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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

... to think that Live Earth is a stupid and hypocritical idea?

67 replies

Ponka · 07/07/2007 21:31

I've not heard of it until I've just switched the TV on tonight.

So, to raise awareness about each individual caring for the environment and to remind us that it's the little things that count (switching off lights, making less journeys etc.) they decide to put on a massive worldwide concert, with an incredible amount of electric equipment and lighting. They get thousands and thousands of people to travel to these concerts, all the bands, all their equipment needs to be moved to the concerts.

It just doesn't make sense.

OP posts:
trippleshot · 07/07/2007 22:36

BBC 3 - T in the Park - music without an agenda. How refreshing is that?

KittenKat · 07/07/2007 22:37

Tripple - whose on it?

trippleshot · 07/07/2007 22:38

At the moment it's My Chemical Romance, and the Killers should be on shortly.

auntyspan · 07/07/2007 22:51

Agreed with OP - lots of publicity for the performers who probably flew in on their private jets

I've said this before. Everyone should do their bit, but it's industry that can really make a difference, certainly in our lifetime.

AlistairSim · 07/07/2007 23:03

Yeah...but..it's for the kids, innit?

LordPan · 07/07/2007 23:52

IMVHO....I see the scope for scepticism, but don't share it. I am reading that the concert was as 'carbon neutral' as possible.
And, to bring the message home to a media-savy universe would take an investment of energy. No doubt there.
It differed from Live8 in lots of ways..that was about international re-financing..this was about us adopting a different way of looking at how we can change habits to prolong our life on the planet.

It probably boils down to a matter of faith in methods adopted to advance 'clean' living.

KittenKat · 08/07/2007 07:09

Lordpan - your much more eloquent way of 'speculate to accumulate'! I bow to your greater command of the english language!
And, I agree.

kittywits · 08/07/2007 07:19

It's a load of old poo, doesn't achieve anything.

tiredemma · 08/07/2007 07:20

I thought Madonna was fab.

McDreamy · 08/07/2007 07:22

Madge was great!

CaraLondon · 08/07/2007 08:23

Ego trip/ego salve for the pop stars IMO. And a chance for Al Gore to prove he isn't a failed washed-up has been - didn't succeed of course, but at least he gave it a go.

Free entertainment for those who like that sort of thing, though, (not me) so can't knock that.

DoubleBluff · 08/07/2007 10:04

Though Madonna looked like a Sunday School teacher with her dress and guitar skipping around the stage.
No need to swear Madge at your age most undignified.
She can stiil dance though. FAir play to her I wish I was that flexible!

LordPan · 08/07/2007 10:24

Hmm..didn't see her, but..Madonna..as Sunday school teacher...swearing.....OH well!!

MerlinsBeard · 08/07/2007 10:32

thats what i thought ponka!

Ponka · 09/07/2007 00:57

Agree with the Urban Dryad about it being similar to Live 8.

LordPan, it does seem that they have done a fair bit to make the concerts as carbon neutral as possible. At least that's something. I'm interested to know, do you really think that it will bring the message home? Don't most people already know about global warming and what an individual can do? It's everywhere already. I wonder how many people will have changed something from watching the concert. Not many I doubt.

OP posts:
suzywong · 09/07/2007 01:57

The Foos frickin' ROCK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

what more is there to add?

Tortington · 09/07/2007 03:00

in answer to the op - its a high profile way of helping to chnge the prevailing ideology within youth culture.

Govts can legislate - only so far. so maybe its a long term view regarding the eletric used etc.

biggup duran duran for saying to the crowd " hand up if you havent arrived here by private jet"

LordPan · 09/07/2007 06:14

and it appears to me as a genuine attempt to point up the difference between what we know is acutally wrong, and what we are prepared to do about it. I agree, there is alot of stuff around, but we are still ignorant, generally, of how bad the sitation is, and how to reduce our own contribution to greenhouse gases.

For some detractors, their reaction is based in "stop making me feel guilty, I don't know what else I can do as my bit", or for others it will be " oh fark awf, I couldn't be arsed changing - I don't look past tomorrow if it is inconvenient to, you bunch of liberally flower-power types." IMVHO.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not an eco-warrior, but do now bike to work when I can (alternate days), never repeat boil, or needlessly boil, a kettle, am prudent with central heating usage, and went on holiday last by train, rather than flew. I know I have slashed my own carbon footprint massively in the last two years or so. And I do see others who can do similar but choose not to. Promotion by concert may help change minds rather than others, like me, getting all pointy-fingered.

I guess also it's an attempt to make being careful about the planet "sexy". There is nothing sexy about low-wattage bulbs, but there are other ways of managing yourself without damaging the environment where we all live. A concert provides an opportunity for politicos to reach a wider, younger audience.

LambethLil · 09/07/2007 09:20

Crappy half baked hypocrytical idea. All my prejudices were reaffirmed yesterday when we were stuck behind a great big Mercedes car emblazoned with Live8 Courtesy Shuttle.

Whole thing is ridiculous.

LambethLil · 09/07/2007 09:22

That should read Live EARTH of course.

LordPan · 09/07/2007 09:41

"stuck behind a great big Mercedes car,that was running on bio fuel, whilst we were burning good ole fossil fuel.." ??????

speedymama · 09/07/2007 09:53

Popstars who fly around the world and drive huge 4x4 in urban areas who preach to the rest of us but do little to change their lifestyle - in that respect, YANBU.

Raising the profile about climate change is a good thing (not that it needs it imo) but I would have liked to have seen more emphasis on sustainability because imho, that is the underlying issue we should be focussed on. In that respect, YABU.

I can't believe I am going to say this but I thought the Pussycat Dolls were brilliant! I thought they were a typical brainless girl group like Spice Girls or Girls Aloud who can't sing, dance or have opinions worth listening to. They could sing, dance and had something to say when interviewed by Wossie boy. They are very talented unlike the girl groups in this country (Sugababes maybe an exception).

Madonna was fabulous and in such good shape. I think her singing lessons are paying off because her voice is much stronger and more in tune than when she first started.

The Foo Fighters rocked!

Also, How good was that actress Colette something in Australia? She sang "Children of the Revolution" and she belted it out. Her voice was so strong. Compare her voice to that over-hyped Rhianna whose tinny voice was drowned out by her backing singers singing on quarter throttle.

LambethLil · 09/07/2007 09:55

I looked carefully to see whether it was converted- having taken the trouble to advertise the fact it what a courtesy car for a consciousness raising event for the environment, the organisers really weren't doing their job if they forgot to advertise that too.......unless it was "good ole fossil fuel".

lljkk · 09/07/2007 10:04

But people are going to attend live concerts and pay lots of money to see Flavour-of-the-Year PopStar (etc.), anyway. Usually these events happen just so somebody else can make money. Big Rockstars jet around to attend their gigs normally. At least these events are publicising a good cause at the same time.

(And no, I didn't watch it and don't even know or care who appeared).

casbie · 09/07/2007 13:37

where did all the profit go?