For years, former Vice President Al Gore has foisted his environmental jeremiads on the world, traveling by private jet to calling upon the industrialized world to repent of its polluting ways. Now, as the nations of the world gather in Copenhagen to discuss addressing the climate change which Gore had proclaimed was threatening the Earth with near-certain doom, the man who only weeks ago was appealing to the “collective will” of mankind may be absenting himself from the proceedings.
Gore had been scheduled speak at an event in Copenhagen on December 16, but now press reports and the event organizers report that he will not be appearing.
According to a story at WashingtonTimes.com:
As described in The Washington Times‘ Inside the Beltway column Tuesday, the multimedia public event to promote Mr. Gore’s new book, "Our Choice," included $1,209 VIP tickets that granted the holder a photo opportunity with Mr. Gore and a "light snack."
Berlingkse Media, a Danish group coordinating ticket sales and publicity for the event, said that "great annoyance" was a factor in the cancellation, along with unforeseen changes in Mr. Gore’s program for the climate summit. The decision affected 3,000 ticket holders.
"We have had a clear-cut agreement, and it is unusual with great disappointment that we have to announce that Al Gore cancels. We had a huge expectation for the event. . . . We do not yet know the detailed reasons for the cancellation," said Lisbeth Knudsen, CEO of Berlingske Media, in a statement posted by the company.
In point of fact, the $1,209 VIP event was scheduled to precede a speech by Mr. Gore, which, according to the event website, had ticket costs ranging from approximately $39 to $299. It is not hard, therefore, to imagine the frustration expressed by Lisbeth Knudsen.
While it is not hard to estimate the small fortune that Gore and Berlingske Media will not be making on account of the cancellation, the far more interesting question is: “Why did Gore cancel?” According to a FOXNews.com report:
Gore spokeswoman Kalee Kreider says the decision was made because of "all the events going on with the summit." Dec. 16 is a key date for the meeting because that’s when the ministerial segment starts.
Gore has spent years promoting a theory which has come under greater public scrutiny in the last few weeks than it has faced in years. With scandals erupting over “Climate-gate” and with data allegedly being destroyed or misplaced, the outcome of the conference is no longer as certain as it seemed just a few weeks ago. The sudden silence of the climate change theory’s most prominent promoter is just the latest piece in the puzzle.
Photo: AP Images
