You know your documentary is in trouble when the people whose views you’re attempting to represent turn against you.
Take for instance this review by climate-change skeptics Tom Harris and Tim Patterson of the anti-Gore, anti-environmentalism film Not Evil, Just Wrong. In critiquing the film, the authors sprinkle words like “misleading”, “careless”, and “manipulative” — saying that, “such an approach is unlikely to expand the tent of those who will consider alternatives to the point of view being promoted by climate campaigners.”
Patterson and Harris also say that the ad hominem attacks against Gore and the environmental movement do not work — mainly because the filmmakers chose to demonize the movement. “Condemning Gore and environmentalists as “not caring about real people,” as the movie does, is also a public relations mistake,” they write. “It alienates millions of fair-minded environmentalists who, although they take a different approach to the climate issue than we do, are no more interested in hurting children, pouring money down the drain or wasting human effort than we are. A minority of environmental extremists likely are anti-human but most environmentalists are simply our neighbors, supporting policies they believe protect the world their children will inherit. Seen in that light, we are environmentalists as well.”
You can read the full, excellent review here. But it’s safe to say that Not Evil, Just Wrong will quickly go the way of the The Great Global Warming Swindle.
About Michael dEstries
Michael has been blogging since 2005 on issues such as sustainability, renewable energy, philanthropy, and healthy living. He regularly contributes to a slew of publications, as well as consulting with companies looking to make an impact using the web and social media. He lives in Ithaca, NY with his family on an apple farm.View all posts by Michael dEstries →
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Keith Mathis
