Live Earth rockers fight global warming
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NEW: Live Earth climate change concerts kick off in Sydney, TokyoMadonna, Metallica, The Police, Kanye West among those listed to perform
Critics say Live Earth lacks achievable goals, sends out mixed messages
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) -- Concerts in Sydney and Tokyo on Saturday kicked off 24 hours of music by more than 150 artists in a round-the-globe series of shows designed to raise awareness about climate change.
Musician Jack Johnson performs on stage at the Australian leg of the Live Earth concerts.
An Aboriginal performer helps kick off the Live Earth concert series in Sydney, Australia.
Al Gore promotes the Live Earth concerts at Wembley Stadium in London.
Former Vice President Al Gore, whose campaign to force global warming onto the international political inspired the concerts, made a live video appearance from Washington to open the first Live Earth show, on the other side of the world in Sydney.
He took the technology a step further a few hours later, appearing on stage in Tokyo as a hologram to deliver his message.
"Global warming is the greatest challenge facing our planet, and the gravest we've ever faced," he said. "But it's one problem we can solve if we come together as one and take action and drive our neighbors, businesses and governments to act as well. That's what live earth is all about." Watch Gore discuss his son's problems and his environmental campaign »
For the most part, the diverse range of performers wholeheartedly backed the call, and the organizers promised the huge shows were eco-friendly by using recycled goods and buying carbon credits to offset the inevitable high power bills.
Madonna, Metallica, the Police and Kanye West were among the top-billed acts listed for the biggest concerts, in London and New Jersey, with more modest lineups of mostly local and regional acts at the other venues. Concerts also were being held in Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; Hamburg, Germany; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and Washington.
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In Sydney, an estimated 50,000 people grooved through a set by former professional surfer-cum singer-guitarist Jack Johnson, banged their heads to afro-haired 1970s retro rockers Wolfmother, and awaited the first home performance in more than 10 years by reformed 1980s hitsters Crowded House.
Johnson made only one reference to the cause during his set -- referring the crowd to an environmental Web site -- though his songs were infused with fishing, surfing and a love of the outdoors.
Wolfmother's wild-haired Andrew Stockdale was more bombastic, in keeping with his Grammy-winning band's Deep Purple-style stadium rock aesthetic.
"Saviors of the world raise your hands," he shouted.
Aboriginal tribal leaders with white-painted bodies who shook eucalyptus fronds were the first to take the stage in Sydney, singing and dancing a traditional welcome to the sounds of a didgeridoo, a wind pipe made from a hollow tree branch.
The Tokyo concert kicked off with a high-tech, laser- and light-drenched performance by virtual-reality act Genki Rockets. Later, popular Japanese singer Ayaka urged fans to take up the concerts' theme of changing their daily habits as a first step to reducing global greenhouse gas emissions.
"I started to carry my own eco-bag so I don't have to use plastic grocery bags, and use my own chopsticks instead of disposable ones," she said.
Problems and changes to the series continued right down to the last minute, with a ninth concert -- in Washington, D.C. -- added on Friday and a court battle continuing in Brazil to decide whether the show there could go ahead as planned.
Critics say Live Earth lacks achievable goals, and that bringing in jet-setting rock stars in fuel-guzzling airliners to plug in amplifier stacks and cranking up the sound may send mixed messages about energy conservation.
Organizers say they're using biodiesel for power and recycled products where possible. Proceeds from ticket sales will go toward distributing power-efficient light bulbs and other measures to offset the shows' greenhouse gas emissions, they say.
Organizers were predicting live broadcasts on cable television and the Internet could reach up to 2 billion people, including public service announcements giving tips about how to conserve energy. E-mail to a friend
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