Displaying a lust for futility often characteristic of bleeding heart types, Saturday’s global Live Earth concert was a glaring example of the well intentioned but utterly pointless approach to problem solving. Spearheaded by Al Gore, that denizen of empty gestures, the event accomplished little more than to serve as a gathering place for pop relics well beyond their sell-by date. Acts such as Madonna, Bon Jovi, Genesis, Smashing Pumpkins, and Metallica may have caused some of the less sentient viewers to question whether they’d inadvertently fallen into a wormhole destined for the mid-90s.
Unlike benefit concerts of yore, which aimed to raise money with their sprawling festivities, Live Earth’s focus was on raising awareness of global warming. The notion that global warming needs further advertisement is laughable, considering the issue already garners more attention than every member of the Hilton family. Certainly a few well placed TV spots could have accomplished the same amount of awareness raising. Of course, there is nothing that powerhouse celebrities and politicians love more than congratulating themselves in spectacular fashion. In essence, Live Earth was merely a global circle-jerk for the rich and famous.
The leading complaint is that an event so massive, taking place in several locations around the globe and showcasing numerous celebrities and bands, is bound to do more damage than it’s worth. When you factor in the fuel needed to transport the acts and equipment, power for the show itself, and the mounds of trash generated by concert goers, it really does seem a bit disingenuous when attempting to raise awareness of environmental preservation.
Another factor is the somewhat contentious nature of the issue. Leave it to Al Gore to futz a particularly clear cut environmental concern and turn it into something you’re either for or against. What person in their right mind would argue that human beings and all their amenities are not largely responsible for global warming (save for a few crackpot nihilists parading as conservatives intent on raping mother earth for fun and profit)? The problem is that there are no real solutions, and additionally there are thousands of other issues on the table that would benefit greatly from awareness and/or fund raising. Live Earth’s big solutions? Change your light bulbs. Save gas by putting air in your tires. Not only are these suggestions excruciatingly pedestrian, but also widely known at this point in time. It appears that Live Earth may have been nothing more than a grand political ploy by a possible presidential candidate. Not to downplay genuine environmental concerns such as global warming, but this came across as Al Gore’s pet project gone mad.
From an entertainment standpoint, Live Earth fared miserably, ranking abysmal ratings in most nations running broadcasts. Having caught a few moments of this travesty myself, I must say it was a cache of unintentional comedy. Watching awkward celebrities wax quixotic about environmental issues and make idiotic, knee-jerk assertions spoon fed by Al Gore himself was a tad delightful. And as most were on the defensive, every backstage interview became a moratorium on how “green” any given performer was, Madonna faring the worst in that respect. It came across as a game of environmental one-upmanship between empty headed celebrities. I live for the day when I see Cameron Diaz and Leonardo DiCaprio dumpster diving for meals and squatting in abandoned buildings.