Archived press release

The Big Ask Cinema Night: 'An Inconvenient Truth' and question time with Environment Minister

23 February 2007

David Miliband, the Environment Minister, will answer questions on climate change at a post Oscar showing of `An Inconvenient Truth' at the Prince Charles Cinema, London on Monday 26 February. The screening of the Oscar nominated film and the question and answer session is being organised as part of The Big Ask, Friends of the Earths climate campaign.

The evening is the first in a series of events being organised across the UK where members of the public will have the opportunity to see the film, which explores the science and politics of climate change, and to quiz MPs about what's being done in the UK. Future speakers at the Prince Charles Cinema include Menzies Campbell, leader of the Liberal Democrats.

The Big Ask campaign is calling on the Government to ensure the UK plays its part in tackling climate change by introducing a law which commits it to cutting the UK's carbon emissions by three percent annually. The Government agreed to introduce a climate change law last November but has yet to decide what it will do. A strong climate change law would make it easier and cheaper for us all - individuals and business - to be climate friendly.

Friends of the Earth Director, Tony Juniper, said:

"Many people will watch An Inconvenient Truth and wonder what our own Government is doing to tackle climate change. The Big Ask cinema night is an opportunity to find out by putting questions directly to David Miliband - the man in charge of our climate policy."

David Miliband, Environment Secretary,said:

"The more people who see Al Gore's film, the better. As An Inconvenient Truth so forcefully shows, there is a big challenge ahead of us - but there's no reason to feel helpless as we face it.

I'm looking forward to discussing with this audience, and with people all over the UK in the year ahead, what they think we as a government and we as a nation should be doing to fight climate change. This isn't just a problem for governments or environmentalists or businesses. It's a challenge for everyone, and I want to talk to people from all walks of life during this crucial year, as we introduce ambitious legislation to fight climate change and lay the foundation stones for a low-carbon global economy."

Ben Freedman at The Prince Charles Cinema said:

"The Prince Charles Cinema has made a commitment to show `An Inconvenient Truth' at least once a week throughout 2007 and wherever possible to feature a live question and answer focusing on the variety of actions we can all take. Over the coming months we will be featuring a wide variety of speakers and we are all very excited that the first in the series will feature David Miliband and Tony Juniper who will be discussing some of the political issues and give our audience a chance to feed back their views on how the Government could respond"

Tickets for the event cost £5 and are available from The Prince Charles Cinema box office on 0870 811 2559 (costs 25p per ticket for credit card bookings) or on the door.

The screening starts at 6.30pm on Monday 26 February at the Prince Charles Cinema, 7 Leicester Place, off Leicester Square and will be followed by a question and answer session with David Miliband, Secretary of State for the Environment and Tony Juniper, Director of Friends of the Earth.

For more information go to www.princecharlescinema.com

Notes

An Inconvenient Truth has been nominated for an Oscar for best documentary feature and best original song. The Oscars will on Sunday 25th February.

David Miliband and Alan Johnson announced on 2 February that the Al Gore film "An Inconvenient Truth" will form part of a pack on climate change to be sent to every secondary school in England .The DVD will go to 3,385 secondary schools in England. It will be part of a Sustainable Schools year of action to support all schools to become models of sustainable best practice. Other tools and support being produced include teacher resource packs, a pupil "detective kit", guidance for bursars and governors and a new Teaching award."

If you're a journalist looking for press information please contact the Friends of the Earth media team on 020 7566 1649.

Published by Friends of the Earth Trust