Al Gore and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) have jointly won the Nobel Peace Prize "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change." Here's the press release. Here is his statement:
I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is even more meaningful because I have the honor of sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change -- the world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis -- a group whose members have worked tirelessly and selflessly for many years. We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.
My wife, Tipper, and I will donate 100 percent of the proceeds of the award to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan non-profit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.
Over the past week, all the U.S. media could talk about was how winning might affect Gore's chances in the U.S. presidential race. To me this demonstrates just how badly our media is misjudging the race, Gore's significance, and our current historical moment.
There's no reason to think that winning the prize would have any positive effect on Gore's chances if he did run. Does the American public care about the Nobel, a prize awarded by a bunch of ... foreigners? Wouldn't winning a "peace" prize brand Gore as weak on national security? Doesn't it show that he thinks he's better than us? Who would want to get a beer with a Nobel Peace Prize winner? Wait, did he just sigh?
If he entered the race, Gore would run headlong into the same dim-bulb, theatrics-obsessed political press that did him so much harm in the 2000 race. He'd also run into Hillary Clinton's political machine. He would own the climate change issue, so other candidates would have to start attacking him on it and distancing themselves from it. He'd be forced to spend his time discussing one piece of frenzied ephemera after another, instead of focusing on his animating passion. He'd end up in a bruising, demeaning battle, and winning some peace prize wouldn't shield him. The process of electing a president, like so many things in the U.S. today, has become small and petty. It shrinks, cheapens, simplifies, and plasticizes those who take part in it, as Gore has already learned.
No, it would be a disaster for Gore to enter the race at this point -- not because he might lose, but because he has transcended U.S. partisan politics. He has become a figure of global stature, one of a tiny fraternity of private individuals in the world capable of driving historical change from outside the confines of any institution. What many Americans don't realize is that the rest of the world is not distracted by the serial, lurid distractions that compose our political dialogue. Our national conversation is dominated by the resentful bile of a core of nationalist, reactionary, authoritarian ding-dongs, but it's not like that when Gore goes overseas. In other countries, they don't care about his electrical bills or his waist size or his clothing choices or his lack of that most important qualification for leader of the free world, the ability to act like a regular guy.
Gore can't act like a regular guy. He's smart, and he talks like a smart person. He's earnest and committed. He cares. He wants to help save the world. Inside the glorified high school of U.S. politics, those qualities make him a square, an easy subject of mockery. But outside the U.S. they are assets. Gore can help bring governments together; he can get powerful financiers, corporate titans, rock stars, and energy scholars in the same room. He can help shape policy and public opinion across globe, not just in the U.S.
We are at an inflection point in history. These are times of immense consequence. The world will either unite around the problem of climate change and start pulling as one in the direction of survival and sustainable development, or grim years lay ahead for all of us. We must learn, as a species, how to share our collective resources more equitably and how to become happier without using more stuff and creating more waste. We must decouple our health and fulfillment from our ecological impact.
That's the project Gore's involved in now. He is called to higher things than running for president.
Climate talks timeline: From 350 to Kyoto to Copenhagen and beyond
Gore on the Daily Show: extended dance remix
Comments
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Sven Cahling Posted 7:55 pm
11 Oct 2007
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randino Posted 10:26 pm
11 Oct 2007
Randy Cunningham
Randy Cunningham
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Pangolin Posted 11:25 pm
11 Oct 2007
Al Gore is deserving of the Nobel Peace Prize as awareness of climate pressures is going to push politicians to consider military action to solve resource problems at home. Knowing what's squeezing your b*11s is half the battle to making the pain go away.
Unfourtunately the pain you might feel is controlled by a comittee of people down the block. They get free beer as long as they go along with the merchant who is causing you pain. Despite the fact that I have been feeling the pain myself I haven't yet pushed away the free beer vender that's squeezing THEM.
Al Gore has made us all more aware of what's hurting us. It's too bad that he took so long to modify his own behavior. His frequent flyer miles will offset any advantage offered to the planet by the solar panels installed recently on the most massive of his several houses.
In one man he represents precisely the whole climate change debate. Fully informed of the problem he moves far too slowly to implement solutions in his own life.
Put the Carbon Back
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randino Posted 11:46 pm
11 Oct 2007
Tell us, oh great one.
Randy Cunningham
Randy Cunningham
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Greta Posted 12:06 am
12 Oct 2007
www.NoPunProductions.com ~ AmericaTheGreen.org
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Steven T Posted 12:08 am
12 Oct 2007
I have a boss who is involved in the draft Gore movement. She is absolutely convinced that he can be coaxed into running. Perhaps I'm way off base, but I'm not seeing signs of that happening, but I can't share my evidence with this True Believer.
I say this to remind everyone that the right wingers aren't the only ones susceptible to falling off the "reality-based" bandwagon. We all can (albeit on vastly different subjects). And as the pace of social change speeds up and our problems become bigger and more complex, the tendency to seek out saviors will only grow.
Gore is good and Gore is great; let us thank him for continuing to do what he has been doing so well.
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Greta Posted 12:20 am
12 Oct 2007
While I was too young during his presidency to have been aware of his effectiveness therein, he certainly is a citizen of tremendous value. As Al Gore, seemingly more effective on the outside.
Both men deserving of a Nobel prize, IMO.
Cheers to unfettered activism!
www.NoPunProductions.com ~ AmericaTheGreen.org
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Flamingo Posted 12:26 am
12 Oct 2007
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randino Posted 12:52 am
12 Oct 2007
And global warming? Ohmagood, they will resist that til the last dog is dead.
Randy Cunningham
Randy Cunningham
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Jon Rynn Posted 1:26 am
12 Oct 2007
I guess the big question is, what will Al do with this big moment? Apparently he's strategizing with the other people in his organization, this is a critical time for him to either build a global organization or coalition and also come up with a vision of the future, me thinks.
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caniscandida Posted 1:55 am
12 Oct 2007
Here is the automatic response I just got, after signing the letter of congratulations to Al Gore from the DSCC, on the recommendation of my senior Senator, Chuck Schumer:
<<
I am deeply honored to receive the Nobel Peace Prize. This award is even more meaningful because I have the honor of sharing it with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change--the world's pre-eminent scientific body devoted to improving our understanding of the climate crisis--a group whose members have worked tirelessly and selflessly for many years. We face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity. It is also our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness to a higher level.
My wife, Tipper, and I will donate 100 percent of the proceeds of the award to the Alliance for Climate Protection, a bipartisan non-profit organization that is devoted to changing public opinion in the U.S. and around the world about the urgency of solving the climate crisis.
Thank you,
Al Gore
>>
I am fascinated by what is to me a new detail, that bit about "our greatest opportunity to lift global consciousness." That sounds like, the international effort to deal with the climate crisis can be the means of accomplishing a still greater end, a major moral advance in understanding the nature of the global community of living creatures to which we belong, and our responsibilities toward that community.
And that is entirely compatible with my own sense of the most fundamental environmentalist value.
Chickens are our cousins! So are fish! So are other sentient animals! Let us learn to be kind.
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Jon Rynn Posted 2:11 am
12 Oct 2007
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James Murray Posted 2:50 am
12 Oct 2007
How can it not be a political issue? The idea that we'll all suddenly realise the error of our ways and act together as one is nonsense. Like it or not the low carbon economy will only be achieved with political leadership and clear price signals - not some improvement in "global consciousness" what ever that is.
Gore does have a great opportunity to make a difference but he must stop preaching to the (sadly small) choir of environmentalists. Vague talk of morality doesn't help him do that.
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neckobay Posted 2:56 am
12 Oct 2007
THIS MESSAGE COMES FROM A GROUP OF TURKISH PEOPLE WHO SUPPORT AL GORE'S DRAFTING AS DEMOCRATIC NOMINEE FOR '08 PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS.
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies.
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Tod Posted 3:07 am
12 Oct 2007
The Norwegians who awarded this prize were simply trying to make a political statement aimed at Bush, nothing more. And in doing so, they've created a global climate change leader who alienates 50% of the U.S. population. This is just horrific. What we desperately need is climate change leadership who can bring into the fold 100% of the population.
Mind you, I'm not bashing Gore. He's a perfect politician. But, as a leader of the global environmental movement, he's absolutely ill-suited. He will never be viewed by half the population with anything less than distrust. The platforms he espouses will be ignored, brushed aside. Worse, when these same ideas are proposed by nonpartisan leaders, Gore will have polluted the waters. Not Gore's fault, inherently, mind you. That's just how things work when you once held the office of Vice President of the U.S.A..
This Nobel win for Gore is an unabashed disaster (unless he somehow takes the Presidency as a third party candidate and becomes the Great Uniter on Climate Change . . . can you say `very unlikely?'). When will people learn that politicizing the battle to SAVE THE PLANET is always dead wrong?
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Tod Posted 3:14 am
12 Oct 2007
The non-Gore winner would have had instant access to every global head of state, every media outlet. The Norwegians did the planet a disservice by missing the moment to craft powerful climate change leadership.
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Jon Rynn Posted 3:14 am
12 Oct 2007
But it's also helpful to bring up the issues of global consciousness, because Gore is now at a global level, and we may have to feel our way around for a while on this, but it would certainly help if, in addtion to good ol' nationalism, people were feeling some Earth-ism or whatever you want to call it too.
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infp Posted 3:18 am
12 Oct 2007
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nancylaplaca Posted 3:22 am
12 Oct 2007
Nancy LaPlaca
http://www.energyjustice.net/coal/igcc
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neckobay Posted 3:42 am
12 Oct 2007
How much earth will you have left to talk about climate change if the US makes the crazy move to hit Iran with (tactical!) nuclear weapons?
That's why the Americans and the rest of the world need a US president who can think reasonably.
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies.
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Werdna Posted 3:56 am
12 Oct 2007
What Americans and Canadians tend to forget is that Al Gore is not a controversial figure outside of North America. It wasn't a political move to award him the Nobel prize. It was simply awarded to him (and the IPCC) because he has had the most positive impact on global issues pertaining in some way to peace in the last few years. Not only the last few years, actually, but going all the way back to the start of the Kyoto protocol. In North America, we tend to ignore this and just see how he is skewered by the national media.
Andrew Eisenberg
The gateway project is wrong---http://www.livableregion.ca/blog/blogs/index.php/
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neckobay Posted 4:10 am
12 Oct 2007
There are more things in heaven and earth than are dreamt of in our philosophies.
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sunflower Posted 5:19 am
12 Oct 2007
Perhaps Al Gore can do more for global warming awareness blazing his own trail. However, stopping the corporate war crime of attacking Iran for oil is something that requires cool reason and immediate political action. Gore could use the bully pulpit of a campaign to highlight that attacking Iran would be a war crime.
We need a stable international political climate for global warming solutions.
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justlou Posted 5:53 am
12 Oct 2007
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tico89 Posted 6:05 am
12 Oct 2007
In any case, by very virtue of becoming president of the most widely hated country on earth, people will lose faith in him.
If I share initials with 'Global Warming', is that a sign?
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caniscandida Posted 6:16 am
12 Oct 2007
Then, there is this very sad bunch of comments sent to CNN.com:
http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/10/12/gore.nobel.reader. ...
The majority opinion seems to be that Al Gore is a feckless fool or worse, the IPCC is a futile organization purveying false science, and the Nobel Peace Prize is meaningless.
And on AOL's news page, the poll question is asked, "Did Gore deserve the peace prize?" Well over half of respondents said, "No."
So once again I find myself in a proud and principled minority.
Chickens are our cousins! So are fish! So are other sentient animals! Let us learn to be kind.
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Pangolin Posted 7:00 am
12 Oct 2007
Conservation is ultimately going to be the biggest wedge in reducing emissions that enhance global warming. The hard plan (plan A) is going to mean examining every aspect of our lives and eliminating emissions sources. The easy plan is simply to wait until climate change related disasters kill off enough people that we embrace the idea of plan a.
Anybody who tells you that we get to keep a car centered, jet setting, global economy AND reduce GHG emissions effectively is simply lying at this point. We have to power-down the global economy before it burns out of control.
Put the Carbon Back
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iwrote1 Posted 7:16 am
12 Oct 2007
Mr. Gore beat out many others for the prestigious award, including an old woman whose only claim to fame was that she had rescued hundreds of poor children of the Warsaw Ghetto from the gas chambers of another past Nobel Peace Prize nominee, mass murderer Adolph Hitler.
Other people of interest besides Adolph Hitler who were nominated for the prize were; Joseph Stalin, Benito Mussolini, Fidel Castro, Yasser Arafat, and Hugo Chavez to name but a few. Yet of this motley crew of `peaceful' men, only Yasser Arafat was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
The woman who multi-millionaire environmentalist Al Gore beat out for the prize, is 97 year old Irena Sendler, a nurse who saved the lives of an estimated two thousand five hundred children during Nazi Germany's holocaust. After sneaking the children out of the Warsaw Ghetto, she arranged to have the children 'adopted' by non Jewish families to protect them, even documenting their names in a jar and burying it so that one day she could tell the children their real names. After being captured and even tortured, Irena refused to reveal the truth to the Nazi's holding her, and eventually she escaped.
Irena should take pride in her noble deeds and service to mankind, as we should all be grateful for people like her who would risk their own lives for the sake and safety of others. And although this hero wasn't found worthy to win this prize by the Nobel Prize award committee, Irena no doubt has greater treasures awaiting her in heaven than anything Nobel could ever offer to this Noble woman.
Here is a web-site for those who want to learn more about this courageous woman and what she did that warranted her nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize: http://www.irenasendler.org/
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Craig Allen Posted 9:53 am
12 Oct 2007
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tico89 Posted 11:35 am
12 Oct 2007
If I share initials with 'Global Warming', is that a sign?
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Anna Haynes Posted 12:37 pm
12 Oct 2007
(from Maynard Handley at preview.tinyurl.com/yo5ngc )
I guess you could say Gore can do "cultural management" from outside, but it sure looks like political management would be more effective...
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Pandu Posted 1:16 pm
12 Oct 2007
However, it's hard to fathom how anyone who eats meat could deserve a prize for peace. Is there anything peaceful about slaughtering animals?
Did the Nobel crew not get the memo about the huge impact of meat-eating on climate change?
What Gore should do now is to set a positive example for a responsible diet by stopping his nasty habit of eating meat. I can understand his energy use -- he has a big mission. But I wonder if he considers the climate issue important enough to change his eating habits.
"Whatever action a great man performs, common men follow. And whatever standards he sets by exemplary acts, all the world pursues." - Sri Krishna
http://vedabase.net/bg/3/21/en
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Earth Shaman Posted 2:23 pm
12 Oct 2007
Earth Shaman
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Des Emery Posted 3:14 pm
12 Oct 2007
Des Emery
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Pangolin Posted 5:05 pm
12 Oct 2007
For those of you not paying attention:
World grain harvest are FALLING BELOW YEARLY CONSUMPTION levels despite the best efforts of the worlds farmers. This is largely due to drought, soil depletion, weather events such as freezes or sandstorms, and heat waves. If the climate doesnt' cooperate we starve.
Fish harvests from the worlds oceans are dropping and many commercial fish species face collapse. CO2 is causing acidification of ocean waters that inhibits the growth of the ocean food web. GHG emissions are killing the worlds largest source of protien and oxygen.
Changes in local weather patterns are increasing the severity of both droughts and floods. Google: "africa flood," "australian drought," "england floods," "spain heat wave." Changes in weather patterns are killing people now, today.
As simple malnutrition drives death rates in infant mortality, AIDS, TB, Malaria and other diseases responsible for millions of early deaths yearly on a worldwide basis. Increases in average temperatures are allowing malarial mosquitos to live at altitudes formerly free of the disease.
Considering the millions who die yearly largely due to factors of environmental degradation I think work to reduce Global Warming trumps saving 2,000 people, 60+ years ago.
Put the Carbon Back
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tico89 Posted 1:51 am
13 Oct 2007
The IPCC men/women dont [sic] have the science right,the Kyoto folks dont [sic] have the science right
I like your reluctance to refer to these people as scientists. So what's your claim to fame?
If I share initials with 'Global Warming', is that a sign?
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tico89 Posted 1:58 am
13 Oct 2007
However, for those making fun of it because of there being such notable nominees as Adolf Hitler, Josef Stalin and Benito Mussolini:
[S]ince nomination requires only support from one qualified person (e.g., a history professor), these unusual nominations do not represent the opinions of the Nobel committee itself.
If I share initials with 'Global Warming', is that a sign?
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Delay And Deny Posted 2:15 am
13 Oct 2007
Together, in the past eight years, they have done the most to eliminate air pollution by pushing and accelerating the technology of hydrogen fuel cells. The California Hydrogen Highway was driven by Arnold to convert people to the clean fuel. Bush has spent 1 Billion a year investing in hydrogen fuel cell technology and hydrogen generating science.
Al Gore has only enriched himself. Bush and Arnold have enriched the world!
John Bailo
Sutext:
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randino Posted 3:26 am
13 Oct 2007
Randy Cunningham
Randy Cunningham
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blueberrysushi Posted 5:27 am
13 Oct 2007
As per the charge that Al Gore is political, or that the Nobel Prize is political: duh. When did the term "political" become a proxy for unfounded or untrue? We live in a democracy, our choices reflect (so we hear) our values and are reflected, in turn, in the marketplace. This is an imperfect economic system, but certainly our political system, which rests upon representation and participation, is suited for people like Al Gore, who seize upon a cause and seek to change individual behavior through education and advocacy. Is he political? You bet. The best kind of political. He is advancing change by changing people's minds, not through force or through oppression, but through making lucid arguments (ahem, Earth Shaman) and letting people decide for themselves.
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caniscandida Posted 6:46 am
13 Oct 2007
The Norwegians on the Nobel committee are only human beings, after all, and it is grossly unjust to expect them to make perfect decisions every time. Yes, Hitler was nominated -- back before his monstrosity was evident; and the nomination was anyway withdrawn. Yes, they never got around to giving the prize to Mohandas K. Gandhi -- which they deeply regretted when it was too late. Yes, they gave the prize to Yasir Arafat -- but was it so unreasonable, or quixotic, or anti-Israeli, to encourage whatever he still had the power to do by way of reaching a peaceful accommodation with Israel, when Yitzhak Rabin and Ehud Barak were prepared to deal with him?
Chickens are our cousins! So are fish! So are other sentient animals! Let us learn to be kind.
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onebluewave Posted 11:01 am
13 Oct 2007
Seattle Times about some of the scientists who participated in the report, particularly a profile of Dr. Phillip Mote, Washtington State Climatologist, who was lead writer on the chapter on ice, show and tundra.
If you're in the area Dr. Mote is speaking at a benefit for
the Skagit Land Trust in Mount Vernon WA this coming Wednesday night at 7. I don't know how big the "historic Lincoln Theatre" is (it's a benefit for them as well) but I bet it'll be standing room only.
Patrick
pkwrite.com/blog
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Delay And Deny Posted 6:35 am
14 Oct 2007
Al's been doing a lot of flying lately.
China, Europe.
Check out this vid on what that means to the environment:
http://truths.treehugger.com/video/planeless.php
John Bailo
Sutext:
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kmp Posted 7:18 am
14 Oct 2007
The talk moved on to the development in the area, sprawl, trees being cut down, etc. I mentioned Al's Nobel Prize; the first comment out of the woman in line was "Yes, but I hear he drives a big SUV." ARGH. I resisted the powerful urge to smack her upside the head and replied "Al Gore travels the globe and has secret service shadowing him, not to mention family, assistants, staff, etc. He can't do what he does and live a low-carbon lifestyle." I should have added that he will do more to lower carbon emissions in his lifetime than anyone else this century but... my bag was packed and I left, feeling disgruntled.
Imagine how Al feels.
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Earth Shaman Posted 9:11 am
14 Oct 2007
Earth Shaman
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Earth Shaman Posted 9:26 am
14 Oct 2007
Earth Shaman
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GreyFlcn Posted 10:57 am
14 Oct 2007
You are the only person on the internet talking about.
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&a ...
Nor your secret government agents trying to steal your magic hydrogen production method that ignores the laws of thermodyamics.
I swear, paranoid senile people can be annoying sometimes.
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Earth Shaman Posted 1:34 pm
14 Oct 2007
Earth Shaman
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Earth Shaman Posted 1:47 pm
14 Oct 2007
Earth Shaman
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charlesjustice Posted 4:17 pm
14 Oct 2007
I like this quote from Al Gore which also sums it up for me: "Are we so scared of this challenge that we cannot lead?" The right is basically handing this central issue to the left on a platter.
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amazingdrx Posted 8:28 pm
14 Oct 2007
Dimbulb limboob wing nuts. Do not try to reason with them. And never read any blog entry without paragraphs or puncuation.
Hillary is going to be the next president. Bill will be first gentleman. Reminding the nut wing of this eventuality will be good enough. No need to actually reply to them.
Bill as first gentleman flying around the world facilitating an end to endless war is going to be so hard on them that many will just be pushed into oblivion. It will be a wonderful hell on earth for them. Enjoy their suffering!
It looks like a few that posted in this thread are already there. Good luck with that limboobs.
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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kmp Posted 12:51 am
15 Oct 2007
Thanks!
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WKB Posted 3:59 am
15 Oct 2007
"Gore can help bring governments together; he can get powerful financiers, corporate titans, rock stars, and energy scholars in the same room. He can help shape policy and public opinion across globe, not just in the U.S."
is a great reason FOR him to run.
He has succeeded at bringing the urgency of global warming into public consciousness. With the Oscar and now the Nobel, he has done that job as well as he can.
What now, indeed?
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amazingdrx Posted 7:13 am
15 Oct 2007
http://amazngdrx.blogharbor.com/blog
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LynnThomas Posted 8:33 am
15 Oct 2007
Al Gore beat GWBush by 543,000 votes in 2000. That's a lot. Consider that John Kennedy beat Nixon by only 120,000 votes in 1960...and even then there's some question about whether or not his father bought votes in Chicago.
I know this isn't scientific but my doctor is a southerner and told me that he usually votes Republican. He wishes Al Gore would run because he's sick of all the Republican shenanigans. Gore could hit the ground running on Jan. 20, 2009.
On the other hand, I heard a news story that said that if there was a strong Democratic candidate this time, Gore would wait 4-8 yrs to run for president so as to keep Democrats in the White House.
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eriqa Posted 5:02 am
17 Oct 2007
Unlike some politicians, he understands that political capital should be kept, not burned through. Preferably in a nice SRI mutual fund where it will get a steady return for the next three decades of his work.
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