I read an interesting article from USA Today. Seems that Al Gore doesn’t practice what he preaches. Anybody surprised?Â
Graciously, Gore tells consumers how to change their lives to curb their carbon-gobbling ways: Switch to compact fluorescent light bulbs, use a clothesline, drive a hybrid, use renewable energy, dramatically cut back on consumption. Better still, responsible global citizens can follow Gore’s example, because, as he readily points out in his speeches, he lives a “carbon-neutral lifestyle.” But if Al Gore is the world’s role model for ecology, the planet is doomed.
. . . Public records reveal that as Gore lectures Americans on excessive consumption, he and his wife Tipper live in two properties: a 10,000-square-foot, 20-room, eight-bathroom home in Nashville, and a 4,000-square-foot home in Arlington, Va. (He also has a third home in Carthage, Tenn.) For someone rallying the planet to pursue a path of extreme personal sacrifice, Gore requires little from himself.
. . . there is no evidence that Gore has signed up to use green energy in either of his large residences.
. . . So why, then, didn’t Gore dump his family’s large stock holdings in Occidental (Oxy) Petroleum? As executor of his family’s trust, over the years Gore has controlled hundreds of thousands of dollars in Oxy stock. Oxy has been mired in controversy over oil drilling in ecologically sensitive areas.
. . . Gore’s home in Carthage is sitting on a zinc mine. Gore receives $20,000 a year in royalties from Pasminco Zinc, which operates a zinc concession on his property. Tennessee has cited the company for adding large quantities of barium, iron and zinc to the nearby Caney Fork River.
. . . The issue here is not simply Gore’s hypocrisy; it’s a question of credibility. If he genuinely believes the apocalyptic vision he has put forth and calls for radical changes in the way other people live, why hasn’t he made any radical change in his life? Giving up the zinc mine or one of his homes is not asking much, given that he wants the rest of us to radically change our lives.
I’m not surprised. I’ve never liked Al Gore except for a few months when I was happy that a Tennessean might become Vice President. However, that was short-lived. I shudder to think what the world would be like if he had won the 2000 election.
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August 18th, 2006 at 6:24 pm
Peter Schweizer’s piece has many mistakes and, I believe is in fundamental error.
Mistakes for example:
• The zinc mine is closed and Gore receives nothing from that. (see the USA Today retraction that they published on page 10A.)
• Albert Gore SENIOR, not Al, owned Oxy stock, and that was sold SIX years ago!
As to the fundamental error: Like the rest of us, myself, Schweizer, and — dare I suggest it (wink)– my median sib included, Gore does not, I’m sure, perfectly reflect his professed values in his daily life. So what? I believe he has been an important leader in trying to understand and protect the environment. I know of no reason to think him insincere. So what? He has raised very provocative issues and presented a great deal of supporting evidence deserving serious discussion whether the messenger is pure enough for Mr. Schweizer or not.
Instead of more ad hominem attacks on Gore, why doesn’t the right wing try countering his arguments. Disagree with him and me? Fine. Give us evidence that the earth isn’t warming, that we don’t need to change our ways, etc. Could it be that Greenland really is not losing a huge proportion of its icecap? That the Kilimanjaro glaciers are not disappearing? That weather patterns are not changing? That man is not having a detrimental effect on the environment? Great. Explain it to me.
Here’s the retraction:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060817/correx17.art.htm
Here are some responses including one from Al & Tipper Gore’s office:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/opinion/2006-08-16-gore-letters_x.htm
Congratulations, by the way, on getting approval to start building!!
August 19th, 2006 at 9:34 am
Good points, Terry. I read the USA Today retraction. I still dislike Gore, but as you said - there are few, if any, of us who live lives that 100% reflects their values and goals. Some are closer than others. As Mother always says - we’re all human which makes us all sinners. Thanks for the comment.
August 21st, 2006 at 6:35 pm
The problem here is that Al Gore, along with so many leading environmentalists, such as Laurie David, Barbara Streisand, Nancy Pelosi, etc, want us all to act in a certain way, and they tell us it is our moral obligation. Yet, they themselves do not.
If I want my employees to do what they are supposed to do, I do not do it by telling them and then doing something else.
August 22nd, 2006 at 7:07 am
Hey, Al, How’s Your Environment?…
I heard about this on the radio, but I did not know where the story came from. Fortunately, Carol at The Median Sib did (from the UselessA Today)
Al Gore has spoken: The world must embrace a "carbon-neutral lifestyle." To do otherwise, he say…
December 29th, 2006 at 3:51 pm
Oh boy! Being committed and sincere about a cause are synonymous with being right. Mr. Gore and his followers need to learn to distinguish one from the other.
Carbon-14
December 29th, 2006 at 3:52 pm
Excuse me, I meant “Being committed and sincer about a cause are NOT synonymous with being right.” My error.
Carbon-14
December 29th, 2006 at 4:02 pm
With regard to the “retraction” published by USA Today:
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20060817/correx17.art.htm
The mine was closed in 2003. Don’t you find it interesting that Al Gore had no qualms about receiving royalty payments throughout the life of the mine?
Carbon-14
February 28th, 2007 at 11:11 am
You Liberals, do you really think, little man can really change the earth, its been around for 4.5 1000 billion years. You liberals really must think your GODs to think you and man can change climate. What’s your real agenda
liberals, You and your media really think the people in this courty are that stupid to think a ex vic prez and a bunch of actors know anything about earth science. Al Gore just out to make money, he can’t get it the clinton way, why don’t you liberals all go to euro and ruin there counrty, you allready started or go to africa and fix there courties.
March 1st, 2007 at 12:34 pm
it did not surprise me to hear al gore and a great number of other liberal celebrities and politicians do not live green nor should they have to since global warming is a myth. however if you are going to traverse the world spouting this garbage you better live it. he is also nominated for a nobel peace prize, other winners walk the walk along with talking the talk. hypocrite is too good a world for this imposter. we were so much better off when he was silent that should go for many others who spout this trash. i will be waiting 10 years from now for this global warming event just like i’ve been waiting 30 years for the earth to freeze as they claimed in the 1960’s and 70’s it is all a crock of huey.
March 1st, 2007 at 12:39 pm
have an addition to my previous message relating to al gore’s mining royalties on his property i am happy he gave up the mine though i don’t think he had to, but i hope he remediates the land that he allowed to be damaged
March 2nd, 2007 at 5:48 am
Al Gore own a interest in the company he pay carbon credits to. This is so like the liberals,to make money this way.
Start a phoney crisis, and make money on it.
Global Warming is money making sceme for the liberals and UN to start a global tax on us americans.
March 8th, 2007 at 6:39 am