Why shouldn't Gore speak with "missionary zeal?" After all, this IS the new religion. But while politicians can't tax the church, they won't make that mistake with this religion. As a matter of fact, this religion will cost you plenty.

Regular religion talks about unprovable things from the past. The new environmental religion seeks to scare you about things that will supposedly happen far in the future. It is probably a better scam... er,.. plan.

It is probably a better scam... er,.. plan.

Hi, my name is Bob. I have nothing better to do than troll a green website. Yes, I am a loser, in case you were wondering.

Glad to see Al stirring the pot over here - it's a great time to do so as federal elections will be coming up soon. Our current government just a couple of years ago was basically denying the idea of global warming; now that's changed. People like Mr. Gore have helped tremendously in that respect and environment is now a major issue among more voters.

I want to be like Al when I grow up. I want to fly around the world on a private jet telling all the little people to live in the stone age while I live it up. Oh, but it will be OK because the end justifies the means. After all I will buy carbon offsets from my own company. Then I will find some suckers to pay me to plant some trees on land I bought with their money. When the whole hysteria blows over then I can cut the trees and sell the lumber. I will laugh all the way to the bank in my Gulfstream jet. I might even get a peace prize for it as well. You go Gore.

This jet setting moron is telling me how to live.Instead of pissing away 1000 dollars a head build a solar and wind power plant.It will do more than this gas bag can spout.He spouts green living but does not live it.Eco hypocrites like him just piss me off.They talk the talk.But do not do the walk.

If good old al gore felt threatened.How long before he had two secret service cars and armored suv.Buying carbon offsets is a complete load of horse shit.It does not negate the fact that he is flying on a plane to wherever to spout his crap.He still drives/flies and burns gas.Hybrid or not it still uses fuel.

Post something on ed now at least he lives what he speaks.The eco hypocrites would like you to believe in them.Instead believe in yourself.And think for yourself.

I have lived as green as possible for twenty years.Before it was popular.100 percent of my power comes from renewable resources and has for 25 years.

I used to like this sites coverage.Now the eco hypocrites have taken over.You have lost this reader.Treehugger has sold its soul.Their is no prosthetic for that.

==== author's response follows ===
Dear Anon. I know where my soul is tonight. You are reading it.

Perhaps you have noticed that there is an escalating debate about the merits of "Little Steps" (things we do on our own as a matter of life style and buying habits- common subjects on TreeHugger) versus "Big Steps" (things which positively affect the global economy, treaties, the oil business, tax incentives to petroleum producers, and so on.)

Some argue that without more REALLY BIG STEPS fast, we are headed into a climate dead zone fast. Others say to just chill and just set a righteous example - that everyone else will come along eventually.

Here's an analogy for the chillers. We are a tiny minority. I was around in the late 1960s' when counter culture proponents introduced organic food, whole grains, etc. JNearly 40 years later, these are entering the main stream, but make up less than 20% of the market. By analogy, we don't have 40 years for a gradual culture shift on energy consumption. Being righteous alone is insufficient.

Moreover, blaming others for not setting the right example, regardless of their income level, is not a big step forward.

Very few of us are ever likely to be invited to make a pitch for an important bit of political change to the business and political elite of a nation the way Al Gore has. I wish him success for all of our benefit.

Hey zac, whats the most effective offset possible? Getting millions of other people to reduce their emissions!
I'm sure Al personally has larger emissions, but the guys "leading by example" with close to zero emissions are not being noticed by anybody (I imagine most of them don't ave electricity). Unless they are being noticed they aren't influencing anybody.

Hows your ecological footprint Zac? Doing well yourself? Influencing others to do better?

I believe in Global Warming, I also believe in Global Cooling, I practice recycling every day of my many years. It's a learned habit. My family was forced to conserve and recycle for our survival before wellfare, food and housing supplements. Consumerism is a learned habit as well, when everything is viewed as an 'entitlement' of our 'free for all' modern society. Change the system and society will respond, believe me. I and my generation have walked the walk. Pompous politicians with a political agenda are the reason for this media hyped religion of 'catastrophism'. Get a real education in the 'Hard Sciences', then help the world. http://blogengeezer.wordpress.com/ also check the link to 'Interglacial' if facts don't scare you.

Here's a challenge to the Treehugger editors: can you try to go just one week without resorting to the latest update on the life of Al Gore? This post is a good example of the sort of editorial laziness that can creep up you. Did Gore say anything new? Not from what I read here. And yet you felt the need to reprint the story. I won't go all conspiracy theory on you, but when you give a politician this much exposure for no apparent reason, well, it starts to raise questions about your motives (and your judgment).

So, give it a try. See if you can go a week without making a reference to Al Gore. There are plenty of real news stories out there - I know because I read Treehugger and learn about all the people who are making a difference who aren't Al Gore. If you can't go seven days without a Gore reference, then, well, you have a problem. An addiction, maybe?

I would like Tree Hugger to make references to another environmentalist named Bob Redford next week.
He is not running around saying protect the planet he is doing it with what he can.
Change the word of the week from Al Gore to Bob Redford and see what happens next.

You folks might have even seen his movies too.

D~W

Did D-W, Blogengezer, Zac and Michael read the article and research the context ?

Australia is on the brink of an election. As well as being one of the non-signatories to Kyoto, its the world's largest exporter of coal. At the moment the two main political parties are green-washing themselves whilst opening up massive new coal-mines, energy intensive desalination plants and (coming soon) a giant new pulp mill to process native vegetation.

It takes someone with the profile of Al Gore to catch the attention of these myopic morons (the politicians on both sides) and force them to prefer meaningful action to meaningless words. Stopping one of those coal mines will stop 500 MILLION tonnes of CO2 emissions.

Even if you loath Al Gore and/or his lifestyle, you should concede that he has (in Australia at least) managed to jump-start a debate that should have finished years ago. Robert Redford wasn't here addressing the people who need to be convinced, Al Gore was. By publicly ear-bashing in Australia now, he can set the tone of the greenhouse debate for the election to come.

Wake up girls. Al Gore was part of the Clinton administration that failed to sign the Kyoto accord. If he had something to say. . . if he was going to take a moral stand. . . I think that would have been the time.

Al Gore is a shameless self promoter.

==== author's response follows ====

Point of fact: Al Gore was only Vice President. He didn't get to make the final decision as to whether or not to bring Kyoto before Congress for approval.

Point of analysis: The period you refer to was amidst the so-called "Republican Revolution.". Whether the Republican leaders of Congress of the time were asked if they might seriously consider Kyoto approval and whether they would ask their members to support a such a measure, as well as what Mr Gore voiced to the President as his preference, are and remain irrelevant to the outcome. Any administration has has limited political capital, and Kyoto was not a battle they had any chance of winning with what remained. So they bagged it, obviously. How does that make Al Gore shameless? Practical seems like the appropriate term.

Am I missing something that you can share with us?

Hypocrite i say.The attitude of do as i say,not do as i do.You are giving pr to a politician.This sickens me.Try posting on living with ed.He lives what he speaks.Your can admire put do not place on a pedestal.Rarely do they live up to the hype.