Global Warming...?

So I finally watched it. Being somewhat skeptical I didn't think I would swayed much by the film. However, Gore presented tons of facts and it seemed to be very true. I am easily persuaded by media and the like so was sure to watch it with Kassie (who majored in Biology and somehow seems to remember everything from all her classes!) so she could keep things real. When it was over she told me that pretty much everything seemed to be true, except perhaps a few connections between hurricanes and warming and other things. What was cool is 19 scientists came to that same conclusion. After the release of the film, the associated press went and questioned these scientists about the truthfulness of what was presented. You can read about that here.

My only real exposure to the issue was from Glenn Beck's book called "An Inconvenient Book" which really raked over the film and its message. This clip illustrates his perspective at the time the book came out (2007 ish). However, according to an interview with USA Weekend, Beck has really changed a great deal...perhaps this article isn't truthful?

It is hard for me to say, because of my lack of knowledge and lack of learning in the field what is exactly true or isn't. This video seems to shed some pretty strong negative light on Gore and his mission, but can I really trust one Youtube video?

One thing I do know is that this earth is a stewardship God has given us. Kassie made the point after the movie was over that regardless of the veracity of Gore's argument, we have an obligation to care for what we have been given. Regardless of what we do, the Lord will keep the world going long enough for all of His children to have a time to come receive bodies and so forth. So it seems I haven't come up with one specific answer, but maybe you have learned a few things like I have.

Gore's film (well it actually wasn't his film...) ends with a few tips that may be helpful regardless of your perspective of the whole thing.

1. Change a light

Replacing one regular light bulb with a compact

fluorescent light bulb will save 300 pounds of

carbon dioxide a year.

2. Drive less

Walk, bike, carpool or take mass transit more

often. You’ll save one pound of carbon dioxide

for every mile you don’t drive!

3. Recycle more

You can save 2,400 pounds of carbon dioxide

per year by recycling just half of your household waste.

4. Check your tires

Keeping your tires inflated properly can

improve gas mileage by more than 3%. Every

gallon of gasoline saved keeps 20 pounds of

carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere!

5. 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).

6. Avoid products with a lot of packaging

You can save 1,200 pounds of carbon dioxide if

you cut down your garbage by 10%.

7. Adjust your thermostat

The simple adjustment of moving your

thermostat down just 2 degrees in winter and

up 2 degrees in summer could save you about

2,000 pounds of carbon dioxide a year.

8. Plant a tree

A single tree will absorb one ton of carbon

dioxide over its lifetime.

9. Turn off electronic devices

Simply turning off your television, DVD player,

stereo and computer when you’re not using

them will save you thousands of pounds of

carbon dioxide a year.

10. Try Meatless Mondays

Skipping meat one day per week would help

save over 35,000 gallons of water. Cutting meat

out of your diet entirely would help save 5,000

lbs of carbon emissions per year.

11 Unplug

Unplugging hair dryers, phone charges, toaster

ovens and power cords when not in use can

save up to 20% on home energy use.