Red light for Gore's green gig
Thursday, 29 Mar 2007 07:49
Al Gore hopes the gigs will help save the planet
Plans for a simultaneous day of global rock concerts to draw attention to the problem of global warming have run into trouble in Washington.
Organiser of the gigs, former presidential candidate turned environmental campaigner Al Gore, had wanted to hold North America's concert in the US capital but Republican senators are reportedly attempting to stall his plans to stage the show on the Congressional lawn.
Attempts by Gore to find a home in the US for the concert are part of the 'Live Earth' initiative he is fronting, with environmentalists planning to hold a special 24-hour gig across the world's seven continents on July 7th.
It is expected that more than two billion people will watch the gig, either in person or via a broadcast, with the concert set to bring together more than 100 of the world's top musical acts. The Red Hot Chili Peppers and the Foo Fighters are set to be among those who play against pollution and global warming.
However, Republican senators have reportedly now delayed making a decision about whether the US part of the green gig should be held on Washington's west lawn by using legislative procedures to effectively bury the request put forward on behalf of organisers.
The move makes it likely that they will now have to search for another venue to stage the concert.
Plans are in place to hold a further six shows in Brazil, Shanghai, Japan, Johannesburg, London and Sydney.
Announcing the series of concerts recently, on a platform shared with Hollywood actress Cameron Diaz, organiser Gore said: "The climate crisis will only be stopped by an unprecedented and sustained global movement."
"We hope to jump-start that movement right here, right now, and take it to a new level on July 7th 2007."