Al Gore at the Frank Erwin Center

On October 1, a crowd of young and old swept into the Frank Erwin Center in Austin to listen to Al Gore's presentation on the world's climate crisis. The audience was supportive and encouraging, hanging onto every word of the former vice president.

Though it's been over a year since An Inconvenient Truth, Gore's documentary and campaign film, was released, people are still passionate and aware about the issue.

Gore's presentation was just like that in An Inconvenient Truth, with some new information and slides added. He spoke about the causes of global warming, who was to blame, what could happen if the crisis continues, and how to end it.

Gore's presentation and language evoked several emotions. At times, laughter:

I'm Al Gore, I used to be the next president of the United States of America.
[laughter and applause from audience]
I don't find that particularly funny.

At others, reflection:

You see that pale, blue dot? That's us. Everything that has ever happened in all of human history, has happened on that pixel. All the triumphs and all the tragedies, all the wars all the famines, all the major advances... it's our only home. And that is what is at stake, our ability to live on planet Earth, to have a future as a civilization.

And yet at others, inspiring:

Future generations may well have occasion to ask themselves, "What were our parents thinking? Why didn't they wake up when they had a chance?" We have to hear that question from them, now.

After the presentation, Gore answered a few questions that had been previously submitted by the audience. At this point, one man started yelling protests, insisting that Gore was a fraud. Though I couldn't see where he was, from the scuffling sounds I assume that other audience members silenced him quickly.

Just before Gore left the stage, someone yelled out, "Gore for President!" The former vice president smiled and said simply, "I'm not planning on it..."

Myself and Amy Lee, before leaving for the presentation.