| Live Earth | |
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| Location(s) | 2007: Sydney, Johannesburg, New Jersey, Rio de Janeiro, Antarctica, Tokyo, Kyoto, Shanghai, London, Hamburg, Washington D.C. and Rome |
| Years active | 2007 |
| Founded by | Al Gore, Kevin Wall |
| Date(s) | 7 July 2007 |
| Genre | Pop, Rock music |
| Website | www.liveearth.org |
Live Earth is an annual event developed to combat climate change.
Contents |
Background
The plans for the first Live Earth concerts were announced at a media event in Los Angeles on 15 February 2007 by Al Gore, Kevin Wall and other celebrities.[1] The inspiration for promoting the cause using benefit concerts comes from many similar events over the past 25 years including the 1985 Live Aid concerts and the 2005 Live 8 concerts and it was to be the longest show ever to be recorded in the world records. The event was claimed to be carbon neutral, and organisers said they would purchase carbon credits to offset the environmental impact of the flights associated with the events.[2]
In addition to raising awareness of global warming,[3] on 28 June 2007, it was revealed that Live Earth is to be the launch event for the Live Earth Call to Action.[4] During the concerts people were asked to support the following 7-point pledge:[4]
- 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.
In subsequent interviews Al Gore indicated that the concerts would mark 'the beginning of a three-year campaign worldwide to deliver information about how we solve the climate crisis'[5][6] and that 'the prospects for every future generation depend on us understanding, hearing and acting upon this information.'[5][7]
The umbrella organization for the first event was Save Our Selves, founded by Kevin Wall (Executive Producer), and included major partners such as former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, the Alliance for Climate Protection, Earthlab, MSN, and Control Room, the production company which produced the event. The logo for the event was the Morse code distress signal. Brand Neutral, the environmental business strategy firm, served as the worldwide sustainability strategy and services partner for Live Earth, developing the overall sustainability strategy, staffing all members of the global "green team," creating the overall master plan for resource management, and supervising the execution of the Live Earth environmental strategy. Leading sustainability expert John Picard served as chief environmental and efficiency counsellor for the event.
Live Earth 2007
The first series of benefit concerts were held on July 7, 2007. The concerts brought together more than 150 musical acts in eleven locations around the world which were broadcast to a mass global audience through televisions, radio, and streamed via the Internet.
Live Earth India 2008
The second Live Earth concert was scheduled for December 7, 2008 at the Andheri Sports Complex on Veera Desai Road in Andheri West, Mumbai, India and was managed by Kevin Wall who, after a request from Al Gore, planned to have the entire event take place in India.[8][9] In September, 2008 Reuters stated that, "the December event will see U.S. rocker Jon Bon Jovi and Bollywood's biggest superstar, Amitabh Bachchan share the stage, and is described by organisers as one of the biggest events held in India." [8] Shekhar Kapur, Nobel laureate Rajendra Pachauri, Abhishek Bachchan, and Aishwarya Rai also planned to star in the event.[9] Additional acts included Hrithik Roshan, Preity Zinta,[10] Roger Waters of Pink Floyd, Will.I.Am, Hard Kaur, and Anoushka Shankar.[10] Palash Sen stated that his band, Euphoria, was scheduled to launch a song written for the concert on the topic of global warming.[11]
Live Earth would have been broadcast by STAR TV (Asia), which works in conjunction with the STAR Plus channel (United Kingdom, Middle East) and the Star World Channel. MSN was the "the exclusive global broadband partner for Live Earth India."[12]
The concert was cancelled shortly after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks on 26 November 2008. Wall, Gore, and Pachauri stated in a joint press release that, "due to circumstances far beyond our control, we are saddened to announce that Live Earth India has been cancelled. We will continue to work for solutions to the climate crisis for the good of the people of India and around the world. But for now, our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims of this terrible attack, with the bereaved, with the people of Mumbai and with everyone in India." [13][14] Some argued against the cancellation stating that "music could have helped fear-hardened Mumbai to ride the storm." [15] Jethro Tull and Anoushka Shankar, who also cancelled their 29 November Mumbai concert [16] after the November 2008 Mumbai attacks, reorganized the performance as A Billion Hands Concert, a benefit performance for victims of the attacks, and held it in Mumbai on 5 December 2008.[17]
Dow Live Earth Run for Water
The Dow Live Earth Run for Water – to take place April 18, 2010 – will consist of a series of 6 km run/walks (the average distance many women and children walk every day to secure water) taking place over the course of 24 hours in countries around the world, featuring concerts and water education activities aimed at igniting a tipping point to help solve the water crisis. Jessica Biel, Alexandra Cousteau, Pete Wentz, Angelique Kidjo and Jenny Fletcher will lend their names and their time in support of this important cause.[18]
Host Cities
The Dow Live Earth Run for Water will be hosted by cities around the world, including: Cities Hosting the Event Include Buenos Aires, Cape Town, Chicago, Hong Kong, Jimbaran, London, Los Angeles, Manchester, Melbourne, Mexico City, Milan, Minneapolis, New York, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, Singapore City, Stockholm, Toronto and Washington, D.C.[19]
Beneficiaries
All donations raised by the Dow Live Earth Run for Water will be disseminated to fund sustainable and scalable water programs. A growing global network of NGO partners including Global Water Challenge, A Child's Right, Akvo, Fondo Para La Paz, Indonesia Water Partnership, Lien Ad, Pump Aid, Wildlands Conservation Trust, and many others.[20]
See also
References
- ^ Lee, Ken. (15 February 2007) "Al Gore, Cameron Diaz Announce Environmental Campaign." People.com. Retrieved on: 2 August 2007.
- ^ "Live Earth concerts are 'hot but carbon neutral'". The Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2007. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/04/11/ngreen11.xml. Retrieved 10 July 2007.
- ^ "Live Earth Aims to Cause Lasting Change". Washington Post. 2007-07-02. http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/07/02/AR2007070201007.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
- ^ a b Al Gore, Kevin Wall issue far-reaching Live Earth Call To Action, Live Earth, published 2007-06-28, accessed 2007-07-03
- ^ a b [news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/help/3681938.stm Live Earth a climate 'SOS'], BBC, published 2007-07-03, accessed 2007-07-03[dead link]
- ^ Moving Beyond Kyoto, New York Times, published 2007-07-01, accessed 2007-07-03
- ^ CNN.com - Transcripts
- ^ a b Jamkhandikar, Shilpa (September 20, 2008). "Live Earth show to help light homes with solar energy". AP. http://in.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idINIndia-35574720080920?sp=true. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
- ^ a b "Next Live Earth concert in Mumbai". Times of India. September 20, 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Developmental_Issues/Next_Live_Earth_concert_in_Mumbai/articleshow/3504723.cms. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
- ^ a b Bollywood royalty lines up for Live Earth India concert, Agence France-Presse
- ^ Who wants to carol in a slowdown
- ^ Bhushan, Nyay (September 19, 2008). "Live Earth will have an encore in India". Hollywood Reporter. http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/hr/content_display/world/news/e3if071151a9941bb2d0cd923bdde5d1684?imw=Y. Retrieved 2008-09-21.
- ^ Joint Official Statement from Live Earth Founder Kevin Wall, The Office of the Honorable Al Gore and Dr. R.K. Pachauri, Chairman IPCC regarding Live Earth India
- ^ Live Earth terror struck
- ^ Live Earth India concert cancelled, music lovers disappointed
- ^ The flute of his labours
- ^ A Billion Hands - Join The Fight Against Terror and For A Better Tomorrow
- ^ http://www.wateronline.com/article.mvc/Dow-Launches-The-Dow-Live-Earth-Run-For-Water-0001 "Dow Launches The Dow Live Earth Run For Water – The Largest Global Water Initiative In History To Help Solve The World Water Crisis," WaterOnline.com, October 14, 2009, accessed October 19, 2009
- ^ Live Earth - Run, accessed October 19, 2009
- ^ The Run for Water - Partners, accessed October 19, 2009
External links
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