Al Gore (and the IPCC) won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007 (BBC 2007) largely for the production of the film 'An Inconvenient Truth'
The committee cited "their efforts to build up and disseminate knowledge about man-made climate change".

To what extent do you think this was deserved? Having watched this film in class did you feel that your opinion (or perhaps the opinion of others) to the issue of climate change could be positively influenced? What did you think of this film? Was it effective?

In the production of the film 'an inconveniet truth' Al Gore put across alot of Shocking statistics against global warming The Film was designed around a powerpoint presentation carried out by himself. Al gore put across his point powerfully therefore i feel that the Nobel peace prize he won was well deserved as he opened up our eyes to the realities of what will happen if we carry on.

Al Gore used clever tactics in getting the audience interested in what he was talking about. He kept them hooked by using humour and also shock Tactics. Many pictures he used as evidence of what global warming is doing to our planet (As stated by him). For example, Al gore showed Countless pictures of Glaciers retreating Due to a rise in temperature. He Stated that if Antartica melted, Global Sea level would rise by 20ft and there is already evidence of 20ft of an ice shelf melting in 31days. Many skeptics would argue that this is an extreme and not reality. Which Al Gore took into account when giving his presentation. He Definatly influence my perception on Global warming by doing this, as he covered many areas and took into account many ideas of a variety of people.

An example being that The global Temperature rises and cools through spring too autumm and that C02 levels rise as temperature rises and fall in relation to this, which when this is explained can be a very valid point. However, Al Gore explains that in the 10 hottest years record have been in the last 14 years and C02 levels haven risen greatly (above 300parts per million). Surely thats way above average and even if global warming is not completely to blame, it is apart to blame.

My opinion of the film is that it was incredibly effective, it was interesting and full of facts and figures to back up evidence given. One of the most Valid points i feel Al Gore came up with, was that of Winston Churchill. He Warned that 'we are Entering a period of Consequences'.

I Feel that those consequences are starting to show. Evidence of Horrendous Hurricanes/Tornadoes in America are an example of these consequences. Hurricane Katrina Started as a Category 1 in florida and as it moved across America, hitting warmer air temperatures causing it to speed up and become more dangerous resulted in many deaths and thousands of Dollers worth of damage, which previously before Global warming affects may not have happened. Disease due to Warmth as mosquitos are moving into areas of Africa (Nirobi)spreading malaria and a lack of water such as Lake Chad which was one of africas largest lakes has dried up were examples of many that were shown in the film.

All of this can be prevented and to a certain extent reversed. Which is what Al Gore was trying to say, i feel that it can happen, he proved that it can happen. its just Everyone needs to co operate as it is the Future generations that will suffer greatly.

What Actions could you (in theory) undertake that would improve the ‘Sustainability’ of your lifestyle? What might be preventing you from doing these?


At My time at university so far, i feel that my life has become more sustainable. there are many reasons that i believe this. Firstly before i came to The University. Like most 17 year olds i was desperate to learn to drive, once i passed i found myself driving everywhere even to my local shops which is about a 5 minute walk. As we all know, cars are not the most Eco-friendly machines. i rarely used public transport and spent a fortune on petrol producing more and more emissions, however not being allowed to bring my car to Northampton, i felt that my lifestyle improved without me knowing. i now regularly use the bus to go into town and walk to places rather than drive. i feel not only am i helping reduce emmission, it has even improved my health as i get more exercise.

This again is something i feel we should stress to future generations as obesity linked with excersise, diet and lifestyle is affecting our health, potentially resulting in shorter lives due to long term health problems, also Alcohol as a nation known for binge drinking i feel that it is adding to the problems that are there to live a sustainable lifestyle. Alcohol being a drug, is cheap and accessible to young people even underaged. i feel we need to educate future generations maybe using shock tactics to prevent this problem from geting any worse aswell as reduce it.

Another aspect of sustainability that has affected they way i now live in Northampton is Recycling. Previously at home i did the odd bit of recycling but not to the extent here. i feel that the designated bins in the kitchen have made me think about what im throwing away and that alot of it can be recycled or even re-used such as plastic bags from the supermarket or the plastic pots that chinese takeaways come in.

Thirdly, another source which is often wasted is Electricity. I know that i leave lights on when i am not in my room and the kitchen but whats preventing me from turning them off, is simply forgetfulness, too improve this aspect of my lifestyle would be to put up a note somewhere to be seen as Just a reminder to turn them off untill i get in the habit aswell as switching plugs off when not in use, which i do tend to do.


There is one problem that is preventing alot of people including me from fully changing my lifestyle, this is Money. We are asked to use public transport or change our diet to be more healthy but for a student it is simply too expensive. allthough Northampton being a Town with a university so there are alot of deals on public transport so it is cheap. it is not the case for alot of places. if i wanted to go home and visit my family for the weekend, instead of getting a train i would ask my parents to give me a lift because i cannot afford it. also the cheaper unhealthier packaged food is within most students budget whereas as fresh foods are not.