Not Evil Just Wrong

As someone who is neither pro nor anti-climate change, I feel I can listen to the arguments for and against the case of man-made climate change with an open mind but, as Richard Dawkins says, not so open minded that my brain falls out.

When it comes to controversial subject matters such as man-made climate change, I, personally, prefer to listen to a debate, with both sides represented, than a, more or less, one sided documentary.

However, I'd heard many good things about this documentary and, as it's made by two Irish journalists and fellow citizens of mine, I was that bit more intrigued.

The Good: There are some excellent scientific counter arguments presented and there are numerous 'big claims' made by pro-climate change heavy weights, most notably Al Gore, that are either discredited or exposed as sensationalist non-truths or, at the very least, exaggerations of the facts.

There seems to be a, somewhat, credible line-up of contributors on hand to lend their views, scientific know how or experience in this field.

I'm sure that, if there were a direct answer to this documentary from the 'pro' side, there would probably be an equal amount of statements and 'facts' discredited in the, sometimes, mud-slinging arena, that is climate change..

The bad: I'm not a scientist, so I'm not in a position to discredit or, indeed, endorse the 'facts' in this documentary, so I won't go there.

While the impact on the 'average' family and, of course, those who are already impoverished, is certainly something that needs to be emphasized, as cheap fossil fuels may be replaced with more expensive "greener" forms, along with carbon taxes being introduced by many governments, I felt that the time dedicated to 'the average middle American family' was far too long.

This movie clocks in at just under 90 minutes with approximately 25-30 minutes taken up by an overweight women and her malnourished husband who are both, by the own admission, not very well educated.

Not being very well educated is certainly not a crime but, in a documentary supposedly exposing the bad science of the Al Gore led pro-climate change group, a family employed in the industrial sector explaining that they "couldn't pay for their new wooden floors" and "entertainment systems" if it weren't for their industrial jobs and how they're "living their American dream", isn't science.. or even a valid argument, in the grand scheme of things. Of course, the impact on family's standard of living is a very important topic that should not be swept under the carpet but 10 minutes would have been sufficient in this particular documentary.

In my opinion, I feel it takes away a little creditability from what is, otherwise, a very fine piece of work.

So, if you're like me and still not completely sold on either side, this is well worth a look.