Gore announces continents-spanning concert series, Live Earth
Never let it be said that Al Gore is not dedicated to his cause: the man will do whatever it takes to raise awareness about climate change. If it means hobnobbing at Sundance, he'll do it. Starring in a film that gets nominated for an Oscar? Not afraid. Orchestrating an event that features seven concerts on seven continents on 7/7/07? Check. Announcing said event with (slightly less luscious now that she's a brunette) Cameron Diaz at his side? Oh, if he must. The man is a modern-day martyr, and we salute him. With the help of Kevin Wall, executive producer of the 2005 Live8 concert that pushed for debt relief for poor nations, Gore will use the Live Earth shows to kick off a "Save Our Selves" campaign. "In order to solve the climate crisis, we have to reach billions of people," Gore said. "We are launching SOS and Live Earth to ... mobilize people all over the world to take action." More than 100 artists, from Snoop Dogg to Faith Hill, have already signed on. Short straw gets Antarctica.
straight to the source: Chicago Tribune, Associated Press, Michael R. Blood, 15 Feb 2007
straight to the source: Reuters, Mary Milliken, 15 Feb 2007
see also, in Gristmill: Live Earth concerts official
see also, in Grist: From Rockin’ to Rollin’
Comments
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EcoReason Posted 3:32 am
16 Feb 2007
Ick, ugh, puh-lease! Open them eyes, stop surfing the web, and get back to the earth.
Disgusted in Florida.
ER
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jacksonnoah Posted 4:51 am
16 Feb 2007
Thanks.
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EcoReason Posted 6:06 am
16 Feb 2007
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kryst Posted 6:23 am
20 Feb 2007
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abalonestar1291 Posted 7:25 am
20 Feb 2007
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Madame Piggy Posted 7:45 am
20 Feb 2007
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floorgoblin Posted 9:34 am
20 Feb 2007
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sayno2gm Posted 8:59 pm
20 Feb 2007
Is this just another PR act to improve their celebrity status.
I would question the motives behind this as they arrive in their long black limosines.
A concert of this size would create huge amounts of excessive CO2 & rubbish.
If these people genuinely cared it would be reflected in their choices and lifestyles.
I have yet to hear any revelations of pure altruistic actions from the celebrity circuit.
I quote Glen Barry of earthmeanders.blogspot
"Celebrity Will Not Save the Earth Glamorous, jet-set "ecorazzi" selling easy techno-fixes the opposite of the global grassroots, profound social change required to achieve global ecological sustainability"
"Celebities" relinquish your ostentatious lifestyles NOW!
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cmd Posted 12:02 am
21 Feb 2007
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hatgirlnat Posted 1:23 am
21 Feb 2007
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Roseblossom Posted 5:57 am
22 Feb 2007
I wish that the writer of this article had mentioned the other participant in this great effort with equal respect - the writer's comment derisively dismissing environmentalist and political activist Cameron Diaz was innapropriate and disrespectful.
I expect better quality writing from Grist.
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surfergirlsc Posted 9:07 am
14 Jun 2007
Here are the issues with this kind of celebrity self-petting that I see.
First, how does a 7 continent concert tour help anyone? By raising awareness? No not really. Press coverage of a concert is not awareness. Awareness about the state of our planet and how to protect it turning into action happens at the community level with education.
How much gas and other resources will be needlessly wasted to ship Al and his celebrity friends all over the world to sing about change and for whom will they sing? Who on the other six continents gives a shit about Al Gore and Cameron Diaz and their pet causes? Will the penguins in Antarctica be beguiled by the television cameras, masses of people, bottled water, shipped in food, and weird noises coming out of objects that they have never seen? Or will they just be slightly traumatized? What gets left behind there? Tons of human waste? Even a little waste there is too much.
And the best question of all is, who decided that this was the best way to reach the people who can actually make changes in our governments? Are the organizers of this event counting on the stupidity and weird star fascination of the American public to drive home the message that something must change?
Stop wasting valuable resources on useless self interested causes. Think about how much money was wasted flying Leo and his crew and Annie and hers to Greenland to do a Vanity Fair photo shoot. It was a lot, I can guarantee you, all of it was paid for by the ad dollars generated by the magazine for products that are made in large part by harming the earth and its inhabitants.
Get real about things like the 7 continent tour. The state of our planet isn't helped at all by these kinds of self gratifying awareness raising events. Seriously, all of that money and time could be so much better spent cleaning up a beach or a park near your own house and leaving the creatures of Antarctica blissfully alone.
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