A long day of great concerts, but how exactly does this help the global climate crisis?
I was watching bits of the big Live Earth concert on TV. I admit that it would have been sweet to see some of the performers in person. Especially Roger Waters. After the show I ran into a friend who was at the show and said it was a pretty awesome day. However the whole thing left me with an irritating question. Is this helping to the solve global warming problem or adding to it?
Seven concerts on seven continents running all day thanks to the inspiration of Al Gore. During which they expended mega kilowatt hours of electricity powering the lights, sound systems, air conditioners, refrigerators, computers and more to run the shows. Plus all of those trucks, limos and other assorted non-environmentally friendly vehicles needed to get the performers, equipment and of course fans to and from the venues spewing crap into the air.
There were sound bites from performers vowing to reduce the carbon footprints of themselves and their fans. How they plan to do this, I’m not sure. They’re starting out behind the 8 ball though as massive electric-sucking screens burned messages of green living across the back of the stages. In a moment of irony, commentators quipped about how they were almost run down by Al Gore’s motorcade. I doubt there were any hybrids in that motorcade.
Perhaps the money raised will go towards educating the public about the climate crisis. But then again, how much will be left once the cost of the shows is taken into consideration? I think it’s pretty safe to say not much. So forgive me if I sound jaded but I’m convinced that scientific history will prove this day itself to be a huge burden on the Earth’s climate.
I’m not perfect but I try my best to conserve energy as I can and I drive a Civic that gets 26 – 32 mpg. And I have enormous respect for Al Gore and the ideals behind this day. If these folks really want us to save the planet then they should teach by example and resist the urge to stage these extravaganzas which never prove to be successful in the end. Remember Live Aid and world hunger? Live 8 and world poverty?
The best way for us to fix these planetary situations is to do something simple. Seriously, turn off a light, recycle, drive a better car and so on. The message of Live Earth that every little bit helps is an important one. However, it’s not one that needed to be powered by enough energy to run a small country, leaving one massive carbon footprint in the name eliminating the same.
If these politicos and do-good celebrities really wanted to help, they could have raised more money and awareness by selling ‘An Inconvenient Truth’ DVDs or some ‘Save the Planet’ tees at the concerts of all of the performers. More people would actually be reached that way since most—if not all—of those performers will be on tour anyway. Plus it would’ve saved us from a day of unneeded pollution.
See Also:
Live Earth Website
