Random Musings and Mutterings of a Chaotic and Curmudgeonly Soul

Yeah, I know this is basically the same one I had written in another blog, but I like it and I thought I would put it in a space where it might get more notice.

A weekend or two ago was the multi-city, 24 hour-long Live Earth Concert. The purpose of this event was to make everyone aware of Global Warming and the dire situation the planet is in. I have just one problem with this, who DOESN’T know about this by now? The changing climate has been front page news now for awhile and Global Warming is being blamed for every meteorological event. I think the only ones who aren’t aware of the situation are remote tribes in the Amazon, New Guinea and the Amish. And I am pretty sure the Amish have some inkling of what’s going on. They may live simply and plainly but they aren’t stupid. I doubt if many of these people will be going to any of the concerts. Except for a few rebellious Amish and Mennonite youths.

It also seems hypocritical to host rock concert which by its very nature is energy intensive. What’s wrong with folk music or chamber music, besides the fact that they aren’t as profitable as rock music. Also, a lot of the people who performed have life styles with rather large carbon footprints, large estates, private jets, etc. Yet they expect us to adopt changes and make sacrifices that they clearly are not doing.

Let’s not overlook Al Gore, former US vice-president and inventor of the Internet, who helped to organize this concert. Another person with a rather large carbon footprint. I can’t help but think he is using this more for political mileage and photo ops than saving the environment. He would do better in the long run if he would stay away from assigning blame and concentrate more on possible solutions. I like Al Gore, but I think he is wrong on ascribing the cause of Global Warming to primarily man’s activities and I object to his part in politicizing this whole debate. That won’t help anyone when the day is done.

How much energy was used to put on these concerts and to transmit his holographic to the masses? (When I heard tis was done my first thought was that of Emperor Palpatine talking to Darth Vader.) Supposedly they used green energy to supply electricity for this concert, but as far as I know there are not many windmills, tidal generators or solar cell arrays in NYC. At least not enough to supply enough to put on a rock concert. How much was used to broadcast it and how much was used by the people watching or listening to it? And I highly doubt if everyone who viewed it had green energy readily available.

I don’t mind the global concert, the good intentions, but I do mind the hypocrisy.