Like a melodic mantra these words echo through Aussie Stadium, in the first of a series of concerts across the globe driven by the need to address “a climate in crisis”. Newcomers Missy Higgins & John Butler join the iconic Paul Kelly on stage, and the audience sing along, willing this lovely dream to come true.
Live Earth is the latest instalment in Al Gore’s crusade against the destruction of the earth and the consequences we are likely to face as a result of this. Concerts were played across seven continents on 07/07/07 (catchy) to raise awareness of climate issues and how they can be addressed from the grass roots level, via “7 pledges”. They even had a couple of scientists playing a ditty down in Antarctica! Nevertheless it has been widely panned, as critics argue that it’s pointless and also hypocritical, as musicians have the biggest carbon footprints due to their extensive tours. Yet the gigs were all billed as climate neutral, and surely the artists who weren’t already converts are the perfect recipients for the message!
This is not the first time music and politics have been banded together. It happens regularly in long running U.S. presidential campaigns, and on this scale famously through Live Aid and Live 8. Yet unlike its predecessors this concert has a different kind of potential for change via growing awareness. It is immediate, simple, and equally urgent. To put it bluntly, you can’t just feed and cure a poor third world child in your home. But you can change your light globes to energy efficient ones, a simple process that doesn’t require significant effort or monetary outlay, in fact one that will probably end up saving you money. If everyone were to do this, the overall impact would surely be significant, and that’s what Live Earth was about.
Throughout the day the massive screens broadcast short films made all around the world addressing the issues and giving simple examples of ways you can change your habits to reduce your negative impact on the environment and “answer the call”. Shocking, funny, abstract and statistical, these were almost as entertaining as the musicians and far more informative. A close up of a cow’s rear end and its toxic excrements was intended to be impetus to reduce our meat intake. Other simple solutions included refilling old water bottles, only filling the kettle with as much water as you need to boil, turning off electric items which would otherwise be on standby, shopping locally to curtail transport costs to the environment, and keeping your tires pumped fully to reduce petrol use. Even as someone who sees herself as relatively climate-aware, I was fascinated to hear the huge statistical impact these small measures can make.
Of course, many argue that these suggestions are merely piecemeal measures and do nothing significant to avert the impending crisis. Yet surely a small start can build momentum! I’m still not willing to discount the power of the people to force political change on a large scale. Others think its better to go all the way to that crisis point, for only then will we be able to really have a thorough shift in our mindsets and the way we view our relationship to mother earth. But will this come too late?
Either way it seems that whilst we nut over these issues we might as well be giving it a go in the meantime. Sure, most of the audience was probably just there to see Crowded House rock out with the other awesome acts on stage (I know I was). But if only half walk away with a commitment to change the way they think about and do things, then this will be worth it. People are slow to change, but the more we get the message out there the more it will start to stick, and awareness is the first step in a long journey. These artists and activists have combined to start a green revolution. Can we do it?