Al Gore takes the message to Congress

"The planet has a fever. If your baby has a fever you go to the doctor. If the doctor says you need to intervene here, you don't say, 'I read a science fiction novel that says it's not a problem.' You take action."

That was how Gore responded to Representative Joe Barton (Republican) of Texas, who challenged the conclusions of "An Inconvenient Truth."

Gore's showing before Congress was greeted positively with cable news stations broadcasting live. The hall was packed. Gore presented a 10-point plan for immediate reduction of carbon emissions. H urged Congress to make the U.S. a leader for the rest of the world to follow. He collected several hundred thousand signatures at his website, from people that stand behind his message who want to put their Representitives on notice. See Gore warns of 'planetary emergency'

Recent news stories related to Al Gore's book and message makes it seem as if some scientists are worried that his arguments stretch scientific truth and his conclusions are extreme. What these stories actually point out however, is that scientists think he has largely got it right, and that any quibbles are with precise details or the degree of certainty about what can happen to our world if we continue with business as usual. For example, see NPR's sidebar in this story: Gore Takes Global Warming Message to Congress