July 6, 2007
By Lesego Madumo and Emily Visser
A WORLD-CLASS group of eight superstars, three locals and five internationals - among them, Danny K, Vusi Mahlasela, UB40 and Joss Stone - proudly spoke of how privileged they felt to be part of the Live Earth concert taking place this weekend in Johannesburg.
The African leg of the worldwide event will take place at the Coca Cola Dome over the weekend in a bid to "answer the call" and raise consciousness about the impending climate crisis.
"Global warming is a sleeping giant. I will use my voice and name to try and prevent the situation from getting worse," said Danny K during a press briefing on Friday. These sentiments were echoed by the other superstars at the media conference held in Sandton.
"The earth is a gift from God so we need to cherish and protect this beautiful gift," explained a member of the Soweto Gospel Choir on why they were participating in the event.
The press conference ahead of the Live Earth concert
According to the World Health Organisation, 150 000 people already die annually due to climate change. At least one billion people will be forced to move from their homes between now and 2050 as the effects of climate change deepen the global migration crisis.
"We've all got to learn new ways of living," stressed UB40 member, Robin Campbell. He is hoping that the concert will create awareness and concern and make climate experts more famous than they are.
Vusi Mahlahlela said it was "time to give back and not just take from the earth".
A worldwide concert on an unprecedented scale, Live Earth is designed to encourage mass action to combat global warming.
Running for 24 hours, from 6pm on 7 July, concerts are taking place simultaneously in nine countries on six continents - Australia; Brazil, in South America; Britain and Germany, in Europe; China and Turkey in Asia; United States, in North America; South Africa, in Africa; and Japan.
Former US vice-president Al Gore, who chairs the Alliance for Climate Protection, is a partner of Live Earth. He says, "[The Live Earth concert will] take place across all … continents because the climate crisis affects us all and [we] all must be a part of the solution."
Live Earth representative Elif Beall said the aim is to make the concerts as green as possible. "This is not just another rock concert." According to event organisers, the carbon emissions during the event will be captured and offset by investment in a credible carbon-offsetting association.
Keeping it as green as possible has necessitated moving the event from Maropeng, where it was originally going to take place, to the Coca Cola Dome. "The Dome is more carbon neutral," said Joanna Little, event organiser.
Headlining the Johannesburg leg will be British reggae band UB40, accompanied by prominent local singer and songwriter Vusi Mahlasela, fondly known as The Voice, and popular local TV host, actor and kwaito superstar Bonginkosi Dlamini, better known as Zola.
South Africa's own: the Parletones, the Soweto Gospel Choir, Danny K and Vusi Mahlasela will perform
Also on the bill are the soulful Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, who mixes a traditional Senegalese sound with R&B, soul, jazz and blues, and British soul, R&B and blues singer and songwriter Joss Stone. South African Music Award winner Danny K, The Parlotones and Grammy winners, the Soweto Gospel Choir, are also performing.
Included in the concert will be guidelines on recycling, and information on how food and beverages, packaging, transport, energy and water use affect global warming.
Tickets are still available to the event.
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