Blueyville, the blog

(An interruption of your regularly scheduled nothing for reflections on the movie!)

Last night I saw An Inconvenient Truth in Bryn Mawr with an assortment of friends.
The movie is as engaging as it’s been hyped to be and showcases Al Gore more convincingly than any presidential debate managed to. Ricky and I were passing oh my gods and gasps back and forth during most of the threats and current realities illustrated in the presentation. (Along with, admittedly, an occasional raised eyebrow at the flashbacks to Gore before time wore on the charm of youthful features; and the expected laughter at his sardonic look at big interests’ egregious disregard.)

Throughout Gore’s concise and direct explainations, the global warming that I had duly recognized as bad for earth and bad for people began gaining substance as much more than an abstract concept. Even I, still able to put faith in a capable political figure, have given into the doubt encouraged by suggestions of natural cycles and inevitability, so well represented yet so poorly supported by truths. And often, once I do come to acknowledge some apparently terrible reality, it’s hampered by the feeling that there is not enough shared enthusiasm behind the issue to validate it: how can I decide what is wrong with the world, if the realization has not yet impressed itself so firmly in enough other minds?

So I sat in the theatre among an audience I was sure must all be as engrossed in the moment as I, regardless of whether they entered with skepticism, harboring a dedicated environmentalist streak, or just wondering what Al’s been up to. And in the movie itself, crowds looked up attentively to Gore’s flashy PowerPoint, and he offered the promise that at least a thousand such audiences worldwide have been recently privileged to this presentation.

Yes, scientists have long been aware of this; yes, the public has often brushed away the consequence of pollution for the convenience of traveling with kids and their soccer equipment. Everyone feels so connected to his or her own life that detached and abstruse problems can be easily ignored, but I think this movie has the potential to constitute an experience; not just a barrage of doom and numbers, but a personal appeal to pay attention. And could some kind of ideal mob mentality immerge, in which we can all band together to reduce, reuse, and recycle?

In any case, I looked desperately to the list of changes for us to make: use less hot water, drive efficient cars, etc. I don’t think it included a thing I haven’t heard, but perhaps shorter showers and bike rides can indeed make a difference on the right scale. If we seemingly insignificant people can so harshly dent the natural workings of the earth, shouldn’t widespread concerted efforts do something to restore the planet? (Aside: Maybe this could get more attention in America if marketed as a weight loss diet–ride a bike to save the planet and your waistline? Environmentalists Don’t Get Fat? …sorry)

I was thinking about the usual issue of transportation. I wish I’d had the perspective when buying my car to look for a hybrid (though they’re reportedly expensive) or at least something more efficient. I don’t know how much scorn I can have for the drivers of mammoth SUVs (except that they block my view) when my own car isn’t particularly good on this issue. I wasn’t very involved in choosing my car when we got it, but I suppose that my brother will buy a car at some point, and perhaps I can direct him towards something more friendly.

In brief closing: Do what you can to see this movie, or I’ll lend it to you once it’s on DVD. Offer to buy a conservative’s movie ticket (preferably one without much political power yet, as we’ve seen how efficiently they can ignore the problems). And I suppose I myself should take particular note of Gore’s advice not to move immediately from denial to despair, but to make a lengthy stop at the “do something about it” stage.