There has never been a more compelling muse than the blue-green orb on which we live, a damsel in distress if ever there were one, and Al Gore knows this better than anyone. For decades, he’s been proving his commitment to his zaftig love—through research, legislation, books (Earth in the Balance), and an Oscar-winning documentary (An Inconvenient Truth). The former vice president has passionately defended her, fought tirelessly on her behalf—and in doing so, he has changed the way we all think about everything from light bulbs to thermostats to the air in our tires. But it was in 2007 that we witnessed the fire in Gore’s loins, and his most ambitious act of love yet—Live Earth.  This global event—a seven continent, 24-hour concert—brought the environmental conversation to life for fans of acts like Madonna, the Police, and Kanye West. All told, two billion humans tuned in, and Gore personally implored the global audience to take action and come to the aid of his beloved. Now that’s a serenade.

No Rest for the Weary: Last month, when Gore was named the recipient of the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize (which he shares with the U.N.’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change), he accepted the award, then promptly said, “I’m going back to work right now.” Love is patient …