LiveEarth - performing for the planet

Right at this moment is occurring, what is being said to be, the biggest entertainment event ever held on the planet. It had to be this big because it's about the planet. Started by SOS (Save our selves), the messaging campaign and larger movement, Live Earth is a series of concerts all over the earth to be held today 7.7.07, over 24 hours following the dateline that traverses the earth. There are performances on all continents, starting with Sydney - Australia, then going on to Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Hamburg, Germany; London, UK; Johannesburg, South Africa; New York, USA; Rio De Janeiro, Brazil; and some others.

Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore (The Inconvenient Truth) and Kevin Wall, founders of the SOS movement are behind this event. They have roped in some of the most famous names in World Music into this event, some including Madonna (see video below) composing exclusive songs for the concert.

Hey you - by Madonnna (official Live Earth Video)


A major aim of this concert, which Al Gore admitted is aiming very high, is to have 2 billion people worldwide sign on to the 7 point pledge helping the movement. The pledge reads:

I PLEDGE:

• To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;


• To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become “carbon neutral;”


• To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;


• To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;


• To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;


• To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,


• To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

There's more in the Larry King Live interview of Al Gore available below



Note: the above video may become unavailable, then you can find it here.

Walking the talk
A lot of people including the LiveAid concert founder Bob Geldof have criticised the concerts. There is a concern that the event itself is a sort of contributor to global warming considering all the energy used. The organisers though, are doing their best to 'walk the talk'. One of the initiatives has been to offer public transport vouchers with the concert tickets to all audience so they leave their cars at home.

Another very interesting thing I noted was that the official website www.liveearth.org is 'Green Hosted'. It's hosted by AISO.net which "is the only 100% solar powered data center in the world".

Still, I can't help being reminded of some lyrics, that one of my favorite singers, Sting (who, incidentally is also performing in this concert with his former band, Police), wrote in his album Soul Cages:

"A government saved a dying planet / when popular icons failed"

Links

Official Website - www.liveearth.org (Green Hosted!)
Online coverage - liveearth.msn.com

Review: An Inconvenient Truth

I rate it a full '5 stars'. If you can see it, see it on a big screen, that's where the scale of the presentations make an impression. I went with my wife today, on a Saturday morning, and found the cinema empty. It was a fun exclusive screening.

Though many of the facts are popularly known, this movie meets the challenge of presenting these in their true context while making an impact. Along the way, Al Gore explains his life-long involvement in the issue, and that this is not a new fad that he has picked up. Examples of worldwide glacier reduction and desertification are very shocking. Many areas neglected in the popular media, show some of the most disturbing illustrations.

This movie may have an effect where everything else seems to have failed - changing the perception of the US public. Most of them don't really care, think that environment concerns are questionable, don't affect them, or is just another way to spoil their economy. Strangest of all the US administration seems to agree with this. Perhaps its just that US government is heavily swayed by mercantile lobby. The movie does acknowledges that US accounts for more carbon dioxide emissions than most of the earth's continent combined. The refusal to ratify the Kyoto protocol is highlighted. It is also noted that some states of the US are disagreeing with the central administration and trying to pass smarter emission regulations. Most of the states shown seemed to be democratic.

But its more than that - Asia is rising and following on the same paths that developed countries have. With all the talk of leapfrogging technology era's, perhaps Asia can leapfrog over the industrial irresponsible practices and be more environment friendly. Japan is shown to have the worlds best car emission regulations. In New Delhi, the public transport system buses and autorickshaws have been converted to Natural Gas engines, perceptibly improving the air quality of the city.