Question for Al Gore
If I’m allowed to ask Nobel laureate Al Gore just one question, it would be this: “Sir, are you selling your film, or are you raising an awareness about climate change? If it is indeed the latter, then, why are you selling the film? Shouldn’t it be available for free; Or do you believe in enlightening only those of us who’d pay to watch the film?”
The proceeds to his film, as did profits from Live Earth, as did the money from the Nobel Peace Prize, went to the Alliance for Climate Protection.
Contrary to what the right-wing noise machine might tell you, Al Gore puts his money where his mouth is.
Feb 27, 08 at 13:42@James: It still doesn’t answer my question—why isn’t the film free (at least on the internet.) The film is quite good, but a price-tag on it sort of makes it an elitist way of saying “I care about the environment. If you do too, then watch the film by paying for it.” It’s a fund raiser?! Wow, I am dumbstruck. Following the Nobel Prize, I honestly do not think there’d be any shortage of that!
That’s probably the only conclusion I can draw at the moment.
Feb 27, 08 at 15:07My point is that in addition to the film actually raising awareness itself, the money it raises also goes toward raising awareness. Also keep in mind that it isn’t Gore who is setting the theater prices, DVD prices, etc - it is the producers of the film that are doing so in order to pay for costs and ya know, make a living.
Feb 27, 08 at 18:30The best way to raise awareness would be to expose it to the maximum number of people, especially in the developing countries—that’s my opinion. How many will really get to see this, if one has to pay for it?
Oh, they want to make a living out of it? Well, they couldn’t have picked a better topic; and I was hoping the canvas was much larger than ‘making a living’ theme. Pardon my high expectations. You’re right, they want to make a living out of it. Case closed.
Feb 27, 08 at 20:20Do you know how long it takes to make a movie? Yea, they had to make a living…I don’t know why that’s a point of contention.
I mean, c’mon — you’re just looking for a reason to attack the man. He donated all of his proceeds to fight climate change, what the hell is wrong with that?
Feb 27, 08 at 20:39No, I am not attacking him—hell no; I am this close to worshipping him—for the will and foresight when others failed. But he does not give me that opportunity by slipping on the last stage of his effort—after contributing a great deal; and I mean not monetarily in particular. My sole point is: that pricing model is defeating the very purpose of quick dissemination of information. People need to see this movie, it’s important for them to realize that issues here are for real, and more so in how they can contribute towards it. I don’t see it happening if there’s barrier to that first step.
Feb 27, 08 at 21:14