The Birth of a New Environmental Movement?
July 8th, 2007
By Rowan Wolf
With the apparent success of yesterday’s Live Earth concerts, one has to ask whether something new is being born. It is reported that the broadcasts reached 2 billion people. That is almost one-third of the population of the planet. If accurate, that is HUGE. Certainly, a third of the planet should be more than a critical mass to DO something.
I have said for a long time that what is needed to make significant change is someone in a position of power to take leadership. Al Gore is doing exactly that, and I believe he is doing it incredibly well. While there are those who would love to see him run for president, I believe he is much more effective right where he is.
I believe that the United States, and the world, needs a high visibility, highly credible, highly connected, voice to actually move us along the necessary path for planetary survival. Al Gore meets all of those requirements and he is fully committed and truly passionate about global warming. He is also totally focused on that ONE THING.
Maybe he could “save” the United States, and maybe he couldn’t, but the Presidency would hamstring is ability to be that leader that is needed.
The release of “An Inconvenient Truth” started an avalanche of change. The words “global warming” now find a presence on the evening news, and even weather reports. The words (particularly in weather forecasts) were assiduously avoided before that. The Weather Channel even has “Forecast Earth” now, which is expressly focused on global warming.
The Live Earth concerts, with its web site connections, and building of neighborhood and community action groups, will hopefully provide a reinvigorated push in the right direction. I am waiting to see what Gore’s next big push will be. I am sure it is planned, and in six months or so, it will be needed. It is too easy for folks to go back to “business as usual.” Further, we do have elections coming up in the United States. I would be amazed if there is not a dramatic effort to push candidates to take up this banner as one of the top (if not THE top) issue for the 2008 elections.
All of this media, and the changes in reporting, are having an effect. While national and global leaders seem to largely avoid the issue of global warming like old socks, the people are not likely to let that happen. Al Gore has recognized that the change necessary is not going to come from the designated leadership. It will only come from a tidal wave of public pressure. Now THAT is a big recognition for a career politician to make.
Entry Filed under: NEGATIVE SPACE, ONE PLANET
2 Comments Add your own
1. phil gallagh | July 11th, 2007 at 11:31 pm
Hi Rowan, Phil Gallagher here. Been a reader of your column for some time, and wanted to thank you for your original way of looking at the issues that constitute the main focus of this blog. On the question of Gore, I believe that, given where the world’s at, we can use all the help we can get, and if it comes from a old-time establioshmentarian with longstanding credentials of working comfortably within the boundaries of the status quo, so be it. The issue is not to allow us the luxury of believing that Gore, who spent 8 years with Clinton doing little or nothing about these issues, has suddenly become a convert to radical vistas. His movie is eloquent in that regard. Incovenient Truth bears all the hallmarks of liberal thinking: excellent enumeration of the problems, and laughably inadequate proposals to fix them. He’s asking us to drive hybrids and change our bulbs for god’s sake, without even raising the issue that perhaps, just perhaps, the problem is systemic.
I recently read this highly thought-provoking piece on Thomas Paine (on this site) penned by someone from Spain, Pablo Uziel (?) in which he takes Al Gore and his roadshow to task for precisely some of the things many other activists regard as insicincere in Gore’s conversion. And, frankly, I remain unconvinced that Live Aid, Get Aid, or whatever megaconcernts where megacelebrities strut their charitable hearts in front of billions…are a substitute for patient, mass education and serious political action. Bono and Rock & Roll won’t save the world, and that—in my book—is a fact.
2. Rowan Wolf | July 18th, 2007 at 11:15 pm
Regardless of Gore’s entrenchment within the system, he IS getting mainstream press for the issue - something none of us have been able to do. If people can at least start recognizing the reality of global warming, then they can at least start applying pressure to the powers that be.
I agree, that he is a consumate politician, but he is also in a position to credibly lead - for many in the U.S.
There was no “awakening” to the issue until Inconvenient Truth (and I agree about the inadequacy of the “tips.)”.
Thank you for your ongoing support.
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