The Hound Of Ulster

Vaclav Klaus, the Czech president wants to TALK with Al Gore.

"I many times tried to talk to have a public exchange of views with him, and he's not too much willing to make such a conversation," Klaus said. "So I'm ready to do it."

...

Klaus, an economist, said he opposed the "climate alarmism" perpetuated by environmentalism trying to impose their ideals, comparing it to the decades of communist rule he experienced growing up in Soviet-dominated Czechoslovakia.

"Like their (communist) predecessors, they will be certain that they have the right to sacrifice man and his freedom to make their idea reality," he said.

"In the past, it was in the name of the Marxists or of the proletariat - this time, in the name of the planet," he added.

Klaus said a free market should be used to address environmental concerns and said he oppposed as unrealistic regulations or greenhouse gas capping systems designed to reduce the impact of climate change.

(Is this a good time to mention that I'm Czech?  Or at least my family is?)

Gore's taking the "If you ignore him, maybe he'll go away" approach.  Which still seems better than THIS:

Conservative grassroots group Grassfire.org wants people to waste as much energy as possible on June 12 by "hosting a barbecue, going for a drive, watching television, leaving a few lights on, or even smoking a few cigars."

The point: the group wants to "help Americans break free from the 'carbon footprint guilt' being imposed by Climate Alarmists."

They're stealing my birthday for this?  I'm not perfectly sure, but I suspect this sort of "approach" may not help in bringing greater understanding and tolerance to the "debate."  Plus, I just think we think about guilt way, way too much as a society.  It's an excuse that makes it possible for us to avoid our actual guilt.

Still, Gore's approach seems to be WORKING.

La Scala officials say the Italian composer Giorgio Battistelli has been commissioned to produce an opera on the international multiformat hit for the 2011 season at the Milan opera house. The composer is currently artistic director of the Arena in Verona.

Again, speechless.