New Zealand Schools To Get An Inconvenient Truth

[RestoreGore]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/3955547a7694.html

Schools may get Gore DVD
The Dominion Post | Friday, 9 February 2007

New Zealand classrooms could get a free copy of Al Gore's climate change documentary An Inconvenient Truth.

The Government is interesting in mirroring a British Government scheme to send DVDs of the film to secondary schools as part of the fight against climate change. The film will be part of a global warming information pack distributed to British schools as the government there pushes the message that everyone has a role to play in combating climate change.

Environment Minister David Benson-Pope and Climate Change Issues Minister David Parker said they were keen to take a closer look at introducing a similar scheme to New Zealand schools.Mr Benson-Pope thought the plan was "a great initiative", and said he would like to see it implemented in New Zealand.

He said he would discuss it with his parliamentary colleagues, including Education Minister Steve Maharey.Mr Parker is known to be a fan of Mr Gore's film and has hosted several screenings of it. "I am investigating what resources can be made available to schools, including this film," he said. The British proposal came as a panel of the world's leading scientists issued a report blaming humankind for global warming and predicted that average temperatures would rise by between 1.8 and 4 degrees celsius this century.

An Inconvenient Truth, a film of the former United States vice-president's lecture tour illustrating the dramatic change to the environment due to human activities, has been a box office hit.Mr Gore, a dedicated climate crusader, has begun a programme of training what he calls climate ambassadors to travel the world.

"As the film shows, there's no reason to feel helpless in the face of this challenge," British environment minister David Miliband said. "Everyone can play a part along with government and business in making a positive contribution in helping to prevent climate change."
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Well gee, that makes, Scotland, Britain, and now New Zealand. What the hell is wrong with this country? Do we really care about our youth? Or are we doomed to failure because this country is so embroiled in partisan political BS over the moral substance that we cannot even look beyond it regarding this most daunting challenge to see OUR OWN PART in the solution?

I don't know, but just a guess that perhaps if people weren't so distracted in this country with their own wants they could actually hunker down and really get the schools in this country to show this movie to secondary school children if enough pressure was brought to bear. This shows clearly that without the voice of people demanding it if their government won't do it, and by them not doing it, it isn't going to get done.

I keep hoping that country after country will start showing this important film based on its content to their secondary students and EMBARRASS the people in this country to finally stand up and demand that the truth be told over their own petty political wants and biases. Dare I even dream?

And to those who think Al Gore is not leading now and not making more progress on this on a global scale as a true Global Environmental Ambassador than he could do boxed in that military industrial complex beltway, I think you are wrong and I also believe we better start getting our act together a lot better in this country REAL SOON when it comes to what we want taking precedence over what our world needs in order to focus for the true good of this planet.

And look at the sentence I bolded above. "Climate Ambassadors to travel the world." This is absolutely INCREDIBLE and along the lines of what I was hoping he would begin in order to get the message to the poorer areas of this world (especially Africa) to those who are thirsting to know what is causing what they are experiencing and giving them the tools and education necessary to deal with it. Anyone who doesn't think this is an endeavor way above what any president could do is in my view not seeing the big picture.

Mr. Gore has in my view far surpassed that and has truly become the man he always was, and for me, this IS the President doing something about it NOW. He is doing something human, moral, conscientious, and groundbreaking, and I am indebted to him and all who put this crisis sincerely in the forefront because it will not be long before we are are truly reaping the whirlwind if we continue to simply "report" on this and not begin to do something about it.

Bravo to you Mr. Gore, and congratulations on getting this important film shown in secondary schools in these countries. I can only continue to hope and help as best I can in getting them shown here where our youth desperately need guidance and education on a crisis that will affect their lives dramatically.

[MountainLaurel]

1. Knew there was a reason I liked that place

I was there a couple years ago getting married, and the national museum had just unveiled a multimillion-dollar exhibit on evolution. I remember being somewhat disconcerted and ashamed because I knew something like that would never be allowed in one of the Smithsonians.

[RestoreGore]

2. Yes, it is a beautiful place

And apparently a country that places more emphasis on substance than hype. If only we lived in such a country.

[MountainLaurel]

3. Ain't that the truth

If not for my family in the U.S., Mr. Laurel and I would be pursuing avenues for emigration to NZ.

[RestoreGore]

6. Not to get too off topic...

But the movie Lord of the Rings was filmed in New Zealand, and I was awed by its beauty watching the scenes in it. I can then certainly understand your feelings.

[RestoreGore]

4. Nice to know so many care about our youth...

And are outraged that our schools are not showing this film. It appears that if the thread about Mr. Gore cannot be devolved into some 2008 speculation thread it isn't worth responding to. Makes you wonder how many truly care about this issue and doing something CONCRETE to get this message out now. I donated a copy to my high school, but the teachers were not even told about it and I had to loan his science teacher my own copy so my son could watch it along with his science class (after seeing it with me three times already) only because his teacher brought his own DVD player to play it on because he couldn't get one from the Board of Education. The board in my town has also made no moves to show it to all schools even though I publicly asked them to in a letter that was published in my community that reached 60,000 people. As far as I know I have been the ONLY one in my town to do that, so again, just where is the urgency? I sometimes wonder, why bother? Seems this country is all about hype no matter the topic. Or perhaps this film is being rejected by many schools in this country not only because of other "sponsors" some organizations have, but also because of all of the political speculation attached to it now due to people having nothing better to do than let that take precedence over discussing the moral issues involved in this. It gets to the point where you get tired of beating your head on the wall with people, and it is a shame that our children are going to suffer for it.

[Karenina]

7. Meanwhile...

NZ, Scotland, UK and Portugal (can Oz be far behind?) are ALL showing it.

[RestoreGore]

8. Well, we have to make it happen...

Because a fairly good number of teens I talk to are in tune with this more than the adults and are worried about the world they will be left. And I am so proud of my son who wrote such a good paper on AIT after it was shown, and told the teacher it was because of what I too had done to bring this to him. You've got to know how good that made me feel. And I also publicly volunteered my copy of the movie to any organization in my town be it school, church, etc. that wants to show it. I'm also trying to get free showings of it at my community theatre, but haven't heard back yet. That's why I wish I had more in the way of funds because I would hire out a hall and show it every day myself until everyone saw it. To me it is absolutely mind boggling how much people in this country allow their political biases to get in the way of an issue this crucial to our survival, which I believe to a large extent is stopping it here. The message is to clear to me... we have GOT to move on this NOW. I don't know, I guess after it being ignored on the whole for thrity years which precipitated it getting to this point, I shouldn't expect miracles.

[brettdale]

5. We Rock

Yep we are big fans of Clinton and Gore, and since we are slightly north of the south pole we take global warming seriously.

[RestoreGore]

9. kicking for our youth, because they need to see the truth n/t

[RestoreGore]

10. Add one more country, Sweden...

However, people in this country are too preoccupied with media bs and arguing over whether or not Mr. Gore is going to do "that" rather than actually doing anything about getting this movie shown in secondary schools in this country. Not to be forward, but if you have a child in a secondary school here, why haven't you writen them if you have yet to do so? I've already written my municipal and state governments and board of education and donated several copies of this movie to various schools and universities. Just what has to happen before people can get over this brain freeze they have regarding their disconnection in seeing that it is THEY who are the catalyst for any changes regarding this crisis? It is so very obvious how spoiled we are in this country on the whole, but I am going to keep writing.