Posted on 09/07/2005 1:26:35 PM PDT by crazyhorse691
An overflow Portland audience for the former vice president's global warming talk results in a second show
With a message about the urgent need to combat global warming, former Vice President Al Gore drew unexpected thousands of Portlanders to the Oregon Convention Center on Tuesday night.
The crowds snaked around the corridors of the convention center, and those who were denied entry chanted and pounded on the doors until Gore agreed to do a second show.
The Democratic presidential candidate in 2000, who lost one of the nation's most controversial elections, has among other pursuits been busily touring the country with a slide show heavy on charts and graphs explaining global warming and its potential consequences.
He showed photos of melting glaciers around the world. He noted how the loss of Himalayan glaciers could lead to loss of drinking water for tens of millions of people across Asia. He explained elaborately plotted scientific data of rising ocean temperatures, increasing precipitation and intensifying hurricanes. He noted that when he started doing these talks two years ago, he predicted the melting of Mount Kilimanjaro's snows within 15 years. "It's virtually all gone now," he said.
"We're entering -- have already entered -- a new phase of human history," Gore said. "The fundamental relationship between our species and our home planet has been utterly transformed."
He denounced critics who question the seriousness of the threat of global warming, comparing them to tobacco industry operatives who mustered experts to question the harmful effects of smoking.
"It delayed sensible policy for a long time," Gore said.
"There are millions of dollars spent every year by organizations that profit from not having any restraints on greenhouse gases."
And he struck a few jabs at the Bush administration for, in his opinion, not doing enough to combat the problem.
But Gore said the solutions are available, if people demand that they be put into effect.
"States like your state have taken the lead," Gore told a receptive crowd of more than 2,000. He cited Gov. Ted Kulongoski's recent overruling of the Legislature to direct the state to adopt California's tough emissions standards for cars and trucks by the end of the year.
It was a most welcome message to Oregon environmental activists, who expect a fight over the auto standards.
"If you pose a problem, it's really important to offer solutions," said Chris Hagenbaumer, with the Oregon Environmental Council. She said she hopes Gore's appearance will help raise awareness and support for local efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Joe Rojas-Burke: 503-412-7073; joerojas@news.oregonian.com
can I just roll my eyes at this one?
isn't that guy ever gonna go away?
bwahahahahahaha!
Whatever happened to jousting with windmills?
He could probably win that epic battle too!
"There are millions of dollars spent every year by organizations that profit from not having any restraints on greenhouse gases."
Do your part and....STFU.
Give him a room that seats 12 people and it's not hard to get an overflow, especially in Portland.
This is portland, next to santa cruz portland is the home of liberal, gay, socialist thinking of course portland has a lot of kooks flocking to see algore.
It's those damn cow farts, I tell ya!!!!
Wonder how many pounds of jet fuel algore burns every year doing these dog-and-pony shows?
Poor sheep.
"There are millions of dollars spent every year by organizations that profit from not having any restraints on greenhouse gases."
I just don't know where to start with this sentence, other than to invert it: "There are billions of dollars spent every year by government agencies that profit from not having any restraints on federal taxes."
Maybe we'll get lucky and he'll challenge Hill in '08. The primaries would be quite amusing. He'd suggest she settle for numero 2. She'd tell him to stuff himself. Then there's Pretty Boy Edwards and the ever popular John Kerry. Should be fun.
"The fundamental relationship between our species and our home planet has been utterly transformed."
Home planet?
He is worst than the Uni-bomber..
GORE-CLINTON '08................
I don't know what's more disturbing here. Gore giving a slide show....or thousands flocking to see Gore giving a slide show.
"Home planet?"
yes Al Gore evidently is not from here but from one of our MoonBat Colonies
He looks enough like an alien anyway
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.