Response to the Film: An Inconvenient Truth - Essay Example

Response to the film: An Inconvenient truth “An Inconvenient Truth” is a documentary film directed by Davis Guggenheim, taking inspirations from the former United States Vice President Al Gores campaign against global warming. No other films in the history of film making, has been successful as this film in educating the public about the importance of environmental protection and the consequences of climate changes. This paper is written as a response to the major themes of this film. The major theme of this movie is the climate changes caused by global warming. Al Gore explains global warming and climate changes as a moral issue rather than political one (Watch An Inconvenient Truth Online). In many countries global warming and climate changes are considered as a political issue rather than an ethical or moral issue. It is difficult to blame such countries beyond certain limits. The sincerity of the countries in tackling with global warming problems is questioned by many countries. For example, America usually speaks volumes about the importance of protecting the environment. However, they do less to reduce greenhouse gas emission or CFC emission. Developed countries such as America have more industrial units and automobiles compared to developing or underdeveloped countries. Such countries are causing more environmental problems than other countries. Instead of taking necessary steps to reduce environmental problems, these countries have the habit of forcing developing countries to contribute more towards environmental protection. These countries do believe that developed countries have some privileges over developing countries and they can continue with the environment damaging activities. Developed countries like America are asking underdeveloped and developing countries to control greenhouse gas emission. This is because of the fact that pollution and global warming problems in one country can affect other countries as well. America and other developed countries argue that developing world has more responsibility to protect the environment whereas the developed world has less responsibility in doing so. It should be noted that economic progress in developing countries will be reduced considerably if these countries implement strict environment protection activities. Therefore, they are not much interested in protecting the environment very much. They see political and economic reasons behind the demands of American and other developed countries. They believe that America and its allies are trying to prevent developing countries from achieving economic progress. For example, India and China are some of the rapidly emerging economies in the world at present. America believes that the progress in these countries is not good for the interests of Americans. Some estimates show that India and China will become the superpowers in this world in near future itself. Moreover, it is believed that global wealth is currently shifting from American countries to Asian countries. It is indigestible for America and its allies to see a communist country like China becoming the next global power. All these factors are forcing America to force developing world in implementing strict environment protection activities so that developments in these countries will be slowed down. Al Gore argues that the world should treat environmental protection as a moral issue rather than a political or economic issue. Gore is totally right in his argument. However, as in the case of other things, America should initiatives to protect the environment. They should show the way. It should be noted that in many of American families, more than one vehicle is available. People in America are using own vehicles for their travelling needs. They use public transport systems sparingly. In other words, being the most developed country in the world, automobile use in America is extremely higher than that in other countries. If Americans consider global warming and climate changes as a moral issue, they should reduce their automobile use considerably. For that purpose, they should avoid personal transporting vehicles and use the public transport system more and more. Even Al Gore is not doing this. In other words, Americans speak more and delivers less. It is necessary for the Americans to speak less and deliver more with respect to environmental protection. Gore concludes the film by saying: Each one of us is a cause of global warming, but each one of us can make choices to change that with the things we buy, the electricity we use, the cars we drive; we can make choices to bring our individual carbon emissions to zero. The solutions are in our hands, we just have to have the determination to make it happen. We have everything that we need to reduce carbon emissions, everything but political will. But in America, the will to act is a renewable resource (Watch An Inconvenient Truth Online). The reasons of Global warming and pollutions can be tackled at the individual and group levels. As explained by Al Gore, it is the duty of the individuals to contribute as much as possible to the environmental protection activities. At the same time, countries should avoid mixing politics with environmental issues. For example, River Brahmaputra originates in China and ends in India. It is impossible for China to stop the Brahmaputra water from entering Indian soil. If China deliberately pollutes the water of Brahmaputra, Indians may suffer a lot. It should be noted that India and China are not in good political relationships since the politics in these countries are entirely different. If China decides to cause environmental problems in India, they can do it easily. In short, politicization of environmental issues will cause more problems in this world. To conclude, nobody has any permanent claim on this world. In other words, nobody can take anything away from this world at the time of death. The resources in this world are owned not only by the current and past generation, but it belongs to the future generation also. Under such circumstances, it is the moral duty of each and every one to keep this world livable as much as possible. In short, environmental protection should be a moral responsibility to every one rather than a political issue, as argued by Al Gore in the film, an inconvenient truth. Works Cited “Watch An Inconvenient Truth Online”. Web. 17 March 2014. Read More