An Inconvenient’ slideshow arrives

An Inconvenient’ slideshow arrives

by Chris McCracken
Captain's Log
February 16, 2007

If you ask Particia McCardle, the Earth is in trouble. McCardle is one of 1,000 people personally trained by former Presidential candidate Al Gore to deliver a slide show on the effects of global warming, as presented in the pro-environmental documentary film “An Inconvenient Truth,” narrated by Gore. McCardle visited campus last Thursday, Feb. 1 to present this slide show as part of Global Warming Awareness Week.

“What we are doing to our planet and atmosphere is unprecedented,” said McCardle. “We are pumping way too much carbon dioxide for our atmosphere to hold.”

Too many fossil fuels are being used and our planet is warming at an alarming rate, she said. The hottest year on record in the United States was 2006. The second hottest year was 2005.

“We are heading to a place where we really don’t want to be,” said McCardle.

With the planet constantly getting warmer, many aspects of the environment are being affected. Emerging problems include damage to wildlife, the reoccurrence of deadly diseases and a significant increase in natural disasters, she said.

“We had so many hurricanes one summer we had to start using the Greek alphabet.” McCardle said of the 2005 hurricane season.

The slide show expressed that if the current rate of carbon emissions continue, the polar ice caps will melt in 50 years.

What needs to be done, according to the slides, is to limit the world’s use of fossil fuels. Other means of energy need to be used as replacements, such as wind, solar and geothermal power, McCardle said.

“I found the speaker to be very informative,” said junior Meg Finch.

The slide show also gave many suggestions as to how people can help thwart global climate problems on a personal level. One can purchase a higher mileage or hybrid car, buy efficient lighting and appliances, use efficient home heating systems, recycle as much as possible and most importantly, write your Senator or Congressman to help make national changes, McCardle said.

“I got questions answered,” said Junior Lindsey Wiker. As a result of the presentation, Wiker also plans to watch the documentary.

McCardle said that after the documentary film was released last year, Gore wanted to keep reaching out to deliver the movie’s message about the effects of global warming. By training presenters of “An Inconvenient Truth” slideshow, a significantly wider audience could be reached and on a more personal level, she said.

In accordance with Gore’s wishes, presenters cannot accept gifts or money and must give at least 10 presentations a year and must personalize the slide show.

For more information about global warming and “An Inconvenient Truth” go to www.climatecrisis.net.

Note: Global Warming Awareness week was organized by the CNU chapter of Americans for Informed Democracy.