Here's an Inconvenient Truth: Arctic Ice Shrinks 14% in one year

"I think we have a very brief window of opportunity to deal with climate change, no longer than a decade at the most."
James Hansen, NASA Scientist

The NASA satellite results reported yesterday read like the opening exposition of an epic disaster movie. Arctic 'perennial ice' (thick ice that remains frozen all year round) shrunk, between 2004 and 2005, by 14%. In previous years the shrinkage has been closer to 0.7%. That's an increase in the rate of Arctic perrenial ice shrinkage of 1800% in one year.

The documentary of Al Gore's almighty mission to alert the world to the urgency of climate change, An Inconvenient Truth couldn't have come to the UK soon enough. It's like a horror film that for some will be too scary and realistic for comfort, depicting an unknown terror threat that could destroy not just buildings but entire cities and countries. Opening this weekend on a limited release across the UK, before expansion over the coming month, the film appears to pull no punches in examining the consequences of inaction.

Having received universally glowing write-ups on its release in the US (on review tracking site RottenTomatoes the film received 109 positive reviews with no negative reviews), An Inconvenient Truth is already the third highest grossing documentary of all time there. Al Gore, wife Tipper and production company Partizan have promised to give any profits earned from this and an accompanying book, to the Alliance for Climate Protection Climate Crisis organisation.

"In 39 years, I have never written these words in a movie review, but here they are: You owe it to yourself to see this film. If you do not, and you have grandchildren, you should explain to them why you decided not to."
Roger Eber

10 things you can do

Change a light bulb
Changing to ONE compact fluorescent saves 150 pounds of carbon dioxide a year - they last 13 times longer and use 75% less energy, typically.

Drive less
Walk, bike, carpool or take public transit move often. You'll save one pound of carbon dioxide for every mile you don't drive.

Recycle more
You can save 2400 pounds of carbon dioxide per year by recycling half of your household waste.

Check your tires
Keeping your tire inflated properly can improve mileage more than 3%. Every gallon of petrol saved keeps 20 pounds of carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

Use less hot water
It takes a lot of energy to heat water. Use less hot water by installing a low-flow showerhead (350 pounds of CO2 saved per year) and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds saved per year).

Avoid products with a lot of packaging
You can save 1200 pounds of carbon dioxide if you cut your household waste by 10%

Adjust your thermostat
Moving your thermostat down just 2 degrees in winter and up 2 degrees in summer could save about 2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide each year.

Plant a tree
A single tree will absorb 1 ton of carbon dioxide during its lifetime.

Go see the film and be a part of the sollution
Test your Carbon Footprint at SafeClimate.

Political response

(from Wikipedia)

President Bush, when asked whether he would watch the film, responded: "Doubt it." He later stated that "we need to set aside whether or not greenhouse gases have been caused by mankind or because of natural effects. Gore responded by saying, "The entire global scientific community has a consensus on the question that human beings are responsible for global warming and [Bush] has today again expressed personal doubt that that is true."

In August 2006, the Wall Street Journal revealed that a YouTube video lampooning Gore and the movie, titled Al Gore's Penguin Army, appeared to be astroturfing by DCI Group, a Washington PR firm with ties to Google, ExxonMobil as well as the Republican Party (see Al Gore's Penguin Army video controversy).

In September 2006, Gore traveled to Sydney, Australia to promote the film. Australian Prime Minister, John Howard said he would not meet with Gore or agree to Kyoto because of the movie: "I don't take policy advice from films." Opposition Leader Kim Beazley joined Gore for a viewing and other MPs attended a special screening at Parliament House earlier in the week.

UK cinema release schedule

Presumably in a bid to increase interest over time, distributor UIP is staggering the release of the film over four weeks. The following is taken from a zipped Excel file on the UIP website.

by Nic Wistreich

Published 14 September 2006

Here's an Inconvenient Truth: Arctic Ice Shrinks 14% in one year

10 things you can do

Political response

UK cinema release schedule

SITES OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 15

SITES OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 22

SITES OPENING ON SEPTEMBER 29

SITES OPENING ON OCTOBER 6

SITES OPENING ON OCTOBER 13

by Nic Wistreich

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