Communities learn inconvenient truth
Communities learn inconvenient truth
Global warming documentary shown in variety of settings in region
By Robert Knox, Globe Correspondent February 11, 2007
The documentary " An Inconvenient Truth" is getting a wide showing and generating conversation across the region as churches, environmental groups, and, in at least one case, a town used the film as a teaching tool to educate voters about global warming.
Kingston's Secure Energy Future Committee gave the film an official seal of approval when it scheduled a free public screening last week and invited a guest speaker to answer questions.
Showing the film "speaks to our larger mission of securing our town's future with wise energy choices and decisions," said Ron Maribett, the committee's chairman. " 'An Inconvenient Truth' is a great point of departure for public dialogue."
The film, which is based on former vice president Al Gore's efforts to publicize the issue and which has been nominated for an Academy Award, faces the scientific controversy over global warning head on, arguing that no disagreement exists among scientists on the connection between carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric warming. It outlines the connection between rising carbon dioxide emissions and climbing temperatures and the consequences: severe weather events such as Hurricane Katrina, droughts, new diseases, and, ominously for coastal regions, glacial melting and rising sea levels.
Environmental organizations persuaded a Hingham theater to show the film repeatedly and held receptions afterward to encourage people to spread the word. A Duxbury woman rented space at her local library to show the film to neighbors; 55 people came to see it. Said William Bottiggi, general manager of Braintree's Electric Light Department, "The more people who see the movie the better."
Environmentalists say the film's release has made a big difference in focusing public attention on the climate issue and generated ideas about what can be done.
"The film can take a huge share of the credit," said Judeth Van Hamm of South Shore Sustainable, a regional group that has been studying ways to persuade South Shore consumers to use sustainable forms of energy.
Her organization has been "going gang busters" since helping to sponsor post-screening receptions in Hingham last summer. Based initially in Hull and Weymouth, the group now has branches in Cohasset, Hingham, Scituate, Duxbury, Plymouth, and Milton, and is affiliated with independent groups in Kingston and Quincy.
"A lot of people are saying we need to get moving now," said Linda Garrity of Duxbury, who screened the film in her town library. "We can't wait for the government."
Town bodies have begun studying energy alternatives in recent years. Kingston's energy committee has audited town energy costs, studied the feasibility of wind power, and worked on a proposal for Kingston's first wind-power generator. More recently, it added new members and began what Maribett, a geography professor at Bridgewater State College, called "richer and fuller discussions on a wide range of ideas."
Screening "An Inconvenient Truth" provides knowledge, Maribett said, so that when citizens face decisions about building windmills or taking other steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, they will recognize key factors and make informed choices.
Although Gore is a well-known Democrat who lost the presidential election to George W. Bush seven years ago, regional officials said the film's purpose is to be educational rather than partisan. "It's fantastic," Andre Martecchini, a Duxbury selectman and member of his town's Alternative Energy Committee, said of Kingston's decision to host a screening.
"Some people think of it as a very political movie, but if it is, so be it," he said. "If that's what it takes to shake people up, I'm all for it."
Keith Bergman, former Scituate town administrator and currently Provincetown's town manager, agreed to be the guest expert at the Kingston screening, although, as he put it, "I'm not a climate scientist, I'm a political scientist. I'm interested in democracy and in public policies."
Bergman was chosen last year to be the state's representative to the first class of 50 volunteers trained by Gore's nonprofit Climate Project in Tennessee to present the global warming slide show. Since then, the Climate Project has graduated about 1,000 volunteer presenters, including state Senator Marc R . Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat.
Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/11/communities_learn_inconvenient_truth/
Global warming documentary shown in variety of settings in region
By Robert Knox, Globe Correspondent February 11, 2007
The documentary " An Inconvenient Truth" is getting a wide showing and generating conversation across the region as churches, environmental groups, and, in at least one case, a town used the film as a teaching tool to educate voters about global warming.
Kingston's Secure Energy Future Committee gave the film an official seal of approval when it scheduled a free public screening last week and invited a guest speaker to answer questions.
Showing the film "speaks to our larger mission of securing our town's future with wise energy choices and decisions," said Ron Maribett, the committee's chairman. " 'An Inconvenient Truth' is a great point of departure for public dialogue."
The film, which is based on former vice president Al Gore's efforts to publicize the issue and which has been nominated for an Academy Award, faces the scientific controversy over global warning head on, arguing that no disagreement exists among scientists on the connection between carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric warming. It outlines the connection between rising carbon dioxide emissions and climbing temperatures and the consequences: severe weather events such as Hurricane Katrina, droughts, new diseases, and, ominously for coastal regions, glacial melting and rising sea levels.
Environmental organizations persuaded a Hingham theater to show the film repeatedly and held receptions afterward to encourage people to spread the word. A Duxbury woman rented space at her local library to show the film to neighbors; 55 people came to see it. Said William Bottiggi, general manager of Braintree's Electric Light Department, "The more people who see the movie the better."
Environmentalists say the film's release has made a big difference in focusing public attention on the climate issue and generated ideas about what can be done.
"The film can take a huge share of the credit," said Judeth Van Hamm of South Shore Sustainable, a regional group that has been studying ways to persuade South Shore consumers to use sustainable forms of energy.
Her organization has been "going gang busters" since helping to sponsor post-screening receptions in Hingham last summer. Based initially in Hull and Weymouth, the group now has branches in Cohasset, Hingham, Scituate, Duxbury, Plymouth, and Milton, and is affiliated with independent groups in Kingston and Quincy.
"A lot of people are saying we need to get moving now," said Linda Garrity of Duxbury, who screened the film in her town library. "We can't wait for the government."
Town bodies have begun studying energy alternatives in recent years. Kingston's energy committee has audited town energy costs, studied the feasibility of wind power, and worked on a proposal for Kingston's first wind-power generator. More recently, it added new members and began what Maribett, a geography professor at Bridgewater State College, called "richer and fuller discussions on a wide range of ideas."
Screening "An Inconvenient Truth" provides knowledge, Maribett said, so that when citizens face decisions about building windmills or taking other steps to reduce carbon dioxide emissions, they will recognize key factors and make informed choices.
Although Gore is a well-known Democrat who lost the presidential election to George W. Bush seven years ago, regional officials said the film's purpose is to be educational rather than partisan. "It's fantastic," Andre Martecchini, a Duxbury selectman and member of his town's Alternative Energy Committee, said of Kingston's decision to host a screening.
"Some people think of it as a very political movie, but if it is, so be it," he said. "If that's what it takes to shake people up, I'm all for it."
Keith Bergman, former Scituate town administrator and currently Provincetown's town manager, agreed to be the guest expert at the Kingston screening, although, as he put it, "I'm not a climate scientist, I'm a political scientist. I'm interested in democracy and in public policies."
Bergman was chosen last year to be the state's representative to the first class of 50 volunteers trained by Gore's nonprofit Climate Project in Tennessee to present the global warming slide show. Since then, the Climate Project has graduated about 1,000 volunteer presenters, including state Senator Marc R . Pacheco, a Taunton Democrat.
Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2007/02/11/communities_learn_inconvenient_truth/
posted by presgore19 at 6:51 AM
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