grodscorp@grods.comLive Earth a waste of time
 | Posted by John Surname on Thursday 24 May 2007, 6:19 pm Categories: Baiting Bolta, Environment, Music, Politics |
Like most people in Australia, I believe global warming poses one of the most serious risks to human kind, even bigger than illegal-immigrant-terrorist-Muslim-Lebanese-rapists taking westerner’s rightful jobs.
So how do the global warming big-wigs intend to raise even more awareness?
By holding a concert, of course. Not just one either, but a whole bunch. Ten in fact, which is two more than G8 and nine more than the Random Brainwave benefit concerts which raised $20 and a parrot.
Now, I’m a little skeptical about the benefits of a concert. Let me tell you why:
- Carbon emissions. Concerts are notoriously bad for the environment. Mega-concerts are even worse. The Wembley concert is predicted to pump 3000 tonnes of carbon emissions into the air. That is just silly. Instead, why don’t they just build carbon pumping factories, which are far more efficient. Best of all, they save us from having to hear Bloc Party. Where the fuck is their “K” anyway?
- Do-gooder musicians. I wasn’t interested even slightly in the G8 concerts. “Raising awareness”? Who are they kidding? It’s just an excuse for a bunch of musicians to get together, headline concerts that will be seen by billions of people the world over, and reap the benefits they receive from all the media exposure.
- Private jets. All these musicians will be taking private jets. A little hypocritical, dontcha think? But it would be silly to let them to fly with the rabble.
- Shoddy aims. What exactly do these concerts hope to achieve? We already know global warming is happening. There is a small smattering of small-minded critics, but I doubt Madonna is going to sway them (without showing them her breasts anyway). Again, it seems to be an excuse for musicians to raise their profile by making it look like they “care”. Aww, how sweet.
- Coldplay. Enough said.
Their heart is in the right place, but so what? There are a million better ways to spend the money that these concerts are going to cost, and without the creation of ridiculous amounts of carbon emissions. Taping Andrew Bolt’s mouth shut, for instance. His mouth is one major contributor of carbon emissions in Australia.
GrodsThink Ep.31 (16/9/08)
Thursday 24 May 2007, 6:53 pm #Steve D
I hate celebrities that politicise. Especially musicians who hold up their concerts to tell everyone that they’re evil for some stupid reason (which tends to apply to them as well). Come to think of it, I hate anyone who does that.
Bolt is a writer (as opposed to a speaker). However, burning his writings will emit more carbon dioxide than leaving him be, so it’s a bit of a tough call there.
Thursday 24 May 2007, 11:10 pm #Mikey
It’s not aimed at the people. It’s aimed at politicians and governmental figures. It enables them to ‘respond to the people’ thanks to the publicity of the concerns and therefore make normally unpalatable changes - like massive electricity bill spikes - palatable.
Case example: Concerts against poverty which resulted in a signficant increase in western targetted aid to the 3rd world and debt relief.
Thursday 24 May 2007, 11:44 pm #John Surname
The Aid concerts actually had people donating money, though, whereas this concert (like G8) is just about raising awareness - and how successful was G8? I understand your point, but it doesn’t change my cynicism about the various music acts doing it for personal gain. who benefited most from G8 - people in poverty or Bono?
Thursday 24 May 2007, 11:47 pm #Bob
Concerts are just pragmatic ways to getting a celebrity obsessed, attention span deficit society of the world around them.
Thursday 24 May 2007, 11:48 pm #Bob
***Concerts are just pragmatic ways to getting a celebrity obsessed, attention span deficit society to be aware of the world around them.
Friday 25 May 2007, 12:42 pm #Anthony_
Well said Editor.
Friday 25 May 2007, 12:53 pm #The Editor
Gotta give props to John Surname on this one, Anthony. He said it well.
I agree with Mikey’s points to a certain degree but I’ve got to admit I see the negative wank factor well outweighing the benefit when it comes to these concerts.
Friday 25 May 2007, 12:59 pm #Anthony_
Ahh what you get for skimming and not reading the header, ok then well said John… ;)
Friday 25 May 2007, 1:02 pm #John Surname
Thank you Anthony!
Friday 25 May 2007, 6:42 pm #Strider
What’s wrong with Andrew Bolt? His whinging colleague Jill Singer deserves to have her mouth taped up far more.
Saturday 2 June 2007, 12:32 pm #Greeny
These concerts are about as hard hitting as Pangea’s ‘racism sucks’. No shit, and chicks should have a vote too!
Thursday 5 July 2007, 6:34 pm #GrodsCorp » Live Earth coming: Monkeys not impressed
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