The Hypocritical Live Earth Message: Conserve, but buy my new album
What I'm feeling and what needs to be said about Live Earth has already been said/linked by two fellow Blogging Tories. I urge you to read their entire posts. Also read Rebel Sell a really good book on the "counter-culture" effect.
Stephen Taylor:
Despite the disputed logic of the cause by some, it was heartening to see so many people interested in attending a rally for what they truly believe to be a good cause. It is good to know that there is a lot of positive energy out there ready to be channeled to fight for good causes whatever they may be.
...
There were a few ironic moments including rap superstar Ludacris telling the audience (in song) that "if you ain't got no money [sic], take your broke ass home". Of course, this lyric is a part of a song that he sings on with Fergie (of Black Eyed Peas fame) which also includes the songstress singing "We [sic] flyin' first class / Up in the sky / Poppin' champagne / Livin' my life / In the fast lane / And I wont change / By the Glamorous, oh the flossy flossy". The video pictures Fergie flying in a private jet, ironically the vehicle of choice of some of the Live Earth performers. Irony is being told by some of this world's greatest CO2 producers to cut our consumption. Ludacris' other credits include a starring role in 2 Fast 2 Furious. Was it a movie about plug-in hybrid cars? Not likely. The film has inspired a generation of nitrous-infused street racers. Oh well, I'm sure he got some carbon credits in his gift basket to help offset the guilt. Ludacris! [sic]
Finally, if the intent of the mega-concert was to be a massive information campaign to finally bring everyone, united, onside to fight climate change, why the divisive elements? Melissa Ethridge chastised Bush's 'with us or the terrorists' refrain by saying that in addressing the world's problems that there is no "us and them". She proceeded to drive a wedge between left and right by calling both Nixon and the current Republican president "criminals". In fact, Ethridge's performance was more of an anti-war screed than a call to unite against climate change. Macy Gray's appearance also sought to alienate a significant proportion of the American population by having her stage performers wear anti-Bush and anti-Cheney t-shirts. The concert became an appeal to the left and had the effect of preaching to the choir while it did little to reach out to what should have been its intended targets: the skeptics on the right.
...
Will you be buying the new Smashing Pumpkins album when it comes out on July 10th? Consume, but don't consume
Damian points out that "Unlike many of my colleagues on the right, I don't think global warming is some kind of scam. But forgive me for thinking a self-congratulatory, hypocritical series of rock concerts isn't the best way to fight it:" and quotes a UK Daily Mail article:
A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that far from saving the planet, the extravaganza will generate a huge fuel bill, acres of garbage, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, and a mileage total equal to the movement of an army.
The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher.
The total carbon footprint of the event, taking into account the artists' and spectators' travel to the concert, and the energy consumption on the day, is likely to be at least 31,500 tonnes of carbon emissions, according to John Buckley of Carbonfootprint.com, who specialises in such calculations.
Throw in the television audience and it comes to a staggering 74,500 tonnes. In comparison, the average Briton produces ten tonnes in a year.
Stephen Taylor:
Despite the disputed logic of the cause by some, it was heartening to see so many people interested in attending a rally for what they truly believe to be a good cause. It is good to know that there is a lot of positive energy out there ready to be channeled to fight for good causes whatever they may be.
...
There were a few ironic moments including rap superstar Ludacris telling the audience (in song) that "if you ain't got no money [sic], take your broke ass home". Of course, this lyric is a part of a song that he sings on with Fergie (of Black Eyed Peas fame) which also includes the songstress singing "We [sic] flyin' first class / Up in the sky / Poppin' champagne / Livin' my life / In the fast lane / And I wont change / By the Glamorous, oh the flossy flossy". The video pictures Fergie flying in a private jet, ironically the vehicle of choice of some of the Live Earth performers. Irony is being told by some of this world's greatest CO2 producers to cut our consumption. Ludacris' other credits include a starring role in 2 Fast 2 Furious. Was it a movie about plug-in hybrid cars? Not likely. The film has inspired a generation of nitrous-infused street racers. Oh well, I'm sure he got some carbon credits in his gift basket to help offset the guilt. Ludacris! [sic]
Finally, if the intent of the mega-concert was to be a massive information campaign to finally bring everyone, united, onside to fight climate change, why the divisive elements? Melissa Ethridge chastised Bush's 'with us or the terrorists' refrain by saying that in addressing the world's problems that there is no "us and them". She proceeded to drive a wedge between left and right by calling both Nixon and the current Republican president "criminals". In fact, Ethridge's performance was more of an anti-war screed than a call to unite against climate change. Macy Gray's appearance also sought to alienate a significant proportion of the American population by having her stage performers wear anti-Bush and anti-Cheney t-shirts. The concert became an appeal to the left and had the effect of preaching to the choir while it did little to reach out to what should have been its intended targets: the skeptics on the right.
...
Will you be buying the new Smashing Pumpkins album when it comes out on July 10th? Consume, but don't consume
Damian points out that "Unlike many of my colleagues on the right, I don't think global warming is some kind of scam. But forgive me for thinking a self-congratulatory, hypocritical series of rock concerts isn't the best way to fight it:" and quotes a UK Daily Mail article:
A Daily Mail investigation has revealed that far from saving the planet, the extravaganza will generate a huge fuel bill, acres of garbage, thousands of tonnes of carbon emissions, and a mileage total equal to the movement of an army.
The most conservative assessment of the flights being taken by its superstars is that they are flying an extraordinary 222,623.63 miles between them to get to the various concerts - nearly nine times the circumference of the world. The true environmental cost, as they transport their technicians, dancers and support staff, is likely to be far higher.
The total carbon footprint of the event, taking into account the artists' and spectators' travel to the concert, and the energy consumption on the day, is likely to be at least 31,500 tonnes of carbon emissions, according to John Buckley of Carbonfootprint.com, who specialises in such calculations.
Throw in the television audience and it comes to a staggering 74,500 tonnes. In comparison, the average Briton produces ten tonnes in a year.
posted by Spitfire at 9:55 AM
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