Live Earth
Posted by Lisa Haderlein at 7/8/2007 11:00 AM 
Categories: tax credits, carbon dioxide, Water Conservation, Savings, Communication, Recycle, carbon neutral, Travel, Global Warming
Categories: tax credits, carbon dioxide, Water Conservation, Savings, Communication, Recycle, carbon neutral, Travel, Global Warming
The estimate is that 2 billion of the world's 6 billion people somehow participated in the Live Earth 24-hour concert extravaganza to raise funds and awareness about the global climate crisis.
Nine concerts on seven continents. Even Antarctica got in on the event when a group of the researchers stationed there pulled out their instruments and played some tunes!
The event was another of Al Gore's efforts to get people to pay attention and do something.
The SOS Live Earth website gives visitors the opportunity to estimate their own carbon footprints, and to learn about the many simple things that anyone can do to reduce their impact.
There is also a Live Earth Pledge, where individuals commit to the following items.
I PLEDGE:
- it uses less energy to turn-off and restart your car than to leave it idling if it will be idling for more than 10 seconds! Next time I'm in line at the bank drive-up teller, I will be sure to turn the motor off!
- the US produces 25% of the world's greenhouse gases, even though we only have 5% of the planet's population!
- if every US household paid their bills on-line, our country would reduce CO2 emissions by 2.1 million tons! There are other advantages of paying on-line. You save the cost of stamps, plus, you actually reduce your risk of identity theft. I was surprised to learn recently, that one of the greatest risks for identity theft is linked to the number of checks an individual writes and signs each year. Each one of those checks has your legal signature, plus your bank account and routing information, and your address!
There is a book to go along with the concerts:
If you are looking for a copy, please check with your local bookstore. In our area, that is Read Between the Lynes in Woodstock. They order books each week, so there is never much of a wait.
I must admit that I am pretty cynical about anything "pop culture" oriented - so watching Maddona writhe in London and Shakira writhe in Hamburg, really didn't do much for me. But, if it takes people like that speaking up about the need to change lightbulbs and choose hybrid cars, then I guess it's a good thing. And to think that NBC dedicated three prime-time hours to show bits of the concert and tips from the website, is encouraging.
Finally, a note about the carbon footprint of the event itself. Believe it or not, there was no footprint. The event was "carbon neutral" by using renewable energy sources to power lights and amps, transporting equipment and performers in biodiesel buses (which are fueled by soy fuel) and by making investments in alternative energy production (through organizations like NativeEnergy), the event actually had no net carbon impact on the planet.
And with some luck, it will actually result in a net reduction in carbon emissions as viewers start to take steps themselves.
Nine concerts on seven continents. Even Antarctica got in on the event when a group of the researchers stationed there pulled out their instruments and played some tunes!
The event was another of Al Gore's efforts to get people to pay attention and do something.
The SOS Live Earth website gives visitors the opportunity to estimate their own carbon footprints, and to learn about the many simple things that anyone can do to reduce their impact.
There is also a Live Earth Pledge, where individuals commit to the following items.
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.
I learned a few new things while reading through the site's information:- it uses less energy to turn-off and restart your car than to leave it idling if it will be idling for more than 10 seconds! Next time I'm in line at the bank drive-up teller, I will be sure to turn the motor off!
- the US produces 25% of the world's greenhouse gases, even though we only have 5% of the planet's population!
- if every US household paid their bills on-line, our country would reduce CO2 emissions by 2.1 million tons! There are other advantages of paying on-line. You save the cost of stamps, plus, you actually reduce your risk of identity theft. I was surprised to learn recently, that one of the greatest risks for identity theft is linked to the number of checks an individual writes and signs each year. Each one of those checks has your legal signature, plus your bank account and routing information, and your address!
There is a book to go along with the concerts:
If you are looking for a copy, please check with your local bookstore. In our area, that is Read Between the Lynes in Woodstock. They order books each week, so there is never much of a wait.
I must admit that I am pretty cynical about anything "pop culture" oriented - so watching Maddona writhe in London and Shakira writhe in Hamburg, really didn't do much for me. But, if it takes people like that speaking up about the need to change lightbulbs and choose hybrid cars, then I guess it's a good thing. And to think that NBC dedicated three prime-time hours to show bits of the concert and tips from the website, is encouraging.
Finally, a note about the carbon footprint of the event itself. Believe it or not, there was no footprint. The event was "carbon neutral" by using renewable energy sources to power lights and amps, transporting equipment and performers in biodiesel buses (which are fueled by soy fuel) and by making investments in alternative energy production (through organizations like NativeEnergy), the event actually had no net carbon impact on the planet.
And with some luck, it will actually result in a net reduction in carbon emissions as viewers start to take steps themselves.
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