Live Earth Hamburg: Calling All Kids
by Christine Lepisto, Berlin 
on 07. 8.07
Were you live at the Live Earth opening in Hamburg? As Shakira took the stage, it appeared few would brave the downpour to be there. But as the weather let up in the evening, more of the 30,000 ticket holders joined the hardcore audience, still not exceeding two-thirds capacity in the stadium. The nine hour music marathon in Hamburg included headliners such as Snoop Dogg, Enrique Iglesias, Silbermond and Yusuf Islam (formerly Cat Stevens). Hamburger musician Jan Delay belonged to the group of stars performing in their own back yard, one of the defensive maneuvers the concert promoters attempted in order to reduce the climate impact of the event itself.
The recently founded World Future Council, represented by chairperson Bianca Jagger, partnered in the Live Earth event and used the opportunity to launch the campaign KidsCall. Applause met the children who joined Bianca Jagger on stage to call, in twenty languages, for kids around the world to send in their letters or pictures and make their voices heard in the halls of adult power. WFC will display the letters in parliaments around the world before gathering children once again to confront the G8 at their summit in Japan one year from now.
Detractors question whether worldwide parties are an effective way to solve the global warming problem. The Hamburg event opened itself to furthering the criticism by serving drinks in disposable cups. According to the Spiegel (German), the concert organizer was embarrassed by this, saying it had been planned differently and he did not know the reason for the deficiency. However, especially in Germany where the experience gained at the 2006 Soccer World Cup demonstrated the viability of returnable cups in major events, this seems inexcusable.
Some may say that the under-capacity crowds indicate the event was not a success. Nonetheless, the calls to action were multiplied out over radio, television, internet and will at a minimum spread the discussion: what is the answer to this problem? Among the more interesting commitments called in to the Hamburg event was a promise to replace a lawn mower with two donkeys. Honest. Now that's "umdenken". And as we have already stated with respect to mega-concerts as activism: Only history can be the judge.
Image via Stern, credit Roland Magunia/DDP
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I thought It was cool of Live Earth to get people to do pledging that the people would do certian things live basic stuff like change the light bulbs use mass-transit, etc. They got like 133,000 people to pledge know if like 1/2 the people actually do what they pledged they'd do that is still a NICE step forward.
What did Live Earth accomplish? Well, it's not what happened yesterday that matters. It's what happens tomorrow and every day from now on. What matters is whether people can be persuaded that their voice, and their vote can make a difference.
Unfortunately, we need to adopt the message and alter our disposable habits - one they've discarded their Motorola Razr for the new iPhone, that is. They've pledged not to use disposable nappies, use chemicals to wash their clothes and won't drink bottled water. They have even vowed to replace their incandescent light bulbs with low energy substitutes and take shorter showers. Or the celebrates can do without traveling the globe in big jets, riding in huge gas guzzling cars, living in enormous mansions and can preach to the unwashed from a stage.
Don't get me wrong. I loved the idea of Live Earth and thoroughly enjoyed the music. It's put a message out there and focused the attention of people, especially in America. But we in the west love our guilt and we like it pure not sullied with reality.