Al Gore: 'Civil disobedience has a role to play'

by Mike Smith

Published November 08, 2009 @ 04:23PM PT

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Al Gore seems willing to try everything to highlight the threat of climate change, and to convince the public that firm action is essential. He likens the hardening tone of criticism by deniers to "the sunset phenomenon, where there's a spectacle just before the subsiding." But his critics are not the only ones hardening their stance. Gore understands that breaking the law in the name of fighting climate change has a role to play in getting legislation passed.

In his new book he explains that "when the urgency and moral clarity cross a certain threshold, then I think that civil disobedience is quite understandable." Is it time to start breaking the law, or does law breaking distract the political process and lose us support? Having come so far, the movement could be easily tarnished by protesters managing to obstruct airports and getting headline news — anything that causes the movement to lose respect amongst those on the margins is problematic.

Gore expects civil disobiedience to increase, and if his change in tone shows anything, it's he's far he has come, losing some faith in politics alone to solve this crisis. Some are already making their voices known — two activists interupted the final plenary at the climate change talks in Barcelona, unfurling banners that read "Markets are the problem not the solution," and "Obama is finishing the job Bush started!" before being stopped by UN security guards, who physcially dragged them out.

Earlier in the day activists climbed a crane in central Barcelona to unfurl a banner. One of the climbers explained later that "We have done this action to express our deep consternation for the lamentable results of the Barcelona Climate Talks. The world and the humanity needs a radical change in the model of production and consumption." It should be the science that's the headline, but activists engaging in civil disobedience do succeed in making people talk and consider the importance of the issue. As long as they aren't destructive, they won't do any harm, but only show their enormous passion, and willingness to risk jail in the fight for tough international legislation on climate change.

Photo credit: UN Photo/Mark Garten