AL GORE SLAPDOWN to Canada's RightWing Conservatives over global warming comments!!!

[Harper_is_Bush]

Conservatives get 'Gored'; Al Gore says Tories misrepresented him

Published: Monday, February 12, 2007

OTTAWA (CP) - Former U.S. vice-president Al Gore is taking the Conservative government to task for suggesting he endorsed its performance on climate change.

The environmentalist, filmmaker, and onetime presidential candidate issued a statement from his Tennessee office Monday to distance himself from the Tory claim.
GORE:
"I understand that last week Canada's minister of the environment, John Baird, mischaracterized comments I made last summer as praise for the Harper government's actions on global warming," Gore wrote.

"The comments I made were designed to encourage the Harper government not to abandon Canada's tradition of fighting above its weight class on the world stage as part of the Kyoto process.

"It is my experience that other nations do look to Canada for moral leadership. . . Nothing less than the future habitability of the planet is at stake. I urge the Harper government to do the right thing."

Against Gore's urging, the Conservative government has abandoned Canada's greenhouse-gas reduction commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, rejecting its targets as unattainable.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=5206c50f-285d-4215-8010-b6b99648354a&k=17342

Al Gore is beautiful. He's so focussed on the global warming issue that he's picking up any and all bullshit and responding perfectly when required.

I know Canadian politics isn't hot fare around here, but our PM just re-assigned the job of environment minister to this John Baird guy, who's a bulldog, and it's great to see him put in his place for all the bullshit he spouts. Sad thing is it almost looks like Joe-sixpack might be fooled by the money and rhetoric the Conservatives have thrown at global warming since the polls told them it's high on the list of priorities.

[aquart]

1. Why won't conservatives conserve?

I don't understand them.

[Harper_is_Bush]

5. Some believe global warming is a partisan issue. Some are afraid, so they can't accept it. n/t

[aquart]

10. But that's just it: Conservatives are the most fearful people on earth.

But when it comes to the thing they should fear the most, the thing that will hurt more of us than terrorism ever will...they just ignore it...and obsess over trifles that are basically negligible problems.

I DON'T UNDERSTAND!

[Harper_is_Bush]

27. U and me both. Not only do they ignore and obsess over it...they embrace misinformation and lies

it's very sad and disheartening.

[earth mom]

9. Those idiots are in denial about everything.

They've been TOTALLY brainwashed. Just look who their "leader" is-a sociopath who was never even elected in the first place. :puke:

[RestoreGore]

21. Not all conservatives are like those in these governments

Many evangelical groups have turned away from Bush of late because of this. I really hope that one day we can pass beyond these political boundaries and see this for the moral issue it really is. But I also agree that many conservatives do not want to believe this is human induced because they think this is all in God's plan and for us to try meddle with it is wrong... in other words in their warped logic, droughts, floods, water shortages, glacial melt, CO2 emissions rising and the catastrophe it will yield unchecked is the work of an all merciful God. Go figure.

[eagler]

2. Considering the land mass of Canada and her position in

the far north , the country stands to lose greatly due to global warming! I listen to CBC radio as often as possible. their broadcasts are much more balanced and enlightening than anything in the US.

[Harper_is_Bush]

3. Our North is already suffering greatly. It's in the news, but of course not a big deal.

Perma-frost melt is displacing communities.

Our Northern region, it's animals, and inhabitants are suffering.

But nevermind that, all of North America has experienced global warming this winter. Not just warm temperatures - which have to share the stage with El Nino - but increased coastal storms and wild snowfall. It's a new reality.

[northofdenali]

6. Alaska ain't doing too well either, Harper -

God, can you imagine when the tundra starts melting? Perma-frost has always been a pain in the butt, but the tundra? Bad enough we're losing our glaciers. And our polar bears.

[Harper_is_Bush]

7. Alaska is suffering too, good point. Melting perma-frost affects pipelines...

perhaps then rightwingers will pay attention.

[Harper_is_Bush]

4. Where are all the "PLEASE RUN!" folks? Al is working his cause and deserves kudos, even if it's not

part of the oh-so-wishing for Prez run.

[Harper_is_Bush]

8. My perspective: a pile of folks on DU are only interested in Al Gore for electability.

To them the issue of global warming takes a back seat.

[JNelson6563]

11. Ok, I'll bite

I'm hoping President Gore runs again and the cause of global warming is one of the big reasons. Get that man the most effective bully pulpit in the world!

Julie

[RestoreGore]

14. There is no greater pulpit than the world...

Al Gore's words from his great book, An Inconvenient Truth/
The Planetary Emergency of Global Warming And What We Can Do About It:

Page 113:

"Since I left the White House in 2001, I have also learned that there are many forms of public service other than running for office and serving as an elected official. I've always known this, of course, but I've come to personally appreciate the satisfaction that can be found as a private citizen in trying to make our democracy work better."

And he and WE will have it this July, but it doesn't seem for all of the love of him that too many people give a damn about that either.

[JNelson6563]

17. Whatever

No matter what you wil have nothing but disdain for those of us who would have President Gore take his rightful place in the WH and do much to help save the world. If it pleases you and the other main poster in this thread to spend a lot of time on DU taking pot shots at us go right ahead. Whatever works for ya. I don't take it to heart and I doubt other DUers do either. It's easy to disregard narrow views spewed by the somewhat mean-spirited.

Julie

[RestoreGore]

19. You Just REFUSE To See It

And even when his OWN words are placed in front of you, all you can say is "whatever." Well, this is the last time you will get an explanation of anything on this from me:

You have continually made this PERSONAL when it is not. I have also explained my reasoning for why I do not wish for Mr. Gore to run in *2008* very clearly here and have elaborated more than once regarding what he also has stated is a TOXIC system and an uninformed citizenry which you refuse to engage in discussion about. This is not about YOU or ME, this is about what I believe is the best way for this urgent crisis that has been ignored for YEARS to finally reach the consciousness of this WORLD in order to see action NOW because frankly the clock is ticking on both our planet and our Democracy.

I have also explained here the work I did in 2004 for Mr. Gore to see him "restored" to the office he had stolen from him when I was summarily IGNORED and lambasted as a "crackpot who would fade into oblivion" by the same groups like algore08 who now all of sudden because he is popular due to An Inconvenient Truth, think this is "his time." I learned to respect his words and to believe them and I do so in this case as well. So please don't sit there pontificating to me that I do not support JUSTICE for what happened in 2000... to me THIS IS JUSTICE.

What Mr. Gore is doing now IS justice, and it has to be because neither this military/industrial complex government, this Congress, nor the people of this country on the whole were informed or outraged enough about the total desecration of this Democracy to give a damn enough to really change it then or now. I sent the letters, the petitions, handed out flyers, knocked on doors, talked to people in the streets, made the phone calls, sent out buttons, entreated people in Congress and the Black Congressional Caucus, etc. to do RIGHT by us, and NOTHING. I tried to get superdelegates for him, I tried to get primary votes by write in...and NOTHING. I have not been sitting out here on my butt doing nothing since 2000. I am HEARTBROKEN that what happened to him and to this country has happened, but after the last few years I too have gone through a personal metamorphosis because I saw the inconvenient truth in more ways than one up close and personal on just how this system works, and to me the man is more important than that. And if we truly had a system Jefferson would be proud of I would work my fingers to the bone for this man, so please do not assume anything about my support and love for him... but I love my planet more than the political rhetoric and that is why to me this must now be my focus, and I am so proud of him for understanding what he too has known all along that your address does not matter when seeking real change, and for making me realize what I too have known all along.

Mr. Gore is absolutely correct to be approaching this as he is now, as he is putting this crisis first. He is putting this planet first. He is putting our children first, so I join with him and others to do what I believe is more effective from another direction to go around that TOXIC system that I have disdain for to hopefully see the changes necessary to stop our planet from reaching that tipping point. It isn't about being the "number one Gore fan" here as it appears to be on so many forums. It is about being HONEST and also about supporting him in this because he is right, and because sometimes you simply just have to admit that things happen as they do for a reason. Perhaps he was destined to go through what he did in 2000 because it was the catalyst to lead him to better things. No matter that now, I intend to stand with him regardless and really wish there was more interest in his work outside of the "political hype" than what I have seen. This isn't a political game, this IS about our survival and I believe the grasroots movement he has begun will be instrumental in preserving that survival. I hope you now understand where I am coming from, and that I will not have to explain myself here again.

[frogcycle]

26. whatever

:shrug:

[Harper_is_Bush]

24. who are you calling "mean-spirited"?

And who's taking "pot shots" at you?

[Harper_is_Bush]

23. Excellent points. If he were President.....

Would he be able to mount his training project?
Would he be able to put together Live Earth?
Would he be able to make a movie?

I think those claiming that his influence agansit global warming can only increase in the Presidency are not looking at the big picture.

[RestoreGore]

13. Yes, and shame on them too n/t

[RestoreGore]

12. But again they are making it a political issue!

We will never see people coming together on this if governments continue to make this a partisan political issue. SHAME on Conservatives AND others who do that, and Bravo to Mr. Gore for setting them straight.

[RestoreGore]

15. They want their tar sands damn it!

The Aboreal Forest is being MASSACRED by the Canadian government with the help of Bush and they need to stop it. I haven't read anything of late regarding it however, although I know Mr. Gore will be in Toronto next week.

[RestoreGore]

22. Sorry, that should have been Boreal Forest n/t

[The Backlash Cometh]

16. One way that Gore can get the message across.

Put it in terms they'll understand. i.e. Science says there is a 30 foot White Shark off the coastline, so, DON'T GO INTO THE WATER! The Chamber of Commerce guy is telling you to go in because he's interested in saving his own bottomline, and I'm telling you to stay out because I'm interested in saving yours!

[RestoreGore]

20. I think that is the appeal of An Inconvenient Truth

The movie was made in such a way that people with none or little scientific knowledge could understand what is now happening to our world. That is why I think certain interests are so down on it, because it spreads the truth to more people who otherwise would not understand it as they would most certainly like to keep it that way. Only through ignorance can they have the upper hand, and this movie exposes their lies.

[Doondoo]

18. K&R

[Lisa]

25. Gore's a nightmare for the "Harpocrites", all right!

An American who disagrees with their make-Canada-more-like-the-US agenda. Stevie and Co. can't stand it when actual Americans (fancy that!) say they are on the wrong track. I suppose that they will now try to whip up some anti-American sentiment directed at Gore ("how dare he meddle in our domestic policies!") -- stupid, really, because most Canadians are quite able to tell the difference between American neo-cons like the Bushies, and the American people.

p.s. I stole "Harpocrites" from a community newsletter in BC -- quite apt, I thought!