Gore Defends Live Earth Concerts, Self

Says Participating Performers Aren't Hypocritical, And He's Not Using Event To Further Presidential Aspirations

(CBS)  Al Gore is striking back at his critics and those of the worldwide Live Earth concert series.

The former vice president says Live Earth is exactly what it's being billed as: a 24-hour, seven-continent succession of concerts Saturday to draw attention to the threat global warming poses to the planet.

Live Earth will indeed be "a global affair," CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer observed Friday on The Early Show, with performers such as Madonna, Bon Jovi, Shakira and Red Hot Chili Peppers.

Gore, described by Palmer as the "driving force" behind Live Earth, personally lobbied some of its stars to take the stage, she said.

"Critics have accused Gore of using the event to grab attention for himself and a possible run at the White House, but he says, no, he's just passionately green," Palmer added.

"I'm involved in a different kind of campaign, not for myself, not as a candidate, but to change people's minds about the most dangerous crisis we've ever faced," Gore said on CNN's "Larry King Live."

Asked on The Early Show Friday by co-anchor Harry Smith if he has plans to be in early presidential battleground states New Hampshire or Iowa anytime soon, Gore responded, "No, I have no plans for that. I'm involved in this … campaign to try to change the way people think about this climate crisis.

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To see photos of preparations for Live Earth, click here.

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"This is no joke, Harry. The North Pole is melting. A huge area of snow near the South Pole, an area the size of California, has been melting. The scientists are practically screaming from the rooftops on this, and the solutions are things we ought to be doing for other reasons, anyway.

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Photos: The Greening Of Hollywood

Photos: Al Gore "Green" Media Star

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Gore defended Live Earth's performers against charges of hypocrisy. Critics point to their using such decidedly environmentally unfriendly items as private jets, big limos and SUVs, but Gore insisted to Smith that Live Earth will set "a new green standard" for the music industry.

"A lot of these groups actually have been in the forefront in the vanguard of awareness of how to have a lighter impact on the environment," Gore continued. "Others are new to the cause, but the standards being set by these concerts will actually have a huge impact in and of itself, but this is all about changing the way people think, all around the world."

"We're gonna be delivering the same message worldwide to the largest audience ever for an entertainment event in the world, an estimated 2 billion people, and we're going to ask people to take a seven-point pledge to be a part of the solution to the climate crisis and, in their role as citizens in every nation, to put pressure on the leadership of their nation regardless of political party to make the changes necessary to solve the climate crisis."

Gore rejected the suggestion that Live Earth is simply preaching to the choir, appealing to those already fearful of the impact of global warming, while falling on deaf ears for others.

"You don't think Dick Cheney and George Bush will be watching this concert, do you?" Smith asked.

"Well, I hope they will. They do need to hear this message," Gore responded with a chuckle, "but, actually, studies show very clearly that, even though a majority of the people now do accept the fact that we are in the midst of this climate crisis, the sense of urgency that's appropriate for what is truly a planetary emergency is still not anywhere close to where it needs to be.

"We'll get there, but this Live Earth series of concerts is completely unprecedented."

Gore announced an additional Live Earth venue, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian on the mall in Washington, D.C. He said he, Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood will open that concert.

"There were some naysayers who tried to say, 'No, you cannot have a concert on the mall,' but the cavalry didn't ride to the rescue, the American Indians did," Gore told Smith.

[infidel_us]

Hi, I'm ALGore.....please join me for the premiere of my next movie, "An Inconvenient Son." LOL

[j-whitman]

Bush is yelling & stomping his feet -- "I want a Scorched Earth Concert & a Victory Parade"

[terrapin78]

Maybe Al's son will hook up with the Bu$h TWINS in rehab!

[shafteriffic]

Al Gore is a NUT! When all the states in this great nation get to the point where thay all enjoy the year round climates that places like California and Florida have then it will be enough global warming. Al Gore will be long gone by then, so just fade away Al. Nobody cares what's important to you and it is time for you to retire and just live out your life in seclusion with some of your flaked out hollywood buddies (namely Alec Baldwin and Ed Bagely Jr.). I wouldn't walk across the street to see this concert, even if I was being paid!

[rushlimpdrug]

Great, we can comment on this and we couldn't on the Libby krap.
No good deed goes unpunished.
Sadly, only time will tell and even then propaganda will rule.

[the_inventor]

A peer Reviewed Technology.

http://nlspropulsion.net/default.aspx

Near Light Speed Travel

[aaabee-2009]

Live Earth will indeed be "a global affair," CBS News correspondent Elizabeth Palmer observed Friday on The Early Show, with performers such as Madonna, Bon Jovi, Shakira and Red Hot Chili

Did this get any advertising? I haven't heard a thing about it until this week on some faint article about a concert being cancelled in Australia.

Is our good ole unbiased MSM Filtering for America again? Seems we get all the Iraq/Iran propoganda but only scraps and bits of anything actually worthwhile.

Thank you corporate owned media for filtering my exposure to such terrible influences as going green.

[pghlady3]

maybe he should be more concerned about his family, and less about earth. THE EARTH GOES THRU THIS HIGH AND LOWS AND IT IS NORMAL. the earth heats up, but it is not caused by humans.....it is the earths normal cycle, and in 10 centuries, it will do it again. FUNNY THAT THE SPERM WHALES NUMBERS ARE DECREASING...THE CAUSE...THERES MORE THAN THE NORMAL AMOUNT OF ICE IN THEIR BREADING GROUNDS, IT'S TOO COLD, AND THERES TOO MUCH ICE. global warming my a$$

[aaabee-2009]

Well, looks like someone has a science degree in Judging Craap They Know Didley About.

[cornax]

Seven continent concert? So where in Antartica is Algore staging a concert? I am sure the penguins will get a real kick out of it.

[duffyn]

You people will be thanking Al Gore someday. I do now. California is frying today. Who in here likes breathing C02??? Get a clue disbelievers.

[brianp55]

This guy is going to cost each of us a lot of money. If he gets his way, every time we purchase gas or pay our heating bill, we'll also have to purchase "carbon credits". Can you imagine? Many can barely afford to pay for gasoline and now they will have an additional charge on top of that.

BTW....California's current temperature probably has little, if anything to do with atmospheric CO2.

[ubrew12]

brianp55 said: "California's current temperature probably has little, if anything to do with atmospheric CO2."

What the f??? The greenhouse effect has been well understood for 200 years and is NOT disputed. If it weren't for greenhouse gases like CO2 and H20 in the atmosphere California's temperature would be freezing. Too much of a good thing, though, is a bad thing. It really is that simple.

[ivandrago]

Just because a celebrity says it good doesn't mean you should automatically think that it's bad or good. I did my own limited research from multiple sources. The science behind global warming and general environmental degradation is for the most part valid.

I have the feeling that some people don't like certain realities and want to swipe ideas under the rug so they don't have to deal with it. It's a reality that all of us are contributing to pollution and global warming. Deal with it and move on.

I try my best to be green myself. I'm not perfect at this. Neither are these celebrities. The current situation makes being totally green near impossible, unless you want to go completely native.

Stop vilifying people with good intentions.

[gunnerv1]

Carbon Footstep Gore can't fight himself out of a wet paper bag.

[huskerarmy]

global warming my a$$
Posted by pghlady3
Screw the scientists and their fancy smancy science. Real Americans will keep burning it up for Big Oil.

[huskerarmy]

Carbon Footstep Gore can't fight himself out of a wet paper bag.
Posted by gunnerv1
However he did win the popular vote over your frat boy hero George "W" in 2000.

[infidel_us]

Hi, I'm ALGore.....please join me for the premiere of my next movie, "An Inconvenient Son." LOL

[gunnerv1]

And in ten years what are we going to do with all of the mercury out of those d*mn little light bulbs? Look up the HazMat procedures for a "Minor" Hg spill, Legeally, It would cost about $5000.00 to clean up and dispose of that little bit of Hg.

[infidel_us]

I am sure the penguins will get a real kick out of it.
Posted by cornax at 12:36 PM : Jul 06, 2007

Have you not seen "Happy Feet?" :)

[ivandrago]

Since FARTKNOCKER2 seems to know everything about global warming I say that this forum should get some money together today, and send him around the world creating awareness of this fraud. He can talk to the majority of scientist that do believe in warming, and set them straight on what they don't know. Then he can meet with the small minority of scientist that subscribe to his views and congratulate they for giving him his talking points.

After that's done he could help other groups like:
*big tobacco
*halacuast denialist
*creationist
*phrenologist

You go get em' FARTKNOCKER2!

[justfacts2]

All I know is this - if you go to snopes.com and search for "A Tale of Two Houses" you will learn a very shocking truth. Al Gore DOES NOT practice what he preaches when it comes to building a home. In my eyes, he is nothing but a blowhard hypocrite. When someone shoots of their mouth and tells the rest of us how to live our lives, he/she had better be practicing what they preach. Al Gore does not. I am not saying the Global Warming isn't a reality, because it clearly is. All I am saying is don't tell me how to run my life and make changes if you aren't doing it yourself.

[huskerarmy]

Hi I'm a neo-con. I'm a proud tool. Don't bother me with your fancy smancy science. Big Brother Exxon will take care of us. If it's good for the multi-national corporations, by golly it's good enough for me. If that means that kids rode to school on dinosaurs 6,000 years ago and the earth is still flat then so be it! To the earth I say, I will continue pooring as much as I want into your atmosphere, as longas I want, and you had better not say a *** thing about it. Burn baby burn!

[huskerarmy]

So would the science be more compelling to you righty tools if Al Gore lived in a self-contained green pod?

[donnie900]

"So would the science be more compelling to you righty tools if Al Gore lived in a self-contained green pod?"

Yes.

Why is everything an exemplification to you people? Haven't you ever met somebody who wasn't impressed by ya? Huh? Is that why you think you know more than they do?

You could be richest man in the world, and nobody'd look up to you. Or care, the way you think they should care, about you.

You people think you're moviestars. And a moviestar is not a statesman. I'm sure of it.

[ubrew12]

justfacts2 said: "All I am saying is don't tell me how to run my life and make changes if you aren't doing it yourself."

If anything, Gores choice of house illustrates his belief, and mine, that we can battle Global Warming without making huge changes to our lifestyles: IF WE DO SO NOW!! Owning a home should depend on factors other than its carbon footprint, like its antiquity. Clearly, the Gore home has emotional importance to the guy we can all appreciate.

Nobody's talking about draconian lifestyle changes, YET. Unless you live in Southern Florida. If you live in Southern Florida, and this is my HONEST opinion, you're going to be underwater in 10 years no matter WHAT we do. That's because the Greenland and W Antarctic Ice Sheets respond NOT to atmospheric temps, but to OCEAN temps. The ocean's been slowly warming for 150 years and even if we take Global Warming seriously, NOTHINGS going to cool the ocean anytime soon; its gonna take another 150yrs to cool back down. Long before that, those ice sheets are going in the drink.

[donnie900]

Moviestars? ..*big sigh* Moviestars don't go away, for one. They're the anti-george washington. They don't retire and tell everybody who wants an interview to go away, they're busy.

And secondly, they live in different worlds than we do. Like officers. Their perspective is as non-solutionable as the right wing lunatics. Their own niche of perspective, as distant, if not more so, than they are.

There's a difference between exemplification and representation. There's a difference between diversity and understanding. There's a difference.. between sincerity and lieing.

[ivandrago]

huskerarmy is right. the science is no less valid whether Al Gore isn't completely green? No. Smearing the messengers doesn't change anything.

[donnie900]

This is not an act, mr. moviestar. You're not playing a part. You're being somebody. You're being a statesman.. You're asking of your constituency nothing you'd also ask of yourself. And then you're going home and telling everybody to "****** off", 4 years later.

Illustrate that.

[brianp55]

ubrew:

Yes, the role of atmospheric CO2 relating to planetary warming is well-documented. And yes, if our atmosphere was devoid of CO2 the Earth's temperature (including California) would be much cooler. It is easy to jump to conclusions regarding the effects of elevated CO2 levels (I did it myself initially) on curent temperatures. However, if you read the scientific papers on the subject, particularly those dealing with ice core data (which go back 900,000 years or so) you would conclude that the current warming trend and an occasional hot week are PROBABLY NOT attributable to man-made atmospheric CO2. That effect (if any) will PROBABLY come later. Anyway, I could be wrong but that's my take on the situation.

[tuxvector]

I love these blogs. All they do is fuel, (no pun intended) Right Wing Haltered and Talking Points based on Un-Researched Factoids spewed out by misinformed people. I also hate the excess of the extreme Left, the Hypocrisy factor, the use of Hollywood, and the embrace of some pretty wild philosophies. However Folks, Global Warming is a real issue. One of the earlier Bloggers (posted above) states that this is a normal progression "THE EARTH GOES THRU THIS (PS: use the word "these" and not the word "this") HIGH AND LOWS AND IT IS (it's is a better word also) NORMAL".This isn't a normal progression, one of the Unique features of "Global Warming" is extreme weather events, causing both extremes of high and low temperatures NASA just recently released a report detailing the severity of this Problem. The last time I looked NASA doesn't have a left wing agenda. Maybe Al Gore isn't the greatest spokesman for this cause, especially in light of recent circumstances. With that said, his Argument has been supported by the Scientific Community throughout the World (with the notable exception of American Association of Petroleum Geologists). So to the blooger that I mentioned earlier, keep on getting your dubious information from Fox News, Rush Limbaugh and the Ann Coulter's of the World. I prefer to accept reputable sources of Information like the Royal Society, The Guardian,The American Meteorological Society and the National Geographic Society.

[donnie900]

You want me to comprehend things a violation of my rights. I am an individual.. and not a lawyer. I define myself by my finger points. I define myself, not only by what I want to become, but by the freedom of not having anybody tell me what to become. I am on the open trail.. the new frontier. The frontier of conscience, finally my own..

[dodge413426]

Hey D,DeeDee's:

Al Gore is a Global Hemorrhoid, pokin his business places he doesn't belong. I don't remember electing him chief scare monger, do you? And scared of what? So the planets heating up, so are all the other planets. Are we heating up Mars and Saturn too? What a bunch of frickin morons. Reduce carbon, leave us in peace.

[donnie900]

You? Moviestar? Have been pretending to be somebody else all your life. You don't know what it means to be your own.. Its not even your job.

[jimibear]

"Hi, I'm ALGore.....please join me for the premiere of my next movie, "An Inconvenient Son." LOL

Posted by infidel_us at 01:15 PM : Jul 06, 2007
+ report abuse"

Heh heh. Nice one. "An Inconvenient Youth" would be Dubya's movie, I guess, considering the various shennanigans he supposedly got up to. And "An Inconvenient Coiffe" might be Edwards' film ...

And Giuliani could address his coke-dealing SC campaign chair issue with "An Inconvenient Toot".

Any other ideas?

[donnie900]

The world will take care of itself. Future technologies, free of regulation, will suffice in "cleaning the atmosphere". We're unnaturally evolving..

[infidel_us]

Any other ideas?
Posted by jimibear at 01:49 PM : Jul 06, 2007

I like YOURS better than mine!!!! :) "An Inconvenient Youth"......that's freakin' genius!!!! :)

[tuxvector]

Haltered' whats that!! opps,, I meant "Right Wing Hatered"

[donnie900]

Hydrogen combustion yields no pollutants except water. And it can be just as effective as gasoline, coal, nuclear, and any other technology.. dwarfing them.. the power of the sun itself under my hood.

[random_radar]

We shouldn't be so hard on the rich and famous who worry about global warming. Eliminating them all would make little difference. Its the billions of the teaming masses that add up to a crisis. I'm talking about YOU!

Yes, YOU need to be liquidated along with billions of other ordinary people to stop global warming. YOU need to sign up for elimination so that Al Gore and friends can enjoy a bright future. YOU are the problem Mr. Gore worries about.

Unfortunately, I am too selfish to volunteer to be impoverished and die for the cause. I am so selfish that I plan to live at all costs and oppose efforts to destroy me. I know I should get in the line for being made into fertilizer, but I have too much of an independent streak.

So please let the environmentalists destroy you because they need to reduce the population and I am just not cooperating. We will miss you, I promise, but it is all for the best.

[jimibear]

pghlady:

You're clearly pretty stupid, so this will probably be hard to follow for you, but work with me here:

The reason there is more ice in the sperm whales' breeding grounds is that the ice (due to rising temps) has broken off large existing ice masses and drifted into the areas where the whales breed. Yes, those particular areas of water have ended up colder, but what you are doing is taking something caused by the melting of the ice caps and using it as an example that the melting is not happening.

That is idiotic reasoning. But then, everything about your post, from its content to its syntax and presentation, indicate that you are an idiot.
I would suggest that you help solve the problem of CO2 emissions by stopping breathing at once.

[ubrew12]

brianp55 said: "if you read the scientific papers on the subject, particularly those dealing with ice core data...you would conclude that the current warming trend and an occasional hot week are PROBABLY NOT attributable to man-made atmospheric CO2."

Perhaps. Ice core data can be construed a number of ways. I actually think the scientific bodies are conservatively expressing the problem and, particularly as regards sea level, may be doing the rest of us a diservice.

[donnie900]

I shed myself of both liberal and right wing lunatic chains.. And pass out cold! At the freedom I have from the.. idiots.

[donnie900]

And I tame the bull of apprehensions.. I TAME THE BULL! Fer supper..

I TAME THE BULL! And show the world a real cowboy.. wearing schneakers.

[brianp55]

ubrew:

You could be right. However, most labs soliciting govermental funding for their research would probably find it in their best interest to "overstate" rather than "understate".

[docpeter-2009]

Just so I understand; we are having a world-wide concert to increase awareness of global warming and burning fossil fuels and coal to produce electricity (among other things), yet we will use enough electricity for lighting, cameras, amplifiers, etc. putting on this show(s) to power a small town for a day or two.
Don't get me wrong; I do believe the cause is a worthy cause. I do believe the climate is warming and more people should walk or carpool to work, shopping, etc. I am just wondering if there is a better way of promoting environmental friendly.

[ubrew12]

donnie900 said: "Hydrogen combustion... can be just as effective as gasoline, coal, nuclear, and any other technology... the power of the sun itself under my hood."
I read in the Economist Mag that solar cells will be cost competitive with oil combustion in 5-10 years, that's how rapidly costs are dropping now that mass production techniques are finally being used seriously. When that finally happens, get ready for a revolution in power generation.

[donnie900]

That too is how you can get hydrogen gas from sea water.

[Syndicate]

Nuclear fusion www.iter.org

Solar Pannels www.mrsolar.com

[j-whitman]

Bush is yelling & stomping his feet -- "I want a Scorched Earth Concert & a Victory Parade"