Official Live Earth Blog

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.