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Former vice president Al Gore came to Berkeley Monday to support the “Yes on 87” campaign. 

Prop. 87 promises to end California’s dependence on foreign oil with cleaner, cheaper alternatives such as wind, solar and biofuels that will improve the economy and reduce air pollution that causes asthma, lung disease and cancer. At the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Park rally, Gore emphasized that half of California’s foreign oil comes from the Middle East. 

“I am pretty tired of depending on oil from the Middle East,” he said, after arriving at the rally in a hybrid vehicle. “It’s not good for us because a lot of the money for oil is siphoned off to finance terrorist groups. And it’s not good for them to build up their economy predominantly from oil. This has got to stop.” 

On Oct. 9, Gore appeared in his first ad since he last ran for office in 2000 in order to endorse the oil tax initiative, sparking speculation that he was considering running for president again.  

Gore, known for advocating environmental issues, this year released a documentary on global warming, An Inconvenient Truth. 

“We want Gore,” and “Gore for President,” supporters chanted, a large number of whom were students from Berkeley High and UC Berkeley. Gore was joined by Congresswoman Barbara Lee and Mayor Tom Bates, both of whom urged citizens to vote yes on Measure 87. 

“I urge you not to be carried away by the deceptive ads on the other side,” Bates said, adding that the measure has major ramifications for the economy and for the future of energy. “One of the reasons for me to care so deeply about this was because of the inspiration I received from Gore. I think it’s a fantastic idea.” 

The word of the day, Gore told the crowd, was “crisis.” 

“We are filling up the air with toxic gases every day,” he said. “How much more evidence do we need before we sit up and take notice? How many more catastrophes? It’s time for us to take control of our own future and we are going to start by passing Measure 87.” 

Opponents of Prop. 87 have reportedly spent more than $52 million to campaign against the oil tax initiative, which would impose up to $485 million a year in taxes on companies extracting oil from California land. They argue that a tax on oil revenues would increase gas prices in California. 

The Berkeley City Council voted unanimously to endorse Prop. 87 earlier this year. 

“If we are going to change the way we do business, this is the best way to start,” said Councilmember Laurie Capitelli, who was at the rally. 

Gore also spoke about the Katrina Hurricane disaster and how the Bush administration failed to address it.  

“Look around the world,” he said. “There are disasters everywhere. The genocide in Darfur, the child warriors and the rape of our forests and rivers—these are not just political problems, these are everybody’s problems. If the government back in Washington, D.C., is paralyzed, then it’s up to citizens to take up the leadership to save our planet.” 

Rio Bauce contributed to this report