“Give me a child until he is seven and I will show you the man”. This Jesuit maxim, together with the belief that one’s background predetermines one's future, was the inspiration behind arguably the first reality TV program, “7-up”. It began when “World in Action” interviewed a group of seven year old school children from different socio-economic classes during Thatcher’s Britain, and then followed them every seven years charting their life. “49-up” is the latest release in the seven part series.

There are 2 billion emerging rich in China and India who care about the environment as much as I care for brussel sprouts. There are industry lobby groups and Australian governments and swift boats and this hanging Chad guy all standing in the way of the little guy wanting to do the right thing.

Mr. Gore: my question is this: What message of hope can you offer to a down-and-out, cynical young man, that everything is going to be ok and that my efforts to fix things for my generation won’t be trampled by those more powerful and wealthy and numerous than me?