Are you ready to stand in front of a bulldozer or chain yourself to heavy machinery in order to stop the construction of new coal-fired power plants? But perhaps the more important question: Will Al Gore join you?

Let's start with what the former VP told a New York audience this morning at the Clinton Global Initiative Annual Meeting. "If you're a young person looking at the future of this planet and looking at what is being done right now, and not done, I believe we have reached the stage where it is time for civil disobedience to prevent the construction of new coal plants that do not have carbon capture and sequestration."

His comments came during the day's first panel discussion, which included Queen Rania of Jordan and Bono, and which was moderated by Bill Clinton. Gore later added: "I believe for a carbon company to spend money convincing the stock-buying public that the risk from the global climate crisis is not that great represents a form of stock fraud because they are misrepresenting a material fact."

Strong words all around from the former Veep, and we're curious to see what the reaction is over the next few days from the enviro community. Our gut reaction is that it sounds dangerously close to a last gasp strategy. Have we already given up on generating tangible change, whether it be effecting policy change, educating communities or lobbying our elected officials? Might there be more effective -- and far less divisive ways -- for these young people you speak of to reach others in efforts to stem coal power? Sure, you can tell your followers to go and form a human ring around a construction site, but at this moment, such a move reeks of desperation.

Unless of course .... you go with them, Al. Really, what do you have to lose by standing with the young people in front of a bulldozer? You're a former vice president, a Nobel winner and a multi-millionaire. You can talk all you want about civil disobedience from the comfort of a New York panel or your home in Nashville, but the truth is that best social movement leaders -- we're talking Gandhi and MLK here -- were willing to make deep sacrifices for their cause. Are you willing to make such a sacrifice, Mr. Gore? You talked a big game today. Now maybe it's time to go out see what it feels like to get arrested while standing up for your cause. Otherwise, the rhetoric will flatter than it ever has before.