Live Earth concerts to cool the planet
On July 7th this year, a huge series of concerts are set to take place in all continents on Earth, including Antartica.
Environmental warriors Al Gore, Kevin Wall, Pharrell Williams and Cameron Diaz who recently launched S.O.S (Save Our Selves), a campaign aiming to battle climate change, are behind the ambitious project called Live Earth.
“We are launching SOS and Live Earth to begin a process of communication that will mobilize people all over the world to take action," said Gore.
“The Climate Crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement. We hope to jump-start that movement right here, right now, and take it to a new level on July 7, 2007."
Cities destined to host these concerts include Johannesburg, Shanghai, Sydney, London and as yet unnamed venues in Japan, Brazil and the United States.
More than 100 acts are lined up to perform at Live Earth, including: Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melissa Etheridge, John Mayer, Duran Duran, Korn, Pharrell, the Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, Snoop Dogg, Snow Patrol, AFI and Bon Jovi.
There is also a heap of local talent slotted to play at their home venues.
The concerts will run for around 4 to 8 hours each, but will be also broadcast via the Internet on MSN, giving a complete 24-hour concert experience for online participants.
"At MSN, we have the worldwide audience and the technology stage to help unite a global community around SOS and Live Earth," said Joanne Bradford, corporate vice president and chief media officer of MSN.
Wall, who was the executive producer of the 2005 Live8 concerts, hopes that the total global audience exceeds 2 billion, in over 180 countries.
"We are moving from what Al has done for thousands and the movie (Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth) for millions, we will put together two billion sets of eyeballs on a global basis," he said, “our message must saturate the globe if we're to succeed, and we will,”
The concerts will not only raise money for an environmental initiative led by The Alliance for Climate Protection, which is chaired by Gore, but also spread simple tips and action guidelines for ordinary people to follow in order to reduce emissions and save energy.
More information can be found on the Live Earth website.
The Social Centre view:
It seems now that the only way important problems can be solved is by throwing immensely large concerts simultaneously around the globe.
2005’s Live8 was a huge success. Millions and millions of people tuned in and witnessed an all-star line up perform on an unprecedented scale of musical grandeur.
We all felt like part of a global community, we all enjoyed the music and we all felt the love.
But the goal was to erase debt in African countries (a debatable goal in the first place) and while the world leaders at the G8 in Scotland did promise to fulfil (to a degree) Live8’s demands, to this day there has been very slow action taken on that front.
Although this isn’t a Sir Bob Geldof’s baby, the special feeling that Live Aid and Live8 generated within the audience was because they were so rare, and so with only two years gone from Live8, Live Earth may suffer.
The fact that Gore is hoping for the first ever concert on antarctica suggests that this is more about breaking records rather than actually making a difference, and what band would want to perform to penguins anyway?
There will be a large audience, there will be a great musical spectacle – but the message may be lost if Al Gore and others don’t continually remind us that these concerts are in fact for mother earth, and not so much her pollution-emitting inhabitants.
Al Gore
“We are launching SOS and Live Earth to begin a process of communication that will mobilize people all over the world to take action," said Gore.
“The Climate Crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement. We hope to jump-start that movement right here, right now, and take it to a new level on July 7, 2007."
Cities destined to host these concerts include Johannesburg, Shanghai, Sydney, London and as yet unnamed venues in Japan, Brazil and the United States.
More than 100 acts are lined up to perform at Live Earth, including: Foo Fighters, Lenny Kravitz, Sheryl Crow, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Melissa Etheridge, John Mayer, Duran Duran, Korn, Pharrell, the Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Akon, Enrique Iglesias, Fall Out Boy, Snoop Dogg, Snow Patrol, AFI and Bon Jovi.
There is also a heap of local talent slotted to play at their home venues.
The concerts will run for around 4 to 8 hours each, but will be also broadcast via the Internet on MSN, giving a complete 24-hour concert experience for online participants.
"At MSN, we have the worldwide audience and the technology stage to help unite a global community around SOS and Live Earth," said Joanne Bradford, corporate vice president and chief media officer of MSN.
Wall, who was the executive producer of the 2005 Live8 concerts, hopes that the total global audience exceeds 2 billion, in over 180 countries.
"We are moving from what Al has done for thousands and the movie (Gore’s documentary, An Inconvenient Truth) for millions, we will put together two billion sets of eyeballs on a global basis," he said, “our message must saturate the globe if we're to succeed, and we will,”
The concerts will not only raise money for an environmental initiative led by The Alliance for Climate Protection, which is chaired by Gore, but also spread simple tips and action guidelines for ordinary people to follow in order to reduce emissions and save energy.
More information can be found on the Live Earth website.
The Social Centre view:
It seems now that the only way important problems can be solved is by throwing immensely large concerts simultaneously around the globe.
2005’s Live8 was a huge success. Millions and millions of people tuned in and witnessed an all-star line up perform on an unprecedented scale of musical grandeur.
We all felt like part of a global community, we all enjoyed the music and we all felt the love.
But the goal was to erase debt in African countries (a debatable goal in the first place) and while the world leaders at the G8 in Scotland did promise to fulfil (to a degree) Live8’s demands, to this day there has been very slow action taken on that front.
Although this isn’t a Sir Bob Geldof’s baby, the special feeling that Live Aid and Live8 generated within the audience was because they were so rare, and so with only two years gone from Live8, Live Earth may suffer.
The fact that Gore is hoping for the first ever concert on antarctica suggests that this is more about breaking records rather than actually making a difference, and what band would want to perform to penguins anyway?
There will be a large audience, there will be a great musical spectacle – but the message may be lost if Al Gore and others don’t continually remind us that these concerts are in fact for mother earth, and not so much her pollution-emitting inhabitants.
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I'm glad you found inspiration, you've some competition around here on this one.
This is a great post, but certain people do not want to explore truth just push the bandwagon, I'm not referring to your 'rivals' just to would be commenters.
I'm sorry I've been so long, Orble problems with systems, coming and going.
Don't worry about responses, just keep moving on and communicating with others, if I miss you just give me a nudge.
katyzzz
Formula 1
The Social Centre
While it is a bit dissapointing to see other 'rivals' romp off with popularity with simple cut cut and pasting, it doesn't worry me a great deal.
Thanks for stopping by,
Chris
Enviro Warrior
An Extra Ordinary Life
Dream Herald
...thanks for inviting me here, I'm glad I came despite the "frosty" atmosphere. Katyzz you dissapoint me.
Chris, I have to agree with this action by Al Gore, not just because I can cut and paste a good looking article, that's theatrics, but because my friend, you are an intelligent person and you realise that awareness is the key to this whole issue.
Politicians will only push subjects that are on the voters lips and with today's waylaid, consumer addicted youth, the only way to get this issue there, is to put on these concerts. It is a good plan. I can see where you are coming from though, but I'm sure the message will remain valid throughout and not be lost in the musical lyrics of love, longing, lust and sex. Perhaps the singers are professional enough to care about their planet too, to write a few songs that add to the message?
It takes people with great influence and financial pull, like Gore and Branson, to intitiate a push like this - to help 'wake up' a sleeping population. A population 'soft' on it's glutony, pride, and greed. A population obsessed with having quantity, rather than quality. The fact that they make more money out of it, is probably because of their intention, to start with.
I am dissapointed that you've set a cynical precedent for something you obviously feel as strongly about as I do, but happy that you are also spreading the message. Energy flows where attention goes... make sure you set a good intention Chris B and your votes will also increase.
Again, I thank you for your invitation here. I am not sorry I came (infact I visit and vote on your site often, just not always visibly, note my Karma count). Personally, I think you broach an interesting range of topics and subject matter, and I like your ideals ... work on them, make sacrifices; always remember to clarify your intention. It is easy to poo-pooh everything, harder to stand firm in our own beliefs ... harder still to admit to ourselves when we are wrong, remember the doorstep to the temple of wisdom is a knowledge of our own ignorance.
As to Gore using it for publicity to (secretly turn) and run in the 2008 elections?
It's quite possible and I'll eat my hat for you, live on Orble! *lol* remind me as I'm sure to have forgotten!
Cheers,
Lilla ...
Formula 1
The Social Centre
There's no 'frosty' atmosphere here at the Social Centre, global warming simply doesn't allow it.
Personally, I am looking forward to the whole event, I'm even going to try to get to the Sydney concert if possible.
Yes, awareness is key, but raising awareness has historically been a difficult task. Throwing grandiose rock concerts about willy nilly to save x-thing in trouble seems to be the latest trend.
Hopefully, as I pointed out - it does raise awareness, however, they need to be clear about their message, and how exactly they plan to solve this problem.
Live8 was designed to pressure world leaders into relieving debt in third world nations. Now casual observers would have joyously said "yeah, thats obviously the way to go because a huge rock concert says so." But it was not really going to solve anything -it didnt target the right area, and in the end, the third world is still poor.
Now, Gore and company might well be on the right path - but raising awareness isnt enough. We must be inspired to change our ways, and inspired enough to be serious about it. I'll bet thousands, if not millions will attend the concert, feel part of a global movement, feel like they are changing the world, and then drive off home in their 4WDs.
I hope that godd does come out of this. I hope people pay more attention to the issue, rather than the band that is playing, but that is up to the organisers to ensure that is what happens.
And Gore, president in 2008? sounds good, but he's ruled that out already ahsn't he?
Thanks for your comment, and support,
Chris