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| posted Feb 27, 2007 2:21:26 PM | To All |
After winning his Oscar for An Inconvenient Truth, Al Gore is being attacked over his Nashville mansion's outsized utility bill.
He says he walks his talk, reportedly responding to post-Oscars controversy about his mansion's utility bills in a statement noting that he and wife Tipper have "taken numerous steps including signing up for 100% green power through Green Power Switch, installing solar panels, using compact fluorescent bulbs and other energy saving technology ... and purchasing carbon offsets to attone for the family's carbon footprint."
What's your view on Al's "greenness"?
Should he downsize his place in Nashville even though he says the home's power comes from Green Power Switch's solar, wind, and methane gas programs?
Give us your take.
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| posted Feb 27, 2007 4:48:51 PM | To All |
Phew! We can all go back to finger pointing and inaction until Gore buys a smaller house, right? WRONG.
Is it foolish of Mr. Gore to not do everything possible to reduce his footprint? Yes.
Is attacking him for this MISSING THE POINT ENTIRELY? Yes again.
Political and individual inertia have allowed us to ignore the devastating reality that is Global Climate Change. Laurie David and Al Gore have done an amazing job of bringing public awareness to this issue--regardless of what kind of cars they drive. They've done so much more for this issue than anyone else ever! For this I applaud them.
To attack Gore for his mansion is to give him way too much credit, though! He alone, we seem to believe, can solve this problem! No. What we need--a whole lot more than green tags and compact fluorescent bulbs--is awareness, acknowledgement and massive collective action. Gore has helped elevate us out of the politicized mud that allows us all to do nothing about this issue. The TCPR (Tennessee Center for Political Recklessness) can pride themselves conversely in making a joke out of what is the single greatest issue of our time.
Edited by: monkey mind on Feb 27, 2007 4:49:22 PM |
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| posted Feb 28, 2007 3:25:50 AM | To All |
Although Al's home is an extreme example, I think most Americans live in homes that are too big for them.
The silver living: Maybe the discussion about the size of his home will get others to think, and maybe it can inspire other mansion and pseudo-mansion owners that even they can be green.
I do think, though, that this whole issue of utility bills and home size will look hypocritical to those who are outside the choir... even though the in-the-choir folks like Monkey Mind know better. |
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| posted Feb 28, 2007 8:16:57 AM | To All |
Yes, it looks very bad. I agree that we're missing the point by even discussing it, but that's what happens when a clearly biased, right-wing political group that claims to be "bipartisan" (yea right. Have you seen their website?) decides to politicize something that should have nothing to do with politics.
You know what Al Gore should do? Compare his electric bills VS those of Bush's "ranch". |
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Informing America About Consumer Product Safety |
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| posted Mar 23, 2007 11:56:50 AM | To All |
It's diversionary. What Al Gore does is irrelevant if the facts of An Inconvenient Truth stand on their own. If the facts don't stand on their own, then he could live as "green" as a monk and it wouldn't make a difference.
Manny |
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| posted Mar 24, 2007 1:28:12 AM | To All |
| Of course it's diversionary, just another attack the messenger if you can;t attack the message. But both Gores run offices out of that house, probably with at least an assistant each, probably an assistant and a secretary, and they (I think) have Secret Service protection which means those folk are there also. So comparing it to the house of a regular family is erroneous. |
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| posted Nov 16, 2007 12:06:15 PM | To All |
The fact that he purchased 100% green energy should be enough. He should NOT move to a smaller place because the next owner may not keep the 100% green. With him in there, the green energy service is getting a nice chunk of change so that they can continue to offer the service. It ain't cheap switching, but you get used to it real quick and you don't feel quite as bad when you leave the light (with CFL) on by accident. |
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| posted Nov 18, 2007 9:07:21 PM | To All |
On Feb 28, 2007 3:25:50 AM swedishfig wrote:
Although Al's home is an extreme example, I think most Americans live in homes that are too big for them.
I think that saying "most" Americans is an understatement.... I believe this should refer only to people who can afford to buy or built their own house... If you rent you know that houses and/or apartments are built smaller each day more even though the rent is higher and most people cannot afford it.... Most families of 4 in America has to live crunch up in a 2 bedroom apartment of about 900-1,000 sq.ft.... I know because I'm one of them.... And have friends that live in smaller places.
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| posted Nov 18, 2007 11:22:16 PM | To Trudy |
Yes, you're right... I probably should have said "many" instead of "most."
What's interesting here in Sweden is that many families of 4 live in 1000-square-foot apartments and don't see it as a "crunch." It's about living smarter and closer, and unused space is seen as a waste. It's definitely changed our view on things, and we plan to look for a much smaller place when we move back. |
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| posted Nov 18, 2007 11:44:43 PM | To All |
Original Post:
Yes, you're right... I probably should have said "many" instead of "most."
What's interesting here in Sweden is that many families of 4 live in 1000-square-foot apartments and don't see it as a "crunch." It's about living smarter and closer, and unused space is seen as a waste. It's definitely changed our view on things, and we plan to look for a much smaller place when we move back.
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And what is more interesting to me is that I'm not originally from the USA but from the Caribbean where the houses are indeed bigger and opened to fresh air.... Thus why my feeling of "crushed" in the US homes.... And not to mention the ones in Europe.... I'm half English and have being in England many times visiting my family, and I honestly tell you I couldn't live in some of those homes.... I need space and air!!... Truly I believe the real problem is not the size of the living quarters but the huge population growth all over the world which would be another topic.... Hello from the other side of the Ocean :-) |
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| posted Nov 27, 2007 5:13:46 PM | To All |
| I was told once that the entire population of the world could have 1/8 acre (1/20 hectare), (which is a modest but comfortable lot for a house and yard) and we would all fit in to the US state of Texas. I have been amazed when traveling that we have such a concentration of people in cities. I have been equally amazed at the emptiness outside the cities. We have a huge world to live in, we just need to treat it properly. Al isn't evil just a hypocrit. Aren't we all? |
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| posted Nov 28, 2007 6:21:43 PM | To All |
"We have a huge world to live in, we just need to treat it properly. Al isn't evil just a hypocrit. Aren't we all?"
Agree to all....  |
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| posted Feb 14, 2008 3:19:15 PM | To All |
| Though we admire and are very appreciative of Al Gore's stance, words mean approximately to what degree we walk our talk; therefore, we feel that he has diluted his message, which will be far more effective if he makes more sacrifice of his "comfort and conveniences". |
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| posted Feb 14, 2008 4:50:33 PM | To All |
On Feb 14, 2008 3:19:15 PM Shanti wrote:
Though we admire and are very appreciative of Al Gore's stance, words mean approximately to what degree we walk our talk; therefore, we feel that he has diluted his message, which will be far more effective if he makes more sacrifice of his "comfort and conveniences".
I don't agree, and can't see how his home and possessions dilute his message in any way. He's an accomplished individual and is entitled to celebrating his success and living comfortably within his means.
Also, he has gone to great lengths to ensure that despite having more than the average American (or human, for that matter), he is still making the least possible impact on the Earth.
People don't have to live in a tent and camp in a parking lot to convey an environmentalist message more effectively. Going to extremes can actually be counter-productive, and make the general public get the idea that in order to reduce our impact on the earth, it has to be at the expense of living comfortably. |
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"We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us. When we see land as a community to which we belong, we may begin to use it with love and respect." -Aldo Leopold
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| posted Jun 11, 2008 11:25:16 PM | To All |
Lovely suggestion,(the utility bill comparison between the Gore's an Bush residences). I like it! Of course, (smile) while humorous, that might still be missing the point... |
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| posted Aug 5, 2008 12:22:08 AM | To All |
I wouldn't doubt that the immense fortune Al Gore made off of his movie was a big attraction to "spreading the word" espeically since he could have done it with a MUCH smaller carbon footprint by simply broadcasting it over youtube and the internet instead of tons and tons and tons of videos and dvds that will end up in landfills. But I guess spreading the word and making a ton of money was more important than the environmnt. The biggest problem is getting China to change their ways. America isn't anywhere near that bad. Same with Africa.
I'm sure the fact that most of the Gore family travel around in large gas-guzzling SUVs and Lincoln towncars or limos probably doesn't make him look like a bad guy either.
Everyone else should be biking or walking or using public transit, but because he's rich he shouldn't have to follow suit. Even though according to his movie, it is whats killing our planet.Edited by: raspberry82 on Aug 5, 2008 12:27:35 AM |
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| posted Aug 5, 2008 12:25:13 AM | To All |
Al Gore also forgot to include all the scientists throughout the world that have a contrary view on global warming than the scientist viewpoints Gore included in his movie which only point to 1 perspective. |
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| posted Oct 1, 2008 1:39:00 AM | To All |
On Jun 11, 2008 11:25:16 PM Sunny wrote: Lovely suggestion,(the utility bill comparison between the Gore's an Bush residences). I like it! Of course, (smile) while humorous, that might still be missing the point...
This comparison has been made.
Unlike Al's monstrosity in Tennessee, GW's house was designed from scratch to be quite energy-efficient and material-efficient. Details of the comparison are at http://www.snopes.com/politics/bush/house.asp . |
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Edited by: chinchillables on Sep 13, 2008 11:25:37 AM