LIVE EARTH CONCERTS
Live Earth got a traditional Aboriginal welcome in Australia and a high-tech virtual one in Japan, as the 24-hour global concert series to raise awareness about climate change kicked off Saturday.
Al Gore made appearances at both - as a hologram in Tokyo and via live video link with Sydney - urging rock fans to join the fight against global warming.
Madonna, Metallica, the Police and Kanye West are among the top billed of more than 150 acts due to appear in the nine-concert series.
Aboriginal tribal leaders with white-painted bodies and shaking eucalyptus fronds were the first to take the stage at the Australian event, singing and dancing a traditional welcome to crowd that grew quickly from a few hundred midmorning to several thousand by around lunchtime. (more)
If you’re planning on taking in the Live Earth concert, CTV Toronto will be broadcasting it for 29 hours — but you don’t have to stay glued to your couch to hear the call to fight climate change.
Downtown, the green movement will rock Yonge-Dundas Square from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday. One of the highlights will be a live viewing party of CTV’s broadcast of the eight concert venues on a giant LCD screen. (more)
It has been predicted that over one million people will show up to Brazil’s Copacabana Beach for the Live Earth concert.The Brazilian leg of the 24-hour, global music extravaganza is the only free concert out of the shows planned for South Africa, Germany, England and North America.
The headlining acts for the event have been revealed. Rio de Janeiro will be welcoming Lenny Kravitz, Pharrell Williams, Macy Gray and more to help raise awareness of global warming. (more)
It was announced on Friday (June 22) that the hip shaking Colombian sensation Shakira has joined an already star-studded lineup for the July 7, 2007 concert. (more)
The Istanbul leg of the Live Earth concerts has been cancelled due to lack of sponsorship support from local business.
According to reports, local businesses were reluctant to become involved with the show, fearing criticism from environmental groups who could accuse their factories of contributing to global warming. (read more)
Turkish acts including Sebnem Ferah and Hayko Cepkin were among those who had agreed to play the show, but now the city will feature eight giant screens to show the events happening in the other Live Earth shows around the world.
Turkey’s concert will be staged at The Seven Towers Fortress, which is an historic Byzantine site in the capital.
Mr Gore, along with the actress and Live Earth Istanbul spokeswoman Sebnem Donmez, spoke at a press conference at the Cirigan Palace to issue updates on the progress of Live Earth, which will take place on July 7th. (read more)