Once the US Vice President, then star of An Inconvenient Truth, now Nobel Peace Prize winner, Al Gore has been striving hard to focus the world's attention on climate change.
Since leaving Washington, DC -- following the tumultuous 2000 election -- he's still at it and the heartier side is the fact, that his campaign for alerting the world to the dangers of climate change has only gained momentum. His Oscar-winning An Inconvenient Truth is the third most successful documentary ever released at the box office.
Watch his famous PowerPoint presentation has drawn in a reluctant public, with its meticulously researched content and lucid style.
In this video you'll find, Gore himself having found his footing as a communicator. The warmth and humour reveals the depth of his experience as teacher and author. Arguably, he is better positioned today than he has ever been to affect the future of our environment and world.
He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize for 2007, along with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), "for their efforts to build up and disseminate greater knowledge about man-made climate change, and to lay the foundations for the measures that are needed to counteract such change."
In this video he presents evidence that the pace of climate change may be even worse than scientists were recently predicting, and challenges us to act with a sense of "generational mission" -- the kind of feeling that brought forth the civil rights movement -- to set it right.
I personally strongly agree with Al Gore that to solve the climate crisis we need to change the law. In my house we only buy energy effecient appliances, we also replaced all of the light bulbs with energy efficient ones. In India, segregation of wastes and recycling or organic wastes must be made mandatory. If anyone should decide not to obey the law they should be made to pay a heavy penalty. In however many years when Chennai, Mumbai, Calcutta and several other cities are under water what will we have to say? We should have made less pollution...? I think it's going to be too late if we don't do something now!
Hope atleast now people get the message. Time to focus on climate change more than the other heart-breaking crises: war, injustice, poverty, corruption, all connected, but hard to sort in terms of priority. We're talking about survival of life here, not just us, but all those creatures and plants who do not have our option of changing. Come on, friends, we need to help each other here. Let's get working. We can do it because we are not left with many choices, WE HAVE TO!
Please take time to view this 30 minute video. If you desire to download a zipped version of this video and watch it offline click on the image on the top...
This song by Harry Belafonte, would make many of you shed a tear or two... The popularity of this song was boosted by its use as the theme for a memorable Kodak television commercial.
Where are you going, my little one, little one, Where are you going, my baby, my own? Turn around and you're two, Turn around and you're four, Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door. Turn around, turn around, Turn around and you're a young girl going out of my door.
Where are you going, my little one, little one, Little dirndls and petticoats, where have you gone? Turn around and you're tiny, Turn around and you're grown, Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own. Turn around, turn around, Turn around and you're a young wife with babes of your own. ~ Malvina Reynolds
The following are some of of my favourite songs sung by Harry Belafonte, an American musician, actor and social activist. One of the most successful Jamaican musicians in history, he was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style in the 1950s. Belafonte is perhaps best known for singing the "Banana Boat Song", with its signature lyric "Day-O". Throughout his career, he has been an advocate for civil rights and humanitarian causes. In recent years he has been a vocal critic of the policies of the Bush Administration.
The first one I've put below is a Hebrew folk song. Several of my students still (it's a little over 12 years since I taught in schools!) remember me for this song, which I had the privilege to introduce them... I must admit here, that it is this song that made me buy several of the singers album.
Am sure that many of you would want to put your hands on a couple of his CDs after listening some of the best numbers available on the net and which I've pasted here for your easy access! (Harry Belafonte At Carnegie Hall is one, i would recommend you to pick)!
Hava nagila (Let's rejoice) Hava nagila (Let's rejoice) Hava nagila venis'mecha (Let's rejoice and be happy) [repeat stanza once] Hava neranenah (Let's sing) Hava neranenah (Let's sing) Hava neranenah venis'mecha (Let's sing and be happy) [repeat stanza once] Uru, uru achim! (Awake, awake, brothers!) Uru achim b'lev sameach (Awake brothers with a happy heart) [repeat line three times] Uru achim, uru achim! (Awake, brothers, awake, brothers!) B'lev sameach (With a happy heart) Jamaican Farewell The soothing beat and the yearning voice has kept this at No 1 among many of his! Please do enjoy the song. To help you appreciate it better, I've posted the lyrics of the song as well!
Down the bay where the nights are gay And the sun shines daily on the mountain top I took a trip on a sailing ship And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the market you can hear Ladies cry out while on their heads they bear `Akey' rice, salt fish are nice And the rum is fine any time of year
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Sounds of laughter everywhere And the dancing girls sway to and fro I must declare my heart is there Though I've been from Maine to Mexico
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Down the bay where the nights are gay And the sun shines daily on the mountain top I took a trip on a sailing ship And when I reached Jamaica I made a stop
But I'm sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
sad to say I'm on my way Won't be back for many a day My heart is down, my head is turning around I had to leave a little girl in Kingston town
Cocoant Woman is Calling Out... Now, try listening to the following song, with your eyes closed and you can experience the Caribbean Magic! If you're adamant and want to keep your eyes open, try singing along with the lyric posted below!
Coconut Coconut Coconut Coconut Coconut
Coconut woman is calling out And everyday you can hear her shout Coconut woman is calling out And everyday you can hear her shout Get your coconut water Man it's good for your daughter Coco got a lotta iron, Make you strong like a lion
A lady tell me the other day No one can take her sweet man away I ask her what was the mystery She say coconut water and rice curry You can cook it in a pot You can serve it very hot Coco got a lotta iron Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman says you'll agree coconut make very nice candy The thing that's best if you're feelin' glum Is coconut water with a little rum It could make you very tipsy Make you feel like a gypsy Coco got a lotta iron Make you strong like a lion
Coconut woman is calling out And everyday you can hear her shout Coconut woman is calling out And everyday you can hear her shout Get your coconut water Man it's good for your daughter Coco got a lotta iron, Get your coconut candy Makes you feel very dandy
Coconut Coconut Coconut Coconut Coconut
Mama look A Boo Boo There! Probably because it fits me well, thanks to the contradicting appearance i have to my wife, I love this song a lot. This is also one of my son's favourite songs, when we drive around outside the city...
I wonder why nobody don't like me... Or is it the fact that am ugly I wonder why nobody don't like me... Or is it the fact that am ugly
I leave my whole house and go My children don't want me no more Bad talk inside the house they bring And when I start to talk they sing
Mama look a boo boo They shout! Their mother tell them Shut up your mouth... That's your daddy.. Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away... Mama look a boo boo there... Shut your mouth go away... Mama look a boo boo there...
I couldn't even digets the supper Due to the children's behaviour... John, yes pop Come here a moment Bring the belt Too much too impudent
John says it's james who started first James tells the story in reverse... I grab my belt from off the waist... You should hear them Screaming around the place
Mama look a boo boo They shout Their mother tell them Shut up your mouth... That's your daddy.. Oh no.... my daddy can't be ugly so...
Shut your mouth go away... Mama look a boo boo there... Shut your mouth go away... Mama look a boo boo there... Shut your mouth go away... Mama look a boo boo there...
Mary's Boy Child
One of the most melodious songs of Harry Belafonte...
A Long time ago in Bethlehem So the Holy Bible say Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ Was born on Christmas day
Hark, now hear the angels sing A new King born today And man will live for ever more Because of Christmas day
While shepherds watched their flock by night And see a bright new shining star And hear a choir sing The music seem to come from afar
Now Joseph and his wife Mary Come to Bethlehem that night And find no place to borne sweet child Not a single room was in sight
Hark, now hear the angels sing A new King born today And man will live forever more Because of Christmas day
By and by they find a little roof In a stable all forlorn And in a manger cold and dark Mary's little boy was born
Hark, now hear the angels sing A new King born today And man will live forever more Because of Christmas day
There's A Hole In The Bucket This is yet another song of Harry Belafonte that catches up with everyone probably because of the kind of excuses we give for not having accomplished some of our tasks...
Henry.... Oh Henry Yes Liza...
Did you fetch the water? Go fetch the water...
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
So fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Well fix it dear Henry, dear Henry, fix it.
With what should I fix it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what should I fix it, dear Liza, with what?
With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With straw, dear Henry, dear Henry, with straw.
But the straw is too long, dear Liza, dear Liza, The straw is too long, dear Liza, too long.
Cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, Well cut it dear Henry, dear Henry, cut it!
With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I cut it, dear Liza, with what?
With an axe dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, With an axe , dear Henry, the hatchet.
But the axes too dull, dear Liza, dear Liza, The axe's too dull, dear Liza, too dull.
With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, dear Liza, With what shall I fetch it, dear Liza, with what?
In a bucket dear Henry, dear Henry, dear Henry, In a bucket, dear Henry, dear Henry, Try bucket!
There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, dear Liza, There's a hole in the bucket, dear Liza, a hole.
Banana Boat Song This is yet another beautiful song that brings to our eyes the lifestyle of workers in the Caribbean port! It's a good one to put you to sleep!
Day-o, day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home Day, me say day, me say day, me say day Me say day, me say day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home
Work all night on a drink of rum Daylight come and me wan' go home Stack banana till de mornin' come Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana Daylight come and me wan' go home Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch Daylight come and me wan' go home Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch Daylight come and me wan' go home Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home Day, me say day, me say day, me say day... Daylight come and me wan' go home
A beautiful bunch o' ripe banana Daylight come and me wan' go home Hide the deadly black tarantula Daylight come and me wan' go home
Lift six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch Daylight come and me wan' go home Six foot, seven foot, eight foot bunch Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day, me say day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home Day, me say day, me say day, me say day... Daylight come and me wan' go home
Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana Daylight come and me wan' go home Come, Mister tally man, tally me banana Daylight come and me wan' go home
Day-o, day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home Day, me say day, me say day, me say day Me say day, me say day-o Daylight come and me wan' go home
Now to know a bit more about the artist and what he has done for humankind. A 3-minute video documentary:
Vast stretches of coastal India may just go under water if global warming goes unchecked.
According to a report titled Blue Alert by Greenpeace, if present trends are any indication, there will be a five-degree increase in temperature over the next hundred years. This will submerge large areas and displace around fifty million people in India alone. The report also indicates that a policy change can still avert a two-degree rise in less than a decade.
Now an attempt is being made to mobilise public support to force the government to take a firm stand on climate change. In Chennai, (the city where I live) alone there will be ten million people who may be displaced. We'll become climate refugees.
Many countries have signed the Kyoto protocol in order to bring down green house gas emissions to levels that existed before 1992. But global emissions have actually risen by 24 per cent mainly due to emissions from developing countries like India and China.
Although the US tops the list in CO2 emissions, it wants developing countries like India and China to take the lead.
In an effort to make the government understand this and pressurize them take action, an attempt is being made to campaign for the public support to mitigate climate change rather than waiting for the catastrophe to happen!
Climate change could also trigger erratic monsoons and break down agricultural systems in the vast and densely populated Gangetic delta. A study conducted on the rapidly warming South Asia, the global environment group said India, whose economy has grown by 8-9 per cent annually in recent years, contributes around 4 per cent of global greenhouse gas emissions as its consumption of fossil fuels grows.
The UN Development Programme in its latest report has also warned climate change will hit the world's poorest countries, increasing risks of disease, destruction of traditional livelihoods and triggering massive displacement. Together, India, Bangladesh and Pakistan have nearly 130 million people living along coastal areas less than 10 metres (33 feet) above sea level. (See map). All of us are in the danger of becoming Climate Refugee!
We are already seeing the effects," said Sudhir Chella Rajan, a professor at the Indian Institute of Technology, Chennai. He said the effect of rising temperatures was already apparent in the recurrent floods in coastal Bangladesh.
Join the Campaign!
Greenpeace has simultaneously launched the ‘Blue Alert’ campaign in five of the most vulnerable coastal cities in India: Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Kochi and Goa. The campaign aims to catalyse people in the coastal danger zones, empowering them with information that they can raise with their elected representatives.
Globally more than 1 billion people live in low-lying areas that could be affected by sea level rise. Much of the productive land used to produce food is also in coastal areas at risk from rising sea levels.
The solutions to prevent catastrophic climate change impacts and avoid hundreds of millions of people from being displaced already exist. What’s needed is a revolution in the way we generate energy and an end to global deforestation.
Your voice can help start that revolution!
If you are a citizen of Chennai, please assemble at Besant Nagar Elliot's Beach on Saturday, April 12, 2008.
For further information you can contact the campaigners in the following cities:
Please click on the Green Foot Print image here to know how much your activities and lifestyle are having an impact on earth. Let us be responsible and delay or better still, restore the Earth in its pristine natural state, before we came in.
