$6,700-A-Minute Al

Al Gore profiteering off global warming? Perish the thought!

Of course he's busy creating hysteria to drive investment and government funding for the companies he's invested in (here, here). To further his obnoxiousness, now there's this:

Al Gore has come under fire for making personal gain from his mission to save the planet – after charging £3,300 ($6,700)a minute to deliver a poorly received speech.

The former American Vice-President was also accused of being "precious" at the London event, demanding his own VIP room and ejecting journalists, despite hopes the star-studded gathering would generate publicity for the fight against global warming.

Many of the audience at last month's Fortune Forum summit were restless as Mr Gore, who has won both a Nobel Peace Prize and an Oscar for his campaigning work this year, delivered the half-hour speech that netted him £100,000. (Daily Mail)

Sources said guests were "twitching" during the speech and stopped listening to Al and talking among themselves.

Even guests who paid $100,000 to attend the event found themselves brushed off by Gore's bodyguards when they tried to approach the "precious" global warming grandstander.

Careful, Al, if you get any chillier, you may reverse global warming all by yourself.

Cartoon: Indystar