Towns show 'An Inconvenient Truth'

The documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" is getting a wide showing and generating conversation across the region as churches, environmental groups, and, in at least one case, a town used the film as a teaching tool to educate voters about global warming.

Kingston's Secure Energy Future Committee gave the film an official seal of approval when it scheduled a free public screening last week and invited a guest speaker to answer questions.

Showing the film "speaks to our larger mission of securing our town's future with wise energy choices and decisions," said Ron Maribett, the committee's chairman. " 'An Inconvenient Truth' is a great point of departure for public dialogue."

The film, which is based on former vice president Al Gore's efforts to publicize the issue and which has been nominated for an Academy Award, faces the scientific controversy over global warning head on, arguing that no disagreement exists among scientists on the connection between carbon dioxide emissions and atmospheric warming. It outlines the connection between rising carbon dioxide emissions and climbing temperatures and the consequences: severe weather events such as Hurricane Katrina, droughts, new diseases, and, ominously for coastal regions, glacial melting and rising sea levels.

Environmental organizations persuaded a Hingham theater to show the film repeatedly and held receptions afterward to encourage people to spread the word. A Duxbury woman rented space at her local library to show the film to neighbors; 55 people came to see it. Said William Bottiggi, general manager of Braintree's Electric Light Department, "The more people who see the movie the better."

Environmentalists say the film's release has made a big difference in focusing public attention on the climate issue and generated ideas about what can be done.

"The film can take a huge share of the credit," said Judeth Van Hamm of South Shore Sustainable, a regional group that has been studying ways to persuade South Shore consumers to use sustainable forms of energy.

Her organization has been "going gang busters" since helping to sponsor post-screening receptions in Hingham last summer. Based initially in Hull and Weymouth, the group now has branches in Cohasset, Hingham, Scituate, Duxbury, Plymouth, and Milton, and is affiliated with independent groups in Kingston and Quincy.

"A lot of people are saying we need to get moving now," said Linda Garrity of Duxbury, who screened the film in her town library.

Town bodies have begun studying energy alternatives in recent years. Kingston's energy committee has audited town energy costs and worked on a proposal for Kingston's first wind-power generator. More recently, it added members and began what Maribett, a geography professor at Bridgewater State College, called "richer and fuller discussions on a wide range of ideas."

Although Gore is a well-known Democrat who lost the presidential election to George W. Bush seven years ago, regional officials said the film's purpose is to be educational rather than partisan. "It's fantastic," said Andre Martecchini, a Duxbury selectman and member of his town's Alternative Energy Committee.

"Some people think of it as a very political movie, but if it is, so be it," he said. "If that's what it takes to shake people up, I'm all for it."

Robert Knox can be contacted at rc.knox@gmail.com.