(CNSNews.com) - A Live Earth "affiliated" concert is coming to Washington, D.C., Al Gore announced on Friday -- the day before the worldwide fusion of politics and music takes place on seven continents.
Al Gore broke the "exciting news" Friday morning in a message to members of the liberal activist group MoveOn.org.
"With the help of our friends at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, 'Mother Earth,' a Live Earth-affiliated event, is coming to Washington, D.C., tomorrow," Gore wrote.
"If we want to show our elected leaders that Americans want real action to solve the climate crisis -- nothing will make that more clear than thousands of people joining me at the concert tomorrow morning."
Gore said he'd be at the Washington concert at 10:30 a.m. -- along with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood, the husband-wife country duo. They will each perform "a song," Gore said, and the event will include a performance by the band Blues Nation.
"The day will also feature Native American rock, funk, punk, reggae, gospel and Andean music in addition to films," Gore said.
MoveOn.org, in message to supporters, said, "We've only got 24 hours to make this concert huge." (The group noted that until today, Live Earth was blocked from Washington "by politicians allied with right-wing industry groups.")
The Washington concert is free.
According to Gore, "7/7/07 is going to be an amazing day linking together 7 continents, over 100 artists and 2 billion people to 'answer the call' to combat the climate crisis."
After making an appearance in Washington, Gore will head to Giants Stadium in New Jersey for one of the eight official Live Earth concerts.
The others are taking place in London, Hamburg, Sydney, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo, Shanghai, and Johannesburg. According to ABC News, "affiliated events" are scheduled for Kyoto and Antarctica, and now Washington, D.C.
'Hot air'
The Live Earth concerts may turn out to be the largest political rally in history, but according to one critic, "they will accomplish nothing but feel-good environmentalism."
Dr. Patrick Michaels, senior fellow in environmental studies at the Cato Institute, noted that concert-goers will be urged to sign a pledge calling for industrialized nations to reduce their emissions of carbon dioxide 90% by the year 2050 and for a moratorium on
new coal-fired power plants.
But, said Michaels, "There is no politically and technologically acceptable suite of technologies that could reduce US emissions 90% in the next 42 years."
Michaels said the legacy of Live Earth will be one of "increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide and decreasing wealth."
But organizers hope that Live Earth "marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign...to drive individuals, corporations and governments to take immediate and lasting action to solve the climate crisis."
The 24-hour, globe-spanning concert is expected to reach a worldwide audience of "billions" through TV, radio, and Internet.
Concert goers and home viewers will be asked to "make one important change in six key areas of their lives," as follows:
At Home Solution
I will change four light bulbs to compact fluorescent lights (CFLs) at my home.
On the Job Solution
I will shut off my equipment and lights whenever I'm not using them.
Shopping Solution
I will shop for the most energy efficient electronics and appliances.
Transportation Solution
I will ride public transit or car pool one or more times per week.
Community Solution
I will forward a Live Earth email message to 5 friends.
Leadership Solution
Add my name to the Live Earth pledge at LiveEarth.org
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