CBS Early Show Praises Teen Global Warming Activist

On Wednesday’s CBS Early Show, correspondent Daniel Sieberg reported on a young global warming activist from California: "...everyday citizens of all ages are doing their part to raise awareness of climate change....15-year-old Alec Loorz takes his message across the country, using poles to illustrate the predicted sea level rise if nothing is done to prevent global warning."

At one point, Loorz declared: "All of lower Manhattan would be underwater." That’s not the first time such a claim was made on the CBS morning news program. On November 5, 2007, Early Show co-host Harry Smith interviewed New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg about a proposal to impose a national carbon tax and declared that "Manhattan will be underwater by 2050" if global warming was left unchecked.

On Wednesday, Sieberg went on to tout Loorz’s activism: "Alec’s voice also has the support of a former vice president. At the age of just 12, he applied to be part of Al Gore’s network of official speakers. It took some persistence, but eventually, Alec was accepted....And Alec’s cool factor certainly isn’t lost on his friends and family members."

Sieberg explained: "His mission includes keeping the air cleaner by planting trees and encouraging conservation, like using energy efficient light bulbs....Ultimately, Alec says it’s a universal message that applies to everyone." The taped report ended with Loorz imploring: "Let’s work together to change the world and not just occupy it."

After the report, fill-in co-host Jeff Glor remarked: "Both inspiring and depressing to see that someone half our age has accomplished more than we have." Sieberg, sitting in studio with Glor, agreed: "Yeah, he’s way ahead of us, I think."

Here is a full transcript of the segment:

8:42AM

JEFF GLOR: As you know, Al Gore is on a mission to raise awareness about global warning. But CBS News science and technology correspondent Daniel Sieberg met a young man who has his own ‘inconvenient truth.’ Daniel, good morning.

DANIEL SIEBERG: Exactly. Good morning, Jeff. You know, while politicians debate, everyday citizens of all ages are doing their part to raise awareness of climate change and I got a chance to meet one of the most committed activists. From the west coast in Los Angeles-

ALEC LOORZ: We could be underwater right here where we are.

SIEBERG: -to the east coast in New York.

LOORZ: All of lower Manhattan would be underwater.

SIEBERG: 15-year-old Alec Loorz takes his message across the country, using poles to illustrate the predicted sea level rise if nothing is done to prevent global warning.

ALEC LOORZ: There’s a line at the top that says ‘you will be under water here.’

SIEBERG: His mission includes keeping the air cleaner by planting trees and encouraging conservation, like using energy efficient light bulbs.

LOORZ: That is a solar light.

SIEBERG: And he helps empower other kids.

LOORZ: It’s true, we are the future, but we are more than that. We’re here now and we are the present. So our voices do make a difference.

SIEBERG: But Alec’s voice also has the support of a former vice president. At the age of just 12, he applied to be part of Al Gore’s network of official speakers. It took some persistence, but eventually, Alec was accepted.

AL GORE: Alec Loorz is from your community.

LOORZ: At the first event where I met him, he actually introduced me to his crowd and talked about what I did. And that really opened up a lot of doors and it was really cool he did that.

SIEBERG: And Alec’s cool factor certainly isn’t lost on his friends and family members.

JOEY SANTIA [FRIEND]: I’m very glad that Alec is really taking the bull by the horns and is really trying to get the message out.

OLIVIA LOORZ [SISTER]: We have to take the action and not just wait for other people to fix our own problems.

SIEBERG: Ultimately, Alec says it’s a universal message that applies to everyone.

LOORZ: Let’s work together to change the world and not just occupy it.

SIEBERG: Well, Alec will continue his fight in the coming months, on both the national and international stage. He’s scheduled to speak at climate change conferences in Colorado, Copenhagen, and Qatar. He’s a busy kid.

JEFF GLOR: Both inspiring and depressing to see that someone half our age has accomplished more than we have.

SIEBERG: Yeah, he’s way ahead of us, I think.

GLOR: So he does all this stuff. How does he – does he go to school?

SIEBERG: He does, in a sense. He’s actually allowed to do this work as part of his curriculum. It’s kind of a home schooled school that he’s in on the west coast in California. So it’s kind of both at the same time. He’s getting life experience and this great education.

GLOR: Good for him. Daniel Sieberg, thank you very much.

SIEBERG: You bet.