It is written that God created the entire world in seven days. That didn't seem long enough until I saw Live Earth. The 24 hours it lasted on 07/07/07 illuminated just how much the committed can accomplish in a single day.

 While not divine, Live Earth was frankly awesome -- in the original sense of the word. If you missed it, you missed a world-changing moment that lasted for one of this planet's most jam-packed days. Lucky for you, MSN is still streaming the concerts and you can watch them at your leisure.

Live Earth spanned all seven continents with an estimated 2 billion people watching the shows live in person, at over 7,000 viewing events, or by tuning in on television, radio and the Internet.

First to begin, the Sydney concert dawned with a welcoming wail of Aboriginal didgeridoo. That call was echoed clear on the other side of the planet at the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian, where Al Gore kicked off the Washington, D.C., event with Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood.

Hitting the highlights of all the Live Earth shows is like trying to condense world history on a napkin, but I'll try. Tokyo thundered to Linkin Park, Shanghai swooned to Sarah Brightman, and Hamburg shook its hips to Shakira. In Australia, Crowded House staged its triumphant return singing "Don't Dream It's Over," reminding us that this is just the beginning.

At the South Africa show, the audience went nuts for Joss Stone and stayed on their feet for all nine acts, ending with UB40. Despite rain in Shanghai and Hamburg, audiences flocked to the cause. Yusuf Islam (aka Cat Stevens) played his classic "Wild World" in Germany, and then as the sun emerged, the crowd shone brightly for Enrique Iglesias' set. In China, superstar Huang Xiao Ming evoked screaming delight from the stands and rockers Soler raised the roof.

The concert in London was so full of highlights it resembled a blonde fresh from the salon. It kicked off with a drum jam featuring Taylor Hawkins of the Foo Fighters, Queen's Roger Taylor, and Chad Smith of the Red Hot Chili Peppers and it never let up. Metallica, Paolo Nutini, and James Blunt joined Spinal Tap for onstage mayhem; Corinne Bailey Rae and John Legend sang Marvin Gaye's "What's Going On?" as a duet; and Damien Rice and David Gray played "Que Sera Sera" acoustic! Did I mention Madonna? The pop goddess took the stage in a dazzling darkness lit only by flashbulbs. She closed the show with "Hey You," written especially for Live Earth, plus another three songs. Keeping the energy levels pushing into the red, Madonna laid down the law, "If you want to save the planet, let me see you jump!"

Across the world in Brazil, 400,000 people grooved to Macy Gray, Pharrell, and powerhouse closer, Lenny Kravitz. How did Lenny display his thanks to those who showed their support? Stage dive! Not bad for a free show!

I was in New Jersey and I wouldn't have been anywhere else -- except perhaps Antarctica. Nunatak, a band composed of residents of the Rothera Research Station, covered continent number seven by rocking out over the broadcast feed. For their first public performance, they shook off stage fright and snowflakes to entertain one of the largest audiences ever assembled.

The U.S. concert was quite a bit warmer than its Antarctic sibling. Giants Stadium ate up world class act after act. KT Tunstall called for "an emotional awareness revolution" and started the wave. Keith Urban and Alicia Keys played a surprise duet. Melissa Etheridge strummed her heart out and set a new standard for devotion to the cause. Al Gore introduced Bon Jovi, and the entire stadium shouted along to "Living on a Prayer" as if they meant it. Roger Waters floated out a giant inflatable pig emblazoned with "Save Our Sausage" and The Police closed the show. Joined by John Mayer and Kanye West, their thrilling "Message in a Bottle" was the perfect song to end a livelong day. The chorus, resounding around the stadium and the world, echoed the Live Earth mantra: "We're sending out an S.O.S."

Days later, Live Earth is still going strong. That makes perfect sense. After all, regardless of how stellar it was, it's not about the music. Live Earth is about pledging to combat climate change. If you haven't already, I hope you answer the call.

Yesterday, thick among the gleeful, chanting, throngs of Live Earth, I had to make a decision; fight my way in and out of the crowds to my computer or listen to Ludacris. In the end, I let the music win.

Live Earth was literally captivating. What can I say? I do have some highlights for you now, though.

I'm not going to tell you some story about how I got backstage and ate crumpets with Sting. I didn't do anything like that. I had good seats and got to spend time in the MSN hospitality tent, which was a real treat (thanks Adee and George!). The moments that stick with me are likely the same things that would make anyone at Live Earth last night smile today.

I'm talking about the pure joy of being in a packed stadium in Jersey for a Bon Jovi set. It's what I expect the Pope's appearances in Rome to be like. Watching tens of thousands of ecstatic people sing along with the "Living on a Prayer" and seeing the effect that had on band; that is a beautiful thing, my friend.

I remember how amazing it was when Alicia Keyes came out sing "Gimme Shelter" with Keith Urban, or how when Roger Waters brought out a giant inflatable pig emblazoned with "Save Our Sausage," I couldn't stop whooping and hollering.

The thing that I think will stick with me longest, however, is how I felt when Melissa Etheridge sang and spoke. If you missed it, you should definitely check it out now on the MSN stream. Hearing her eloquently challenge us to rescue the American dream, I realized that the writing I have done on this blog in support of Live Earth may well be the most satisfying job I ever get to do. Being part of Live Earth has moved me and changed my life.

I get even more pleasure from knowing that my job has primarily been to encourage you to do just what I'm doing. I want to you care, to combat climate change on a personal level, to sign the Live Earth Pledge, and to help to spread the word over the years to come.

For the next several weeks, you can watch all the various Live Earth shows from all seven continents stream on MSN. Keep checking back at Liveearth.MSN.com for continuing news on the shows and on the future efforts of the Alliance for Climate Protection. There will be more and we will need  your help and support.

I want to thank all of the people who helped me tackle my small chunk of this massive global effort, especially Marty and Adam. I had all the support I needed from Windows Live Spaces, MSN, and Live Earth and I appreciate it. I also want to thank the other fantastic bloggers I've traded information and ideas with over the past few months.

Thanks, most of all, to you, the reader and viewer and activist. I hope I continue to see you on your feet, fist in the air, standing up for the planet. We sent out the S.O.S. pretty dramatically last night. Now we need to put our plans into action!

I honestly don't know where to turn first. Genesis on the stage opening Live Earth U.K.; Ghostwriters continuing a concert killer enough to make me almost wish I'd stayed home in Australia; Sarah Brightman in Shanghai; Bonnie Pink in Tokyo; Roger Cicero in Hamburg; and all the other Live Earth shows collectively revving their (green) engines in preparation for their respective start times.

Wait! Nanatak is playing now from Antarctica! It's being broadcast on the U.K. channel! They're playing OUTSIDE! That's commitment!

If you haven't yet, you really need to check out the live streaming of all the shows on MSN. It's a near-overwhelming amount of entertainment. I can't stop clicking between concerts!

I'm on my way to Giant's Stadium soon. I'll write more from the show!

Depending on where on this spinning globe you live, Live Earth starts tomorrow or today! Here in New York, we'll be watching the webcast of the Sydney show starting at 9:10 p.m. tonight! In the final flurry of preparation, I've got a ton to tell you.

First off, I'd like to mention the Al Gore webcast I was privileged to attend yesterday. If you missed it, it's still online and you can screen it at your leisure. Sitting in a room with a handful of other bloggers and hearing him speak has been a highlight of this gig for me. As Mr. Gore points out, we're reaching the tipping point. Millions of people are connecting the dots between the weather changes we're experiencing and the constant warnings we hear from scientists. Hopefully Live Earth will tip us all over the edge into committed action! I'm ready, how about you?

Second of all, there's surprise news: despite attempts to block it, Live Earth has succeeded in arranging a concert in the U.S. Capital. The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian has agreed to host Live Earth D.C. The newly announced show will feature an address by Al Gore and performances by Garth Brooks, Trisha Yearwood, and Native Roots. To quote Mr. Gore speaking on CNN:

A couple of global warming naysayers used parliamentary tricks in the Congress to block (a concert on the National Mall). Well, instead of the cavalry riding to the rescue, the American Indians came to the rescue.

That's a nice change of pace, I think!

For those who are asking. Here also is the schedule for all Live Earth concerts.

Last of all, thanks. Thanks for reading and caring and showing up. I'll be at Live Earth New Jersey tomorrow and will do my best to post some backstage tidbits for you. Sunday will be my last official post here, but not remotely the end of Live Earth. Live Earth is the beginning, not the end. More on that on Sunday!

See you at the shows!

Live Earth continues to pack the house, announcing today that music legend Yusuf (formerly known as Cat Stevens) will be performing in Hamburg, rapper, actor, and television personality Xzibit will rock Tokyo, and electronica artist Kenna will work his magic at Live Earth New York.

A limited number of tickets are still available for each show so if you're still interested in attending, hope remains.

In just two hours Al Gore will be answering your environmental questions in a live webcast on MSN. Tune in at 1:30 p.m. EST to check it out!

(photo by svenwerk)

I have good timing. I've arrived back in America just in time for Independence Day.

July 4th is when people in the United States celebrate becoming free. The story is interesting, and perhaps not exactly what you expect. This date does not mark the formation of the United States. This date marks when in 1776 the Second Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence; essentially when the thirteen American colonies declared their freedom from British rule. The Declaration of Independence did not say that they were forming a single nation. The creation of the United States came later.

Why the history lesson? Because it's important to remember that being independent was an essential precursor to becoming united. Before you can join together with one voice and with a common vision, you need to throw off the burdens that keep you from speaking and seeing clearly. Throwing off those burdens, that's the hard part. That's why we celebrate today.

This July 4th, I'm presenting my own declaration of independence. I've been researching, thinking, and doing for long enough now that I can see the direction I want to move in. I know there are millions of others who feel as I do, but before I can join with them in a united front to combat climate change, I need to stop letting bad habits keep me from living a sustainable life.

I declare my independence from the rule of those habits now. It's hard, but I will succeed.

I see that others are attempting to do the same thing.

I look forward to uniting with them, and you, on 07/07/07 and celebrating our success together at Live Earth.

Happy Independence Day

Drum roll please...

In preparation for the main event this Saturday, MSN.com is honored to host a live WebCast with former vice president, Academy Award recipient, and fearless Live Earth leader, Al Gore.

Do you have a question for him? Then it's your lucky day! Gore will answer pre-submitted queries from the public about greening our homes, offices, and daily routines to combat climate change.

Simran Sethi, environmental journalist from The Sundance Channel’s “The Green”, will moderate the WebCast.

Submit your questions via email to goreonmsn@hotmail.com and tune in to MSN.com on Thursday, July 5, 2007, 1:30 p.m. EST to hear the answers.

And look close... I'll be in the audience! You won't recognize me though, as I won't have my face in the grass.

Step one: Find $2,000 dollars.

Step two: Invest it wisely by heading over to eBay to bid on THIS IS DINNER WITH SPINAL TAP!

Step three: Win the auction (all proceeds benefiting the Alliance For Climate Protection).

Step four: While enjoying your private, exclusive, meet-and-greet dinner with all three members of Spinal Tap and director Rob Reiner, be sure to order the soup.

Yep. You got it. It's just that simple! Guaranteed soup out your nose!

Christopher Guest, Michael McKean, Harry Shearer, and Rob Reiner, are responsible for some of the funniest film and television known to humanity and they want to have dinner with you (assuming you're feeling philanthropic). Who are you to deny them that pleasure?

Or, if you have your own foolproof methods of getting soup out your nose, perhaps you want to check out some of the other auctions benefiting Live Earth? Signed Gibson guitars, Live Earth t-shirts and posters, and other items will be posted for auction starting on July 12th.

Have you got your plans for this weekend sorted out yet? Live Earth is this SATURDAY! To find a Live Earth event near you, check out the Friends of Live Earth page.

Meet Dave. Dave enjoys going out to lunch, but instead of leaving a tip, he takes one away. In fact, he drives off with it. And I do mean "with" it.

Directed by Mac Carter, this is one of the many Live Earth shorts that will screen as part of the concerts that are going on world wide next week.

If you want to catch all the films (and the performances!), information on when and how you can catch Live Earth on TV, radio, and the Internet is here.

Some people say you should put your money where your mouth is. I say you should put your money and your mouth where your brain tells you.

Despite the laughable claims of "continued debate" about the reality of climate change, anybody with a 2nd grade literacy level and a couple of brain cells to rub together can see what's what. Our climate is changing. We need to act now if want to avoid a cataclysmically deadly future.

Enter the Live Earth Pledge. Penned by former vice president Al Gore, this pledge has already been signed by national leaders Harry Reid and Nancy Pelosi. It's not a  cover-your-bases kind of wishy-washy statement. It's a strong commitment.

Repeat after me:

I PLEDGE:

1. To demand that my country join an international treaty within the next 2 years that cuts global warming pollution by 90% in developed countries and by more than half worldwide in time for the next generation to inherit a healthy earth;
2. To take personal action to help solve the climate crisis by reducing my own CO2 pollution as much as I can and offsetting the rest to become “carbon neutral;”
3. To fight for a moratorium on the construction of any new generating facility that burns coal without the capacity to safely trap and store the CO2;
4. To work for a dramatic increase in the energy efficiency of my home, workplace, school, place of worship, and means of transportation;
5. To fight for laws and policies that expand the use of renewable energy sources and reduce dependence on oil and coal;
6. To plant new trees and to join with others in preserving and protecting forests; and,
7. To buy from businesses and support leaders who share my commitment to solving the climate crisis and building a sustainable, just, and prosperous world for the 21st century.

We're not playing games here. This is Live Earth and we aim to save the world. Are you in?

It's like a riddle; one is a musical act that doesn't exist and the other is one of Live Earth's biggest names who won't sing a note. Who are they, you ask?

In one of the weirder occurrences made possible by Live Earth, the opening act at Live Earth Tokyo will be Genki Rockets. Why is that odd? Because they're a virtual pop group! Created by Tetsuya Mizuguchi, head of Q-Entertainment exclusively for the Xbox games Lumines II and Lumines Live!, Genki Rockets music is built from intermixed samples. Live Earth will be the group's premiere performance!

So who will actually sing at Live Earth Tokyo? It's a secret being cooked up by Mizuguchi himself. In the meantime, if you're a Lumines Live! player, download the SOS Charity Campaign Pack featuring a special remix of "Heavenly Star". A portion of proceeds will be donated to The Alliance for Climate Protection. 

The answer to the second part of the riddle is none other than Al Gore! After careful deliberation, the Live Earth movement leader has decided which concert he'll appear at. The worldwide control room for the events will be in London, but the former vice president will take the stage in Jersey at Giant's Stadium. He'll be right up front, spreading the word, but unless he's got some musical talent squirreled away somewhere secret, I think we can expect speeches, not songs.

Then again, the surprises keep coming...

I honestly cannot believe that we're only a hop, skip, and public transportation jump away from 07/07/07. In half the time it took me to plan a wedding, Live Earth has pulled together concerts across the globe that will set a new standard for green events. I'm already applauding and I'm not even near the stadium yet!

For those of us who are going to see one of the concerts in person, I wanted to point out the public transportation resources being collected over at Liveearth.org. A green concert doesn't do much good if all the attendees drive there in private cars and all the artists fly in on private jets.

That's not happening at Live Earth.

As much as possible (and considering the vast scope of this project, a ton has been proved possible), the negative environmental impact of travel is being eliminated through careful and creative planning. Where that impact cannot be eliminated, we're off-setting it by investing in carbon credits.

For me, that means researching companies that sell carbon credits, ponying up to offset my flight, and making sure I can get from New York to Giant's Stadium by bus. Sure enough, Live Earth has provided a fact sheet to sort me out.

If you need to fly, there are a few companies Live Earth recommends looking into in order to purchase carbon credits.

• Climate Care
• Carbon Neutral Company
• Native Energy
• CarbonFund.org

Personally, I went with Climate Care but it was a tough call.

Have you thought about how you're getting to Live Earth yet? How about how you'll approach travel in the future? Maybe now's the time!

The wait was worth it! Live Earth announced the line-up today for the concert at Rio de Janeiro's Copacabana Beach. Those who make their way there will hear:

LENNY KRAVITZ
PHARRELL WILLIAMS
MACY GRAY
XUXA
O RAPPA
MARCELO D2
JORGE BEN JOR
JOTA QUEST
VANESSA DA MATTA
MV BILL

Don't bother asking how to get tickets because the Brazil concert is FREE FREE FREE! Yep, Rio is hosting the only free Live Earth concert.

I think we may be looking at what will go down in history as the largest beach party of all time. That's an awfully impressive list of international and local acts packing down the sand in the name of combating climate change!

Also; for those of you in South Africa, the location of Live Earth Johannesburg has been changed to the Coca-Cola Dome. Click here for more info.

Sure, the Live Earth concerts are going to be the place to be on 07/07/07. That doesn't mean that if you can't get tickets, you can't be part of the event.

In an effort to get everyone involved, Live Earth has teamed with Evite to create a special Live Earth party invitation template.

Why not throw your own fiesta in order to help inspire your friends to combat the climate crisis? Have your mates over to watch the concerts and see what kind of commitments you can make to reduce your carbon footprint.

The Live Earth Evite has some solid ideas for throwing an environmentally-sensitive bash, including food, drink, and decoration tips. The entertainment you can leave to us!

Among the many people inspired by the film "An Inconvenient Truth," I think singer/songwriter Terra Naomi deserves a special mention.

As my friends over at Truth & Progress note, the up-and-coming artist was shaken by Al Gore's climate crisis movie and transformed her emotions into the track "Say It's Possible."

"It's definitely a song that comes from a place of fear, but it is ultimately a song of hope.  It's a song about feeling frightened and uncertain of the future while believing in the possibility of change."

With help from the the international YouTube community, Terra Naomi put together a video for her song that sent her career skyrocketing. A year later? Al Gore personally requests she perform at Live Earth U.K. How's that for demonstrating what's possible when you put your mind to it!

Check out Terra's video for "Say It's Possible" and perhaps you'll see why she and the former Vice President have joined in a mutual-admiration society.

Terra Naomi will have plenty of high-powered company on the Wembley stage; Madonna will be there playing Hey You, the song she wrote specially for Live Earth. Click over to the MSN Live Earth site to see the video!

Seriously, these Live Earth concerts are getting as jam-packed as Tokyo subway.

Live Earth has just added Keith Urban and Taking Back Sunday to the Giant's Stadium bill and Shakira and Enrique Iglesias to the Hamburg line-up!

Fred Mascherino, lead guitarist for Taking Back Sunday, says:

“Our actions can directly help to change the course of the climate problem. Making small changes in your life can add up and make a big difference. That is what makes Live Earth monumental.  The fact that all of these people around the world are coming together to make this statement gives me hope.  It's not just a grassroots fable anymore.  It's reaching all of us.  It's not everyday that the people on all seven continents unite for one event.  I think it's an extremely appropriate measure for what we're up against."

Well said, Fred! I'll be there to hear him play in New York. I think there might even be some tickets left...

Just got home and dropped my bags. Before I unpack? I talk to you.

It's been a full-blast week of travel and there's a blast of news kicking down my door at home as well!

First off, the Live Earth Shanghai line-up has been announced. Those lucky enough to be at the show in China will get to hear:

ANTHONY WONG
EASON CHAN
EVONNE HSU
HUANG XIAO MING
JOEY YUNG
SARAH BRIGHTMAN
SOLER
WINNIE SHIN
12 GIRLS BAND
as well as artists from the TV shows “MY HERO" and “MY SHOW”

Then, as if the line-up in London wasn't incredible already, Metallica, Kasabian, Pussycat Dolls, and Terra Naomi have all signed on to play the U.K.! Metallica's Lars Ulrich says of his commitment to Live Earth:

"I want the buck to stop here, now. I want lawmakers and laws to impose change. Nothing else will keep this world safe for my sons."

Ulrich is far from all talk. Immediately after the concert, Metallica's Live Earth performance is going to be available for download for a small fee. All money raised will benefit climate charities hand-selected by the band: Sierra Club, The Apollo Alliance, WWF, and Rainforest Action Network.

More, you say? Sure. I've got more news for you.

In Tokyo, the Abingdon Boys School has joined the roster of acts, in Kyoto add Bonnie Pink and UA, and in Hamburg audiences will also get to hear Mando Diao and Stefan Gwildis.

Last, but not least, now that I'm home and back on broadband, I've been able to upload photos from the last week. There are some great shots of Uluru and my unfortunately rainy few days up in Queensland. Check them out in the photo album on this page!