Arena crowd takes serious stance after Gore’s lecture

Arena crowd takes serious stance after Gore’s lectureBy Christin Runkle - By Christin Runkle
Idaho Press-Tribune
BOISE — Former Vice President Al Gore drew a positive response from the crowd during his address on global warming during the Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs.The stadium, which seats 10,000, was nearly full after tickets for Gore’s address, “Global Warming: Beyond the Inconvenient Truth,” quickly sold out in hours. Gore received standing ovations at the beginning and conclusion of his address.
After the address, the mood in the Taco Bell Arena was serious but hopeful.Jessi Sorenson, 17, said she had heard about the conference from her parents, and although she had seen parts of Gore’s film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” she admitted to not knowing much about the issue before Monday night.
After the address, Sorenson was earnest.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said. “It’s like something that can’t be ignored anymore.”
Sorenson said she wanted to “be part of something that can make a difference.”
“There are so many things that can be done,” she said.
Dan Meloy and Melinda Diaz, both 18, and Kevin Trombly, 17, attended the conference with some other students in their environmental science class at Timberline High School.
Their class had already shown Gore’s documentary. Even though his Monday lecture closely followed the film, with some notable additions, Trombly said he “got more into (the lecture) than the movie.”
Diaz said that she felt “encouraged because of how many people showed up.”
Idaho Press-Tribune
BOISE — Former Vice President Al Gore drew a positive response from the crowd during his address on global warming during the Frank Church Conference on Public Affairs.
The stadium, which seats 10,000, was nearly full after tickets for Gore’s address, “Global Warming: Beyond the Inconvenient Truth,” quickly sold out in hours. Gore received standing ovations at the beginning and conclusion of his address.
After the address, the mood in the Taco Bell Arena was serious but hopeful.
Jessi Sorenson, 17, said she had heard about the conference from her parents, and although she had seen parts of Gore’s film, “An Inconvenient Truth,” she admitted to not knowing much about the issue before Monday night.
After the address, Sorenson was earnest.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said. “It’s like something that can’t be ignored anymore.”
Sorenson said she wanted to “be part of something that can make a difference.”
“There are so many things that can be done,” she said.
Dan Meloy and Melinda Diaz, both 18, and Kevin Trombly, 17, attended the conference with some other students in their environmental science class at Timberline High School.
Their class had already shown Gore’s documentary. Even though his Monday lecture closely followed the film, with some notable additions, Trombly said he “got more into (the lecture) than the movie.”
Diaz said that she felt “encouraged because of how many people showed up.”
Republican reaction
Nampa Rep. Brent Crane, who serves on the Idaho House’s environmental committee, called Al Gore’s address “smoke and mirrors” and said he should practice what he preaches.
“If he really believes in his cause, how did he get here tonight?” Crane asked, making the point that Gore likely arrived in Boise on a plane using jet fuel and was driven to the Taco Bell arena in a car using gasoline.
“He’s the one making a case,” Crane said. “If he wants to be a leader on the issue, he needs to take the necessary steps to correct it.”
That means not using oil or coal himself— even selling his house and living in a tent, Crane said.
http://www.idahopress.com/articles/2007/01/23/news/news4.txt