After the previous post regarding the movie, on 18th September Al Gore spoke again on climate issues. You can find here the entire speech and a previous post, on the same topic, on it.

Just a few Al Gore sentences:

A few days ago, scientists announced alarming new evidence of the rapid melting of the perennial ice of the north polar cap, continuing a trend of the past several years that now confronts us with the prospect that human activities, if unchecked in the next decade, could destroy one of the earth’s principle mechanisms for cooling itself.

Scientific American introduces the lead article in its special issue this month with the following sentence: “The debate on global warming is over.”

The serious debate over the climate crisis has now moved on to the question of how we can craft emergency solutions in order to avoid this catastrophic damage.

Well, first of all, we should start by immediately freezing CO2 emissions and then beginning sharp reductions.

At present, the global system for carbon emissions trading is embodied in the Kyoto Treaty.

The absence of the United States from the treaty means that 25% of the world economy is now missing. It is like filling a bucket with a large hole in the bottom.

… but, as I usually don’t like to have pieces of information only, I suggest you to read the transcription of the entire speach.

Technorati Tags: Climate

This evening I’ve been to watch an interesting movie proposed by the MIT Lectures Series Committee: “An Inconvenient Truth”. The former vice-president Al Gore presented in a really effective way some data and information regarding, mainly, the global warming phenomenon and effects. I should report here many interesting things I saw in that documentary but I rather suggest you to watch it… besides Al Gore personal story (which is a bit out of topic) it is a really good contribuition. Here’s the website where you can find many info.

By the way, in the documentary, it has been presented among the others, an interesting survay. In summary, it seems that scientists do agree on the existence of the global effect problem but looking at the media it not really clear if global warming exists or not. Now, I can’t say that what Gore is saying is truth or not and honestly, I have to say that I don’t care that much if it is the truth… the point is… do we really need to know we are killing the planet before starting to change our behaviour? If there are ways to reduce carbon dioxide generation now… it is really a good idea to wait until the day they will tell us “too late man… it’s over”. Even if that day will never come, why don’t we start with some simple actions in our micro-environment? Why don’t we pay more attention NOW? It is pointless, from the planet point of view, to discuss about what was right or what was wrong in the movie. We should do something in any case.

Looking at the movie’s website there is a list of actions that can help in respecting our planet a it more. For instance in the house:

• Replace a regular incandescent light bulb with a compact fluorescent light bulb
• Move your thermostat down 2° in winter and up 2° in summer
• Use a clothesline instead of a dryer whenever possible
• Turn off electronic devices you’re not using
• Unplug electronics from the wall when you’re not using them
• ……
  

Technorati Tags: Culture, Science, Climate

After several years together at the University everybody took his direction… it has been good to meet you again (even if it was bloody raining)!

Yes, sometimes I go back to my hometown too… on the bottom of central Alps. In September, it is common to find groups of cows coming back from high mountains where they spent the entire summer in freedom.

Technorati Tags: Italy, Photography

September lights… post #2. It is really interesting to sit and look at the soft September lights kissing the hills. I’d like to find some time to take some pictures of the local river… in September it looks amazing.

Technorati Tags: Italy, Photography, Weather

September is the month of grapes… which in Italy often means wine. One of the most famous Italian wines is the well known Brunello di Montalcino which is also quite expensive (I think it is something about 40 euros a bottle). I usually prefer some less expensive but still really good wines like Bonarda (from Piemonte) and Gutturnio (from Colli Piacentini in the Emilia-Romagna region).

Technorati Tags: Italy, Photography, Food

September lights…

Technorati Tags: Italy, Photography, Weather