Gore Says It Is Not Too Late to Combat Climate Change

Editor's note: Transcript of speech and photographs are available.

Newswise — Former vice president Al Gore delivered a speech about global warming upon accepting the Global Environmental Citizen Award from the Center for Health and the Global Environment at Harvard Medical School. The award was conferred on Oct. 21 in New York by Eric Chivian, MD, director of the Center, and Meryl Streep, actress, environmentalist, and board member of the Center.

"The scientists who follow the rule of reason and respect the principle of the best evidence now tell us that we are creating an imbalance in the relationship between civilization and the earth and that the most prominent manifestation of this dysfunction is global warming," Gore said. "What it really means is that we are destroying the ecological balance that has existed since just prior to the beginning of human civilization." To read the entire speech, go to: http://chge.med.harvard.edu/events/gec05.html

Gore was presented the award for his commitment to the environment, and particularly global warming, which he demonstrated through pioneering efforts to protect and preserve the earth's natural resources since his days in the House of Representatives. Gore's efforts span nearly three decades and address the need for both public and policy action.

HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL

http://hms.harvard.edu/ Harvard Medical School has more than 6,000 full-time faculty working in eight academic departments based at the School's Boston quadrangle or in one of 47 academic departments at 18 Harvard teaching hospitals and research institutes. Those Harvard hospitals and research institutions include Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Cambridge Health Alliance, the CBR Institute for Biomedical Research, Children's Hospital Boston, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Forsyth Institute, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, Joslin Diabetes Center, Judge Baker Children's Center, Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Massachusetts General Hospital, Massachusetts Mental Health Center, McLean Hospital, Mount Auburn Hospital, Schepens Eye Research Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital, and VA Boston Healthcare System.