Rhetoric analysis encompasses a methodology for providing responses to texts or speeches with the chief intention of unveiling how textual work creates meanings followed by a subsequent evaluation of the factual and implied meaning thereof. The ‘how’ aspect attempts to ponder the strategies deployed by the author or the speaker, thus, drawing the attention of the audience so that he or she can deliver the meaning. Analyzing the ‘how’ portion requires a detailed description of speech or the text.
On the other hand, the evaluation aspect embraces posing judgments on the quality of the work. This has the repercussion of providing avenues for revelation of the effectiveness of speech or the text under scrutiny in terms of delivering the intended meaning. Using these two essential constituents of a subtle rhetoric analysis for speech or text, the paper scrutinizes Al Gore’s speech on global warming.
Many climatic scholars contend that global warming is neither new nor unusual since the world has gone through several such changes since. The endeavors to curtail the continual of climatic changes are significant concerning humanity. The claim relies on the threats posed by the unpredictable yet dangerous problem of global warming, as instigated by global climatic changes.
This perhaps explains why the world should come out conspicuously to address the challenges of global climatic changes. People perceive them as key threat to the existence of the modern civilizations by the most educated members of the globe on climatic changes issues.
Al Gore delivered the speech on global warming in Norway, Oslo on December 10, 2007. He emphasized on how global warming affected the society. He made suggestions on the steps that people needed to take to end the menace. Al Gore borrows largely from his motivational story combined with his extensive research on the subject of global warming. He strategically persuades the readers to believe his credibility and concerns of the global problem.
He argues that the entire global humanity has an obligation for seeking a solution to bring to an end the problem (Al Gore Para.1). He urges leaders, both at the national and international arena, to take immediate steps that would curb the aftermaths of global warming.
Al Gore’s dialect included different languages with translations, which could help bind everybody in one thread, winning everybody to take actions. West reckons that through the utilization of statements “In Kanji characters used in both Chinese and Japanese, crisis was written with the symbols” (Para.1). Such symbols are indicative of an opportunity and danger.
This means that repercussions of global warming are multifold. For instance, Al Gore argues that global warming has resulted to the migration of people to different geographical locations. The ethos or the credibility of the speech belongs to Al Gore as he received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2007, with Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. He was the 45th Vice President of the United States, currently referred to as an author, businessperson, and environmental activist.
Al Gore appeals to the pathos by framing the idea of climatic change as an issue of life and death. He additionally emphasizes on the significance of scientific theory to morally imperative crises. Al Gore observes, “The sheer web of life on which we depend is being ripped and frayed” (Para.3). He is clear to demonstrate the repercussions of global warming through the observable catastrophes that include floods and drought amongst others.
According to Al Gore, pollution is a key contributor of global warming. By asserting “that “CO2 is invisible, tasteless and odorless”, he attracts the attention of the audience in contemplating how this form of polluting is eroding and threatening the survival of human species. As a way of further demonstration of the menace, he posits, “So today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere” (Al Gore Para.6).
However, Al Gore is to the opinion that humanity has the power to change the global climate. His speech emphasizes the call for global emission caps, a carbon tax, and the US- China leadership. He, further, notes, “Now, people and the earth’s climate locks themselves in a relationship familiar to war planner: Mutually assured destruction” (Al Gore Para.7). He says that, as humans make this crisis even worse, if people do not take steps soon enough, they will be facing the serious consequences eventually.
He tries to amplify the statement by observing that “Scientist concluded the fact about nuclear war throwing debris and smoke into the air which would block the sunlight and we will end-up in ‘nuclear winter’” (Al Gore Para.7). Scientifically, Al Gore acknowledges the evidence of permanent “carbon summer”, which is happening because of global warming characterized by pollution and too much heat in the atmosphere. He points out how global predicament is a climatic crisis, which is “real, rising, and universal” (Al Gore Para.8).
Kairos refers to the act of making the right argument at the right time. Al Gore used kairos in his speech extremely effectively because the Nobel podium is highly respectful and honorable. He advises that “when people unite for a moral purpose that is manifestly reasonable and true, the spiritual energy unleashed can transform them” (Al Gore Para.8). Nobel lecture made the speech more effective to the audience upon its delivery on the Nobel Prize podium.
He rhetorically appeals to the leaders around the world to take the required steps to solve the problem. Al Gore did a tremendous job by portraying the serious consequences. He also provided hope by adding new ideas, which could help in saving the globe from torments of global warming menace.
The severity of the aftermaths of global warming prompts for immediate interventions from every inhabitant of the world. Otherwise, as Al Gore notes “If people continue to go on with their lives ignorantly, the consequences of the global heat eventually will make them face drastic and devastating loss” (Para.9).
Al Gore’ speech is highly effective. He reckons, “The pace of people’s response demands some acceleration to match the quickening pace of the crisis itself” (Al Gore Para.9). The overall impact of Al Gore’s speech is to deliver a speech that is, not only educative, but also beneficial in curtailing the advents of global warming.
“While painting a stark picture of a bleak future, Al Gore also offers a message of hope to people worldwide who are willing to unite and stand together for a meaningful change” (West Para.6). Al Gore can make a rhetorical and strategic appeal to ethos, logos, kairos, and pathos. While painting the bleak future, Al Gore also offers a message of hope to people around the globe, as he says, “We have a purpose. We are many. For this purpose, we will raise, and we will act” (Al Gore Para.11).
Every time he states the problem, he asks everybody to form the unity in order to make this world a better place to live. The rhetorical strategies allow him to put out his vision for global warming, reflecting the current situations with which the world is dealing. He presents a message that is powerful and influential enough for the leaders of the world to get into the action of solving the crises.
Based on the relevance of the Al Gore’s speech, as revealed in the paper, the reader testifies how Al Gore speaks volumes and volumes to virtually all people in the world. As a result, the speech does not go without leaving some scars on the effects of global warming in the minds of people including the leaders of the world. As most environmentalist scholars contend, “The survival of the United States of America as we know it is at risk.
And even more – if more should be required – the future of human civilization is at stake” (West Para.12). This statement is perhaps is congruent with Al Gore’s rhetoric presentation of the problem of global warming. Consequently, his speech proves largely effective especially by noting that America is nowadays widely accepting and putting into place policies that facilitate the utilization of environmentally clean technologies such as green technology.
As a way of example, one of the green technology concerns is curtailing power generation from coal that results to lots of carbon dioxide emissions that pose a massive threat to the depletion of the ozone layer and the renewable sources of energy. Although, environmentalists widely advocate that all houses be power-sufficient by themselves, this power generated greenly, the rate at which people embrace such technologies that have the capacity to reduce immensely advancement of global warming is not at pace with the crises.
Works Cited
Al Gore, Albert. Nobel Peace Prize Lecture: America Rhetoric, 2011. Web.
West, Larry. Al Gore Accepts Nobel Peace Prize, Calls for Immediate Action on Global Warming, 2010. Web.