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Gore calls for scientists to take up politics
Al Gore last night called for climate
scientists’ help: “if I could I would motivate you to leave this city
after this meeting and get involved in politics. We need you.” According
to the Nobel prize winner, scientists can no longer in good conscience accept
“this division between the work you do and the civilization in which you
live.” He did, however, recommend that researchers keep their day jobs.
Speaking to a packed conference room,
Gore detailed how he believes the US is facing three crises - a credit crisis,
a world security crisis brought on at least in part by the need for oil, and a
climate crisis. “All three crises have a common thread,” he said,
“our absurd overdependence on fossil-based fuels.” And Gore reckons
the solution for all three is a one-off investment to shift to an
infrastructure based on “fuels that are free” such as wind, solar and
geothermal. This should help boost the economy and create jobs, reduce
dependence on oil supplies from abroad, and cut carbon emissions.
“This is a moment in our history
that is completely without precedent,” said Gore. “There is an old
African proverb, if you want to go quickly go alone, if you want to go far go
together. We have to go far quickly.”
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