There is nothing Republican or Democratic about the increasingly rapid deterioration of our planet.

Imagine, if you will, an alternate reality. Al Gore is elected president in 2000, as he should have been if all that nonsense hadn't taken place. The tragedy of 9/11 never happens. There is still terrorism, but it's limited to isolated, mostly poorly organized events. Weapons inspectors are allowed to finish their work in Iraq; since they find no WMDs, the U.S. chills about Iraq's supposed threat to the world. Saddam Hussein retains power for a few more years, then dies in office, replaced by a more moderate leader. The United States monitors events in the Middle East carefully, but earns respect worldwide for its restrained, rational approach to key issues. President Gore surprises the skeptics by being a thoughtful, visionary leader and initiating dialogue with even so-called rogue nations. The United States takes the lead on global warming, making bold steps to lessen our dependence on foreign oil. Sales of alternative fuels and technologies skyrocket. It becomes cool to care about the environment and live in moderation. Big oil executives become laughing stocks. Ah, dreams...

The above scenario was impossible to get out of my mind after watching An Inconvenient Truth, the stunning new documentary in which our former vice president gives us a master class on the perils of global warming. Gore is informative, funny, and eloquent as he explains why, in no uncertain terms, we must take steps to solve this problem now. "There are good people in politics who hold this issue at arm's length," Gore tells us. But the evidence he presents makes it clear that there is nothing Republican or Democratic about the increasingly rapid deterioration of our planet. This is a full-scale planetary emergency that involves literally everyone. And all but the most clueless twits should be ready and willing to pressure their leaders or take personal steps to help alleviate the crisis.

Gore presents slides and animation that show the effects of just a few degrees' increase in the global temperature. The snow on Mount Kilimanjaro has melted; Glacier National Park and other similar natural landmarks have barely any real glaciers left. The ice in the Arctic is breaking up (a very sad bit of animation shows a polar bear floundering in the water, unable to get from one ice chunk to another-such incidents have already been reported). And even sections of the vast Antarctic ice shelf are shown as cracking or partially breaking off. Clear explanations are given for how the ocean currents in the north Atlantic are shifting, affecting conditions in both the sea and the air, leading to the sorts of catastrophic weather events with which we are becoming all too familiar.

It's a virtual certainty, Gore warns, that if we continue our current activities unchecked, and serious melting occurs in Greenland and other large ice masses, then coastal regions around the world will be flooded, resulting in the deaths of millions and a derailed world economy. "Old habits and new technology equals unpredictable occurrences," says Gore in one scary segment. "We have to make sure the warnings are responded to."

Yeah, and that's the job our politicians should be doing, but plainly aren't. How shameful that the U.S. remains one of only two nations that have failed to ratify the Kyoto Accord, for no good reason other than pure selfishness and a refusal to recognize the seriousness of this issue. An Inconvenient Truth, directed by Davis Guggenheim, is not stuffy, boring, or heavy-handed in any way. It's an articulate case for changing our ways, and about as clear-headed a lesson as you could want that we are heading down a dangerous, destructive path.

This film needs to be seen by everyone, talked about, and used as a motivational tool to save this little planet of ours. Gore is quite a revelation here, but if he can get past the ultimate political fiasco (and that does come up in the film, by the way) and do something for the greater good of humanity, then so should we all. This amazing film tells us that there are some good, achievable options besides planetary suicide. But we only have about a decade before a "point of no return" scenario, so needless to say, there's no time-or planet-left to waste.

More info about the film and actions you can take.