AN INCOVENIENT TRUTH: REFLECTION PAPER MA. ELIZABETH S.

BURGOS

An inconvenient Truth is a 2006 documentary film about the former United States Vice President Al Gores campaign to educate citizens about global warming via a comprehensible slide show that, by his own estimate made in the film; he has given more than a thousand times. Since the films release, it has been credited for raising international public awareness of climate change and reenergizing the environmental movement. Global warming is the catastrophe which threats life on earth. Al gore explained in the movie how the atmosphere works; sun ray comes from the sun everyday then some of the rays stay inside the earth with the help of ozone layer to keep it warm. The increasing carbon dioxide ratio has made the layer thicker so more rays are trapped more than we normally need. This result to a lot of temperature changing that can be seen around the world. Another problem caused by global warming is the ice melting which is a very serious danger. The sea level, constructions and the weather itself can be affected if the ice glaciers start to melt down because of the increasing heat. And at the end of Al Gores discussion, he confirmed that we humans are the main reason for global warming. I can say that the movie is truly an eye opener and a wakeup call for most people. A lot of us have heard about global warming and its facts but most treat it very lightly. In watching the film, you will be caught off guard. The concrete and hard facts will hit you so fast you wont even see it coming. The movie is not only a mere documentation; it is a strong and very passionate message to the people all over the world. Our planet is not on a slow progress to imminent doom. We are already experiencing the beginning of an end. Yes, it might seem like a ridiculous exaggeration but that is just foolish wistfulness on individual parts. If we cannot see the upheavals and the chaos that are already occurring in different parts of the world today, then we should open our eyes a little bit more and really look around. What we take for

granted might not be here for our children. This is one of the many quotes Al Gore used in the movie. It is utterly shocking how the sheer lack of ethics and concern can lead to the steady rise of this threat. The whole world needs to start caring less about little inconveniences, and instead care for the bigger picture and a bigger inconvenience that could definitely lead to a world-wide calamity. And as I write these statements, guilt rushes through me because I know that I have contributed to the current state of mother earth. I am still a child and yet I have done so much to make our world suffer. A lot can be done and theres so much I want to do. The problem is I do not know where or how to begin. I refused to give up little things that provide different conveniences despite of my prior knowledge to whats really happening to our world. It is such a shame that I am an educated child yet I cannot sacrifice even the most unnecessary conveniences for what I know is right. Realizations have dawned on me a thousand times but I have ignored them. Truth be told, I am ashamed to admit that I live my days knowing that this world is dying because I am living selfishly. While writing this paper I am once again filled with the desire to make a difference. Clich and overused, but wholeheartedly meant. From this day on, I vow to enjoy the wind and use less air conditioning. I will segregate and recycle meticulously, and encourage others to do the same. I will turn off lights not in use, and plug out chargers when not charging. I will study well so I may put to good use whatever skill I will acquire for the benefit of mother earth. If each of us were to take the same sacrifices I vow to make, then what a huge impact that could create. These small, seemingly insignificant promises can make a difference. Environmental issues will continue to raise concerns. They will go on and on about the infinite disastrous effects of global warming, but I believe that the essence of making a difference is love. I will end this paper with yet another clich, Love makes the world go round. And it truly does, more than I know and more than any of us knows. And I guess it is the sole key to our environments healing, the love for our world and the love for our mother earth because when there is real love, there is no selfishness.