Compiled by Kathy McCabe
SCIENTISTS, environmental experts and concerned citizens have battled to be heard about climate change for decades.
And, as it has been since the advent of rock'n'roll, musicians and their fellow entertainers have rallied to educate and motivate their audiences.
So how green are the musicians throwing their weight behind the Live Earth concerts and ongoing Alliance For Climate Protection?
We asked some of the performers fronting the Aussie Stadium event to reveal their efforts to become carbon neutral, or to share why they felt compelled to stand up and be counted at Live Earth.
The questions
1. When did you last use public transport?
2. Besides recycling your bottles and papers, how else is your household green?
3. How do you rate the environment and climate change as a major global issue?
4. What is your favourite green anthem and if you don't have one, what song do you think could easily be adapted as the theme of climate change?
5. How green are your tours?
WOLFMOTHER'S CHRIS ROSS
1. I love getting around on my pushbike too. The last time I used public transport was probably a week ago on the London tube.
2. I try to take my own bags and select items that don't have excessive packaging. We bought an extra length of hose so we can run our washing machine grey water into the garden. Use public transport whenever possible, plus my kids find it more exciting. I've been vegetarian for nearly 15 years.
3. Climate change is the major global issue. If we don't start trying to fix this problem then it's going to create a lot more problems on a scale the human race has never really seen before. Check out http://vbs.tv for interesting documentaries.
4. I loved listening to my brothers' Midnight Oil records when I was growing up, which I think really triggered my interest in environmental issues. Check out the Red Sails In The Sunset and 10, 9, 8, 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 albums.
5. Unfortunately, not as green as they could be. Most of America is not really equipped for recycling. We tour with 12 people on a bus which has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than the alternative. It's ironic that if we were touring on a larger scale we would be in a position where we could request venues be greener.
MISSY HIGGINS
1. I caught the tram today.
2. We've switched our electricity and gas to green power, recently we changed all our light bulbs to energy efficient ones and we water the garden with our excess shower water.
3. There's no denying that climate change is a massive issue. So much so that I think it's hard for a lot of people to get their heads around. There's no quick fix; improving the health of our environment is a slow and thoughtful process, the results of which will be hard for us to notice on a daily basis. But it's achievable. Islanders are losing their homes, farmers' livestock are dying, species are becoming extinct and some countries are sunbaking in winter. If that's not scary I don't know what is.
4. Kermit The Frog's It Ain't Easy Bein' Green. What an anthem.
5. All our tours are climate neutral, which means that we offset all of our carbon emissions through a carbon credit fund. The fund we use, Climate Friendly, purchases renewable energy from resources like wind farms on our behalf and effectively puts the exact amount of energy back into the grid as we would use on a tour. This essentially "covers up" our environmental footprint which - although it would be better to not make one in the first place - is the best we can think of doing for now.
BLUE KING BROWN'S CARLO SANTONE
1. A few days ago. In general we like to live in the areas where we spend most of our time, close to everything we need to minimise the need to use our car.
2. We've switched our mains power to a renewable energy source, switching off appliances at wall, composting, we have a gravity fed rainwater tank supplying all household water, re-use grey water on gardens etc.
3. Climate change isn't just something on the horizon, it's here and now. This can especially be noted in the South Pacific where islands such as Tuvalu, Kiribiti, and other low-lying atolls are under the most immediate threat of climate change. People from these areas are dealing with the real situation that is the possible loss of their lands and are having to consider what on earth they're going to do when their home disappears under the ocean.
According to the Stern Report 150 to 200 million people will be displaced by 2050 because of climate change. We need to urge our government to increase their refugee intake to accommodate for this and to work closely with these islands to give effective and efficient help, starting now.
4. Perhaps Louis Armstrong's What A Wonderful World.
5. We're actively looking into green touring for future tours where a percentage of tour income is invested into carbon emission offsetting. It's an exciting time as not just bands but everyone is realising there's more we can be doing to combat climate change and it is our individual responsibility to do so.
TONI COLLETTE
1. Two weeks ago on a ferry.
2. I drive a hybrid car and car pool whenever possible. I buy 100 per cent green energy and offset my flights. I turn appliances off at the power point when not in use. I use some tank water and use energy efficient bulbs.
3. It's the issue. Nothing else will matter if this is not dealt with.
4. This is not a song and does encompass more than just climate change but I recommend The Paradox Of Our Times by His Holiness the Dalai Lama.
5. We're learning. I've been aware of these issues for the better part of 10 years so conservation is something I try to honour, no matter whatI'm doing.
GHOSTWRITERS' ROB HIRST
1. I catch the Manly ferry, when it's running.
2. My house is consumed by jungle plants which keeps it cool.
3. It sure places a new perspective on putting the bottles and papers out on the wrong night.
4. The Green Green Grass Of Home was clearly a stoner anthem of the '70s but could become a modern carbon footprint dance floor hit.
5. I beg your pardon?
SNEAKY SOUND SYSTEM'S BLACK ANGUS
1. To be honest, it ain't easy to use trains or buses where I live but I do walk whenever possible and spend a lot of time with seven other people in a Tarago hired from a carbon neutral company.
2. I use environment friendly light bulbs, very little water, not much meat.
3. It is impossible to pretend this problem is going away and one of the big issues is most people don't understand what they can do to truly make a difference. I hope Live Earth gets the message out there loud and clear that every one of us is part of the solution.
4. What about I Don't Ever Want To Lose You by Sneaky Sound System. It can be our ode to the Earth.
5. Very light green at the moment. We catch a lot of planes and use lots of equipment so we are entering into a carbon trading scheme in a attempt to neutralise our impact. Our next tour will be a lovely emerald green one.
PAUL KELLY
It seems governments these days are in thrall to the idea growth is good. As citizens we are encouraged constantly to produce and consume more stuff. The more stuff we use the harder we have to work. And work is over-rated.
Many people, it seems, see drought and climate change as one and the same thing. Living sustainably is a good idea anyway. Recycling, buying less, fixing things and using less energy electricity, gas, water, petrol, etc every day is within our power. It's cheap, easy to do, a sign of respect for the land and an insurance for the future of our children.
Last edited by Donny on Sun Jul 08, 2007 4:13 pm; edited 2 times in total
_________________
We're all in this together.
The Beastie Boys go green
The Black Eyed Peas pump up the volume
Shakira and Snoop Dog
Babaa Mal
The Soweto Gospel Choir
Blue King Brown opened the show.
Paul Kelly