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Sydney start for Live Earth day Live Earth climate gigs under way
(about 3 hours later)
Sydney and Tokyo have begun a worldwide sequence of Live Earth concerts aimed at raising awareness of climate change.Sydney and Tokyo have begun a worldwide sequence of Live Earth concerts aimed at raising awareness of climate change.
A total of 150 artists will be performing in nine cities, including London and Washington, over 24 hours.A total of 150 artists will be performing in nine cities, including London and Washington, over 24 hours.
Among the biggest names on stage are Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, The Police and Garth Brooks.Among the biggest names on stage are Madonna, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, The Police and Garth Brooks.
Live Earth is organised by former US Vice-President Al Gore, who called the concerts a "global response" to a global problem. Live Earth is organised by former US Vice-President Al Gore, who said the concerts were the start of a three-year campaign to try to "heal the planet".
Organisers say the concerts will reach an audience of two billion people via TV, radio and online broadcasts. LIVE EARTH CONCERT TIMES Sydney - 0110 BST (1110 local)Tokyo - 0400 BST (1200 local)Johannesburg - 1100 BST (1200 local)Shanghai - 1130 BST (1830 local)Hamburg - 1300 BST (1400 local)London - 1330 BSTWashington - 1530 BST (1030 local)New Jersey - 1930 BST (1430 local)Rio de Janeiro - 2000 BST (1600 local) class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/6278204.stm">Live Earth: Reporters' log class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6279822.stm">In pictures: Live Earth
But critics have said it is hypocritical for performers who fly around the world on tours to push the message of cutting down on carbon emissions. Organisers say the gigs will reach an audience of two billion people via TV, radio and online broadcasts.
The Sydney event kicked off with a traditional aboriginal welcome and Al Gore appeared on video screens to launch the worldwide initiative. But critics have said it was hypocritical for performers who fly around the world on tours to push the message of cutting down on carbon emissions.
LIVE EARTH CONCERT TIMES Sydney - 0110 BST (1110 local)Tokyo - 0400 BST (1200 local)Johannesburg - 1100 BST (1200 local)Shanghai - 1130 BST (1830 local)Hamburg - 1300 BST (1400 local)London - 1330 BSTWashington - 1530 BST (1030 local)New Jersey - 1930 BST (1430 local)Rio de Janeiro - 2000 BST (1600 local) class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/6278204.stm">Reporter's log class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/6279822.stm">In pictures: Live Earth The Sydney event began with a traditional aboriginal welcome before Mr Gore appeared on video screens to launch the worldwide initiative.
Australian politician and former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett also made an appearance, saying it was up to citizens of developed nations to push for action to reduce pollution.Australian politician and former Midnight Oil frontman Peter Garrett also made an appearance, saying it was up to citizens of developed nations to push for action to reduce pollution.
"Your voice matters, make it heard," he said."Your voice matters, make it heard," he said.
The Sydney line-up featured Crowded House, performing songs from their new album Time On Earth, as well as Jack Johnson and Australian actress Toni Collette with her band The Finish. It's our goal to do what we can to make it possible for our kids to have a place to live Linkin Park bassist Phoenix
The Tokyo concert was opened by the band Genki Rockets at the Makuhari Messe hall, east of the Japanese capital. Reformed New Zealand group Crowded House were joined by many of the other Sydney performers at the end of their set, for a rendition of the 1991 hit Weather with You.
Al Gore wants to raise the awareness of climate change Lead singer Neil Finn told fans they were "the groundswell" for action on the environment.
Mr Gore appeared as a hologram in front of the crowd, saying: "Now is the time to begin to heal the planet". 'Heal the planet'
Japanese singer Ayaka urged people to do what they could, saying: "We can start helping by doing something small. I started to carry my own eco-bag so I don't have to use plastic grocery bags, and use my own chopsticks instead of disposable ones," the Associated Press reported. A hologram of organiser Al Gore appeared before the Tokyo crowd
The next concert to get underway is in Johannesburg, and then later on in London, where Madonna, Duran Duran and the Beastie Boys will play. The Tokyo event was opened by the band Genki Rockets at the Makuhari Messe hall, east of the Japanese capital.
Country couple Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will be among the artists performing on The Mall in Washington DC. Mr Gore appeared as a hologram in front of the crowd, saying: "Now is the time to begin to heal the planet."
Dissenters Among the performers in Tokyo was US metal group Linkin Park.
"I don't have any delusions of grandeur that Linkin Park is saving the world," bassist Phoenix told BBC News.
"But it's our goal to do what we can to make it possible for our kids to have a place to live, and, at the same time, hopefully clean up where we live in the process."
Japanese singer Ayaka urged people to do what they could. "We can start helping by doing something small," she said.
"I started to carry my own eco-bag so I don't have to use plastic grocery bags, and use my own chopsticks instead of disposable ones."
Saving the planet with pop Send us your comments
Concerts in Shanghai and Johannesburg are under way, and in London, Madonna, Duran Duran and the Beastie Boys will play.
However there has also been scepticism about the value of the concerts from some quarters.However there has also been scepticism about the value of the concerts from some quarters.
Critics say that flying rock stars in on aeroplanes and using a great deal of electricity to power several concerts sends out mixed messages about energy conservation.Critics say that flying rock stars in on aeroplanes and using a great deal of electricity to power several concerts sends out mixed messages about energy conservation.
class="" href="/1/hi/entertainment/6274264.stm">Saving the planet with pop class="" href="http://newsforums.bbc.co.uk/nol/thread.jspa?threadID=6704&edition=1&ttl=20070703085525">Send us your comments George Marshall of the Climate Outreach Information Network told the BBC: "Having the richest people in the world saying, 'Hey! We all need to cut back a bit!' is, let's face it, absurd."
"What would be great is if these pop stars - now they realise the damage we are all doing to the climate - look very carefully at their own actions and make some changes themselves," said John Buckley, managing director of the organisation Carbon Footprint. And John Buckley, managing director of Carbon Footprint, said pop stars such as Madonna should be leading by example and changing their own travelling habits, especially when on tour or with an entourage.
Bob Geldof, who organised the Live Aid and Live8 charity concerts, has described the event as lacking a "final goal" and claimed most people already knew about the hazards of global warming. Dancers performed an Aboriginal welcome ceremony in Sydney"The difference between a private jet and taking a commercial flight could lead to a 50 per cent reduction [in emissions], which is pretty worthwhile," he told Reuters.
George Marshall of the Climate Outreach Information Network told the BBC: "These are some of the richest people in the world and having the richest people in the world saying 'Hey! We all need to cut back a bit!' is, let's face it, absurd." Organisers have insisted they were keeping the concerts as green as possible, with proceeds being spent on power-efficient light bulbs and other measures to offset the shows' emissions.
Organisers have insisted they were keeping the concerts as green as possible. "We've booked this show with acts that were touring in the area at the time so we could keep the carbon imprint down," explained producer Kevin Wall.
Proceeds from ticket sales are going to distribute power-efficient light bulbs and other measures which will offset the shows' greenhouse gas emissions.
Producer Kevin Wall told the BBC: "What we purposely have done is we've booked this show with acts that were touring in the area at the time so we could keep the carbon imprint down."
Antarctic performance
Doubts had been cast over whether the Rio de Janeiro gig would go ahead because of concerns about safety on Copacabana Beach, but organisers persuaded a judge that adequate measures were in place.
However, the Turkish event - in Istanbul - was shelved, owing to insufficient sponsorship and lack of time.
Live Earth will also broadcast two songs performed in sub-zero conditions in Antarctica by Nunatak, a rock group made up of five members of the British Antarctic Survey.
They have recorded their contribution in front of 17 colleagues against a backdrop of icebergs.