s energy gluttony could be endangering the world tomorrow.
Gore’s labour of love chronicles his efforts to bring greater attention to the dangers of climate change. Director Davis Guggenheim has brought to fore a side of Gore that is far different from the stiff political operator that he seemed in his eight years as vice president and his run for the White House. Director Davis Guggenheim mixes footage of Gore on stage and en route, intercepted with interviews, to create a film that’s a combination lecture, travelogue and confessional. The film also includes footage of the devastation Hurricane Katrina wrought on New Orleans and images of melting glaciers, evaporating lakes and the vanishing snows of Mount Kilimanjaro. It shows what could happen if ice covering Greenland and Antarctica continues to melt — huge tracts of Florida flooded and the site of the World Trade Centre Memorial under water. Problems like drought and disease could hit other areas, while the world may have to cope with widespread relocation of refugees fleeing deluged coastlines.
Gore scientifically explains how our fuel emissions act like an envelope, trapping heat in the atmosphere and causing glacial retreat, the melting of polar ice caps, increases in hurricane intensity and other climate changes. Gore’s passion for the issue makes it a livelier film than you may expect — he even cracks the occasional joke. He sounds like your favourite university teacher who is passionate about the information he is imparting.
Gore currently serves as President of the US television channel Current, Chairman of Generation Investment Management, on the board of directors of Apple Computer, and an unofficial advisor to Google’s senior management. There had been speculations about his possible presidential run in 2008, but he has reportedly said that he is not interested. — Atif Khan
Name: Albert Arnold Gore, Jr
