Be a believer: Let’s rock with Live Earth and change the climate of the debate

Mathew Hulbert takes on the cynics who think the celebs performing at Live Earth are just in it for themselves.

Live Earth is a tremendous opportunity to connect with up-and-coming generations. Where politicians and religious leaders, for whatever reason, fail to make that connection, lead singers, with their almost innate coolness, press the right buttons. As Bono admits people wouldn’t become rock/pop stars if they didn’t want to be in front of a camera, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about the issues at hand.

So, are you a believer or a cynic? Will you, like me, be rocking and bopping away, albeit via the wonders of TV and radio, to Al Gore’s Live Earth concerts in July (I must stress he’s not actually singing!). Or are you one of the growing number of people who think that such events, with preening celebs at their heart, are worthless and without any purpose?

If you fall into the latter category then I believe you are wrong. Let me explain why. As I set out in my review of the Mark Lynas book ‘Six Degrees: Our Future on a Hotter Planet,’ we, humanity, and indeed all living things, face the greatest danger perhaps since the world was first created. Don’t believe the deniers – man-made climate change is real and potentially deadly. And those of us who care about the poorest part of our world should be more concerned than most - for it is self evident that those with the least, those who live on the fringes of society, those who already survive on what aid organisations provide, will be the first to suffer when climate change truly hits.

So, just as we welcomed Bono, Bob Geldof, Coldplay, Robbie Williams, Annie Lennox and the rest doing their thing to highlight the issue of poverty at Live 8 in 2005, so I welcome those who’ll be taking to the Wembley stage on 07/07/07. Of course, as Bono admits, people wouldn’t become rock/pop stars if they didn’t want to be in front of a camera, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t care about the issues at hand. And even if they don’t, if their fans watch and see their idols championing this cause, then who knows how many hearts and minds can be won over and people encouraged to start living greener lifestyles? Doing good deeds makes most of us feel good even if that isn’t the main reason for doing them. It doesn’t make the doing of the deeds any less valuable.

Oxfam is one of many partners supporting the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition - I Count Campaign, which has a partnership with Live Earth. It’s set to be spectacular - 24 hours, seven continents - truly a global event. And just look at some of the names signed up to appear at the British concert: David Gray, Duran Duran, Snow Patrol, Foo Fighters, Madonna, Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers and on and on.

Music means so much to so many, especially young people. Live Earth is a tremendous opportunity to connect with up-and-coming generations. Where politicians and religious leaders, for whatever reason, fail to make that connection, lead singers, with their almost innate coolness, press the right buttons. Let’s rock and roll, take in the message and get as many people, young and old, involved in uniting to halt man-made climate change.