by Brandon Call
Daily Lobo
He used to be "the next president," but now Al Gore travels the world championing the issue of global warming.
Gore brought his "An Inconvenient Truth" to the Santa Ana Star Center on Wednesday before an audience of more than 2,000 people.
"Global warming pollution anywhere is a threat to the future of our planet everywhere," Gore said during his presentation. "Don't tell me we can't solve this climate crisis. If we put our minds to it, if we use just one week's worth of spending for the Iraq war, we'd be well on our way to solving the problem."
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Based on the 2006 documentary "An Inconvenient Truth," his talk sheds light on global warming and warns of the repercussions of remaining idle. In a presentation mixed with scientific statistics, personal background and political humor, Gore gave hope that global warming could be solved.
Gore said that in Chinese and Japanese languages, the word "crisis" is formed by two symbols -- the symbol for danger and the symbol for opportunity. While the global warming crisis is dangerous, it provides the world a great opportunity to make positive changes for the world's environmental future, Gore said.
Gore's presentation wasn't all about how global warming was going to affect the world. He brought a regional touch to the subject, highlighting the impacts of global warming on New Mexico - a predicted rise in temperature causing drought and a decrease in soil moisture.
The predicted drought would affect New Mexico's farming and ranching industries, Gore said.
During the 90-minute presentation, Gore praised Mayor Martin Chavez and Gov. Bill Richardson for their environmentally friendly policies.
As of Aug. 31, Albuquerque is one of 663 U.S. cities to sign the Kyoto Protocol, an agreement between 169 countries limiting greenhouse emissions, after the U.S. Senate failed to ratify it in 1997.
Gore also commended UNM students for attending the presentation.
However, at $35 per ticket, few UNM students could afford the speech, student Kate Boyle said.
"The people that need to be targeted the most are not the people coming to see it but the people that aren't coming to see it," Boyle said.
Student Ryan Montaño said he would have liked to hear more practical ways to combat global warming.
"I was disappointed that (Gore) didn't offer solutions in regards to everyday life," he said. "He gave us long-term options, but there wasn't anything that said, 'I want you to go home and do this.'"
Student Lars Panaro of New York said he was moved by the presentation.
"I almost started crying at one point," he said. "When I saw the graphic of New York City on the screen, and how much sea level could rise if the glaciers melt, I was kind of blown away. I really had no idea how big of a problem global warming is."
Panaro said the presentation motivated him to volunteer.
"I'd like to do something to contribute to helping the global warming crisis," Panaro said. "I'm a musician, so if anything, I'd like to eventually give benefit concerts to help. That would be great - any way that I can help."
