Live Earth was a series of worldwide concerts held on July 7, 2007 designed to raise awareness about man-made climate change and advocate environmentally friendly living. The concerts brought together more than 150 musical acts in eleven locations around the world and was broadcast to a mass global audience through radio, television, and the Internet.
| Live Earth | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Genre | Pop, Rock music |
| Dates | July 7, 2007 |
| Location(s) | Sydney Football Stadium, Coca Cola Dome, Giants Stadium, Copacabana Beach, Rothera Research Station, Makuhari Messe, Tō-ji, Oriental Pearl Tower, Wembley Stadium, HSH Nordbank Arena, National Mall |
| Years active | 2007 |
| Founders | Al Gore, Kevin Wall |
| Website | www.liveearth.org |
The umbrella organization for the event was Save Our Selves, founded by Kevin Wall, and included major partners such as former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, the Alliance for Climate Protection, MSN, and Control Room, the production company which produced the event. The logo for the event was SOS written in Morse code. Unlike the similar Live 8 concerts, which were free, Live Earth charged admission but the event was made broadly available via television and the internet. The event set a new record for online entertainment by generating more than 9 million streams,[1] while its television ratings were characterized as a "flop".[2][3]
Background
The plans for the Live Earth concerts were announced at a media event in Los Angeles on February 15,[4] 2007 by Al Gore and other celebrities. The inspiration for promoting the cause using the vehicle of 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 organizers said they would purchase carbon credits to offset the environmental impact of the flights associated with the events.[5]
In addition to raising awareness of global warming,[6] on June 28, 2007, it was revealed that Live Earth is to be the launch event for the Live Earth Call to Action.[7] During the concerts people were asked to support the following 7-point pledge:[7]
- 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'[8][9] and that 'the prospects for every future generation depend on us understanding, hearing and acting upon this information.'[8][10]
Live Earth's supporters included climate change activists in New Zealand's Climaction Coalition, who praised concert organizers, stating "Climate change is the greatest threat facing humanity today."[11] Climaction spokesperson David Colyer said the concert presented "a great opportunity to join our voices with theirs" and called on people who could not attend a concert to participate in local events to raise awareness about climate change.
Further information on the issues raised by the concerts are published in The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook, written by environmentalist David Mayer de Rothschild.[12][13] Profits from the book will be donated to the Alliance for Climate Protection, as will some of the profits from the concerts.[14]
Locations
The organizers intended to present concerts on all seven continents. They stated that the venues would utilize on-site power generation, efficient methods of energy utilization and sustainable facilities management in an effort to minimize environmental impact.
Performers
Presenters: |
Presenters:
Presenters:
|
Presenters: |
Tō-ji (Japan)
|
Inspiration for the style of concerts
The concert series drew inspiration from many benefit events staged in the past three decades:[21]
- The inspiration for concert for a cause was taken from the Concert For Bangladesh held in 1971, which was arranged by George Harrison to raise money for the people of Bangladesh, which was at that time at war with Pakistan.
- The aspect of multiple concerts on a single day was modeled on events conceived by Bob Geldof -- two Live Aid concerts staged on July 13, 1985 and eight Live 8 concerts staged on July 2, 2005.[22]
- The aspect of a series of rock concerts for a single cause taking place in multiple nations across the planet was based on the twenty concerts presented in 1988 on Amnesty International's Human Rights Now! World Tour - a tour conceived by Jack Healey and Martin Lewis.[23]
Controversies and criticism
While garning some favorable comments from supporters, several aspects of the event drew criticism from various perspectives.
Political motives and campaigning
Some Republicans have criticized Al Gore for organizing the event, and said he did so to promote himself for a 2008 U.S. Presidential election bid, although Gore has said repeatedly he is "not planning to be a candidate again for office"[24] and has said that he "had fallen out of love with politics."[25] The event has also been sarcastically called "Gore Aid".[26]
Environmental harm
Bands including The Who, Muse and the Arctic Monkeys dubbed Live Earth "Private Jets for Climate Change."[27] The event's total carbon footprint, including the artists' and spectators' travel and energy consumption, was probably at least 31,500 tonnes, according to John Buckley of CarbonFootPrint.com - more than 3,000 times the average Briton's annual footprint.[28] Performers flew at least 222,623.63 miles (about 358,278 km) — the equivalent of nearly nine times round the planet — to take part in the event, and this figure does not include transport of technicians, dancers and support staff. [29] An estimate reported that 100,000 planted trees are required to offset total carbon emissions produced during the entire event, as well as a key sponsor for the event being Chevrolet, promoting a new hybrid four-wheel drive.[30] However, as Live Earth-linked We're in This Together campaign coordinator and climate-change consultant Steve Howard noted, "The important thing was not to have no carbon footprint and no acts, but to have really great acts."[31]
DaimlerChrysler used its low-emissions Smart car brand while sponsoring the event worldwide, but as Greenpeace's Thomas Breuer noted, its fleet's average carbon dioxide emissions level was 186 grams per kilometre — well above the industry's commitment to cut emissions to 140 grams per kilometre. [32]
Concert-goers at the event’s London leg had left thousands of plastic cups on the floor of Wembley Stadium, although organizers had urged audience members to use the recycling bins provided, the BBC reported.[33]
Al Gore was unhappy with the travel arrangements of the UK band Razorlight. After their appearance at the London Live Earth event, they were ferried to an airport in a large tour bus with a police escort to catch a private jet to Scotland. From the airport in Scotland they travelled by helicopter to Balado to perform at another event. Razorlight claimed they would offset their emissions by planting trees.[34]
Singer-songwriter John Mayer, one of the big attractions at the New Jersey/New York concert had not signed Gore's seven-point Live Earth pledge [1]. "If you want to peg me as not being entirely eco-friendly, you'll win," Mayer told reporters after his set. "We're just getting together saying 'We want to be healthier'.”[2]
Bob Geldof and Live 8
Before the goals of the concerts were announced on June 28, the concert was criticized by Live Aid organiser Bob Geldof and Roger Daltrey of The Who about a lack of a final goal. Geldof said in an interview on May 15 2007, that the concerts are a waste of time because "Everybody's known about [global warming] for years."[35] Geldof said he would organize a concert like Live Earth only if he "could go on stage and announce concrete environmental measures from the American presidential candidates, Congress, or major corporations." Daltrey said "The last thing the planet needs is a rock concert ... the questions and the answers are so huge I don't know what a rock concert's ever going to do to help."[36]
A spokesman for Live Earth responded to Geldof, saying that the concerts were intended to raise awareness about the dangers of climate change. "People are aware of global warming but millions are not doing anything about changing their lifestyles."[37] Al Gore said "What Bob Geldof did with Live Aid and Live 8 was fantastic and he has followed up very diligently. [Geldof] has said ... how important it is to have specific goals and a continuing follow-on effort, and we have designed the Live Earth concerts in just that way."[38] Gore continued, “This one day, 24 hours long, will not only be a wake-up call for the world but the beginning of a multi-year campaign to organise an effective response to the climate crisis.” [39]
Cancellations and planning
A concert for Istanbul was called off, the local organizer said, for lack of government and private sponsorship. "Live Earth Istanbul failed to be a priority ... because our country is in an election marathon and due to fears of terrorism and security risks," said Purple Concerts, which will erect screens around Istanbul to show the concerts in other cities, spokeswoman Funda Dusgor said.[40] Just days before the event, the concert in Rio de Janeiro was reportedly cancelled because of a lack of security for the concert, but was later revived.[41]
One charity research organisation has accused the organizers of being worryingly uncommunicative over where the profits from the concerts will go: UK donor advisory service Intelligent Giving concluded, "This is at best, the most confused, and at worst, the most secretive charitable outfit we've come across."[42]
Washington D.C. venue
It was only hours before the Washington DC concert was scheduled to begin that organizers were able to secure a venue for the last-minute addition to the schedule. The Washington Post reported the U.S. capital had been Gore's first choice for the main concert, but the National Mall was booked. The main concert was moved to New Jersey, but Gore made a surprise announcement during a July 6 media interview that a concert would take place on the plaza of the Museum of the American Indian. "Some naysayers tried to keep us off the Mall, but here we are. ... And it wasn't the cavalry that saved us; it was the American Indians," Gore said during brief opening remarks carried live on the website.[citation needed] Only the first 200 attendees were able to directly view the event at the Museum. Others watched Gore speak and Brooks play from what event organizers called a "JumboTron" outside the immediate viewing area. Due to last minute organizing, there were no working audio speakers that could project sound to the JumboTron viewers.
United Kingdom venue
Britain's phase (Wembley Stadium, London) of "Live Earth," has been branded a "foul-mouthed flop", due to good weather Saturday afternoon, in addition to its tennis coverage at Wimbledon. BBC's live afternoon coverage of the concert drew an average of only about 900,000 viewers. The evening viewing figures averaged around 2.1 million and the highlight figures, near the end of the concert, were around 4.5 million. Three times as many viewers had watched the Concert for Diana six days before, from the same venue. 9.6 million viewers had watched the Live 8 concert two years before. In addition a large number of complaints were made about swearing shown a long time before the watershed time of 9pm, including Chris Rock jokingly calling the crowd "motherf***ers".[43]
BBC Coverage
Presenter Jonathan Ross praised performances that did not actually get shown to the TV audience, resulting in 413 complaints, more than the number of complaints for swearing.[44]
Friends of Live Earth
Over 10,000 "Friends of Live Earth" events and house parties were held in 195 countries.
- Live Earth Alert, was a Netherlands contribution/concept,[45] to the real program Live Earth on 07/07/07. In Westerpark in Amsterdam (NL) a parallel event had been organised which included a continuous 24 hour live broadcast program on Nederland 3 of live streams (in sequential order) from Live Earth events and reports from Dutch correspondents stationed on all 7 continents as well as an almost 12 hour side event at the home ___location with performances, artists and other side activities. Some parts of this Dutch program were included in the official Live Earth streams and broadcast worldwide.[46]
See also
External links
References
You must add a |reason= parameter to this Cleanup template – replace it with {{Cleanup|section|reason=<Fill reason here>}}, or remove the Cleanup template.
- ^ "Live Earth Internet streaming sets record: MSN". Reuters. 7 July 2007. Retrieved 9 July.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ http://media.guardian.co.uk/site/story/0,,2122158,00.html
- ^ http://www.nypost.com/seven/07102007/news/worldnews/live_earth___dead_ratings_worldnews_don_kaplan.htm
- ^ "Live Earth revealed", Reuters
- ^ "Live Earth concerts are 'hot but carbon neutral'". The Daily Telegraph. 26 April 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Live Earth Aims to Cause Lasting Change". Washington Post. 2007-07-02. Retrieved 2007-07-05.
{{cite news}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ 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 Live Earth a climate 'SOS', BBC, published 2007-07-03, accessed 2007-07-03
- ^ Moving Beyond Kyoto, New York Times, published 2007-07-01, accessed 2007-07-03
- ^ http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0707/05/lkl.01.html
- ^ "Aotearoa Live – Climate Change Day of Action". Climaction. 26 June 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ The Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook: 77 Essential Skills To Stop Climate Change, author: David de Rothschild, publisher: Rodale Books, ISBN 159486781X
- ^ Rodale Books to publish the official Live Earth Global Warming Survival Handbook, Live Earth, published 2006-05-16
- ^ Live Earth switch-off is vetoed, BBC, published 2007-06-04, accessed 2007-07-03
- ^ Gore gets last-minute D.C. venue for Live Earth; thanks to Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian and their parallel concert-program 'Mother Earth'
- ^ a b c Live Earth Fact Sheet
- ^ Yusuf (Formerly Cat Stevens), Xzibit and Kenna to Join Live Earth Line-Ups in Hamburg, Tokyo & New York
- ^ a b c www.liveearthhamburg.de
- ^ 'Live Earth' Hamburg's Special Guest: Yusuf Islam
- ^ Quick Hits: Britney Spears, Live Earth, Queens of the Stone Age, Ozzfest, The Cult, Travis
- ^ "Big show, big impact? Live Earth hopes so". USA Today. 5 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Arise, Sir Bono! It's a beautiful day for the singer who uses his voice to help Africa". The Independent. 24 December 2006. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "RA secret history of the old Ball game". The Irish Times. 20 October 2006. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Gore campaigning for environment, not presidency
- ^ "Gore: 'I've fallen out of love with politics'", CNN, 6 July 2007
- ^ Mike Stark (17 February 2007). "Gore Aid". CounterPunch.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help); Unknown parameter|accessdaymonth=ignored (help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Rockin' all over the world (but just watch your carbon footprint)". The Observer. 8 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Rockin' all over the world (but just watch your carbon footprint)". The Observer. 8 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Live Earth is promoting green to save the planet - what planet are they on?". Daily Mail. 7 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Critics: Live Earth Not So Green". ABC News. 9 July 2007. Retrieved July 12.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Live Earth is promoting green to save the planet - what planet are they on?". Daily Mail. 7 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "LIVE EARTH NOT SO POPTASTIC? Greenpeace Slams DaimlerChrysler Sponsorship". Der Spiegel. 5 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ "Live Earth gigs send eco-warning". BBC. 8 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Razorlight get told off by Al Gore, AngryApe
- ^ Live Earth? It's a waste of time, Geldof tells Gore
- ^ Who c-cares about Live Earth?
- ^ It’ll be Live Dearth
- ^ Al Gore - man with a mission
- ^ Al Gore - man with a mission
- ^ http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/entertainment/view/286598/1/.html
- ^ Rio Live Earth to go on after ban revoked
- ^ What on (Live) Earth is going on?
- ^ Live Earth branded a foul-mouthed flop - Daily Mail, 9th July 2007
- ^ "Live Earth ratings dwarfed by Diana concert". NME. 9 July 2007. Retrieved July 10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|accessdate=(help); Unknown parameter|accessyear=ignored (|access-date=suggested) (help) - ^ Live Earth Alert.nl (Template:Nl icon, partly in English)
- ^ BNN: Live Earth on Nederland 3 (TV) and Radio 3FM (Template:Nl, partly in English)