Carolyn Sayer at Oneworld:
Former Vice President Al Gore’s 2006 documentary An Inconvenient Truth grossed over $20 million, earned two Academy Award nominations and was widely credited for bringing the issue of global warming into American living rooms. But Gore’s team believes there are still many regions throughout the country — particularly in the Midwest — that still have not gotten the message. Now through the Climate Project — an initiative to spread awareness and challenge citizens and governments to take action against the effects of global warming — Gore has trained nearly 1,000 of his foot soldiers to give the same presentation that he delivers in the movie. His disciples, who are required to give at least 10 talks a year, are not just scientists but volunteers from all walks of life including teachers, housewives and even celebrities like Cameron Diaz.
The Climate Project brings a personal element to groups that may have never encountered the film, says Kalee Kredier, Gore’s communications director. “The trainees have given his version of the slideshow more times than Vice President Gore,” Kredier adds. “That’s really the goal for them to reach down in where the movie and Vice President Gore cannot reach.”
Gore’s “cavalry,” as he calls them, can also do something else the movie can’t: talk back to the audience. “I can answer questions better than Gore can in the film,” said Ken Mankoff, by night a soldier for Gore and by day a computer programmer who develops models at Columbia University.
More here.
