Al, you're doin' a heckuva job...

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, my wife and I watched An Inconvenient Truth.

Damn. Definately a movie worth seeing. Al Gore is actually a likeable kinda guy, and knows how to present his information clearly and concisely.

There is information that we've all heard before - global warming; greenhouse gases; etc. - but what makes this different is the way the information is presented. In addition to charts, graphs, and scientific information, there's also footage of the effects of global warming in places like Greenland. Seeing a chart is one thing, but being able to visibly see the impact in a real-world setting drives the point home.

The DVD itself was produced with green energy, and is packaged in an eco-friendly "jacket" created from 100% post-consumer waste. Everything from the labeling to the DVD cover is completely biodegradable and/or recyclable. They went out of their way to ensure that the packaging was in complete harmony with the message of the movie. After all, it wouldn't have made sense to distribute a movie about global warming in packaging - plastic case made from oil; non-recylable plastics and paper - that contributes to global warming, would it?

The inside of the DVD jacket contains information on how individuals can reduce the impact of global warming. Happily, my wife and I already do several of these - recycling; buying fresh food; eating no meat; buying recycled products; etc. - and are looking into doing more. Yes, we're environmentalists. Not extreme ones, mind you, but we are well aware of the impact we leave on the world and do what we can to reduce our environmental footprint.

I'm not going to tell you to buy this movie; that's entirely your decision. I am strongly encouraging you to at least rent it, or borrow it from a friend. Watch it with an open mind, and you may be surprised at what you learn.