An Inconvenient Truth

Looking for something constructive to do this weekend? How about edu-mu-cating yourself on the global environmental crisis and/or volunteer to help clean up a local park?

An Inconvenient Truth, starring ex-Presidential candidate Al Gore, opens today in the DC area. You know most people, R & Ds alike, would simply vanish from the public eye after suffering a soul-withering election defeat as that of 2000. Not Al Gore. Hate on him if you will, but the ex-Veep, once thought only as Mister boring-ole-vanilla-to-Bill Clinton's-oh-MY-WORD-chocolate, has been hard at work these past years, feverishly touring the country to educate the public about the environmental issues we face as a nation, as a race (the HUMAN race, that is) and as part of an ever shrinking global community. The flick is a documentary about our present state of environmental triage.

"With 2005, the worst storm season ever experienced in America just behind us, it seems we may be reaching a tipping point - and Gore pulls no punches in explaining the dire situation. Interspersed with the bracing facts and future predictions is the story of Gore's personal journey: from an idealistic college student who first saw a massive environmental crisis looming; to a young Senator facing a harrowing family tragedy that altered his perspective, to the man who almost became President but instead returned to the most important cause of his life - convinced that there is still time to make a difference."

Locally, An Inconvenient Truth is playing at E Street Landmark, Georgetown AMC, and Shirlington AMC. Go see why losing the 2000 election may be the best thing to ever happen to us Earthlings.

I will hopefully be seeing it this weekend and reviewing it next week, though this weekend is also the fourteenth annual National Trails Day. Find an American Hiking Society sponsored event near you here and appreciate the great (or urban, or suburban) outdoors! I said appreciate it! (tai shan shakes fist at you--yes you!) Come on, our parks are like public television--you know you love it, so don't be a freeloader!