Thousands of South Africans set to attend Live Earth Concert part of 24-hour, seven continent concert series to combat Global Warming. For the millions of Africans who live in makeshift shacks and struggle to feed their families, global warming may not seem like a top priority. But pop stars performing at the Johannesburg leg of the Live Earth concerts said on Friday (July 6) Africa could end up suffering most from climate change and pleaded with the world to help protect the poorest continent by doing their bit for the environment. Singer and songwriter Angelique Kidjo of Benin told followers of a a fashion of cynicism to "Get your butt out there and do something. Don't tell me what I got to do. I mean, before I'm a musician, I'm a citizen of this world, and I need this planet to be safe enough for me and my child. I need my child to have a future, bright future, and if we don't do something today, all those cynical people when the earth starts wiping everybody out, and another Tsunami coming,...his ass, is going to be on that wave walking there out...." Speaking about global warming UB40's Astro said: "There's no country that is immune from this problem, and it's only going to be worse if nobody does anything about it, and so we are here to lend our support, it's a worthwhile cause." UB40's Robin Campbell said: "What we are here for is to get you attention, if we get your attention then, hopefully we get the world's attention 2.5 billion people, it might make a difference, that's what we are here for, we hope to make a difference." One of the event organisers, Eilif Bial said: "First of all, I want to point out that this is not just another rock concert, this is the kick-off to a long term large scale environmental campaign. This is the energy, the spark to begin a mass movement." Global warming has already begun to bite in Africa as the effects of extreme weather such as cyclones and droughts prompt poor, rural Africans to move to cities in an often chaotic wave of urbanisation, officials say. The line-up for the Johannesburg show -- which along with other concerts around the world aims to raise awareness about climate change -- includes Kidjo, British soul singer Joss Stone, perennial reggae-pop bank UB40 and a host of local acts. The concerts are modelled on the Live Aid famine relief gigs of 1985 and Live 8 anti-poverty concerts in 2005, which catapulted Africa and its woes into the global spotlight. The stars insisted global warming was just as relevant for the continent.
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Added: Apr 12, 2008 |
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| Copyright: GRAPHIC / REUTERS |