Originally published by the Voice of America (www.voanews.com). Voice of America is funded by the US Federal Government and content it exclusively produces is in the public domain. July 7, 2007 Global Concerts Being Performed to Raise Attention to Climate Change -------------------------------------------------------------------- http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=1811CA1:A6F02AD83191E16096F73F294CFAFBE09574F7DCC14957C0 Concert planned for Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro back on after concert organizers reassured Brazilian authorities about security concerns The Live Earth stage is seen on Copacabana beach in Rio de Janeiro, 6 Jul 2007 Thousands of concert goers braved gray skies in Shanghai and rain in Hamburg as the 24-hour "Live Earth" concert followed the sun westward around the world. The daylong "Live Earth" concerts opened with former U.S. Vice President Al Gore delivering greetings to the Sydney audience by video, then he appeared as a hologram (a computer-generated image) to the Tokyo concert-goers. The London leg of the concert was to include live video of the band "Nunatak" performing from Antarctica. The band members are scientists with the British Antarctic Survey. The "Live Earth" concert planned for Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro is back on after concert organizers reassured Brazilian authorities about security concerns. The free concert is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of people to the beach. Organizers say they hope their message about climate change will reach two billion people - those attending the concerts and others taking part through radio, television and the Internet. More than 150 of the world's most popular musical acts will perform in concerts scattered across in seven continents. The performers include Shakira, the Black-Eyed Peas, Yusuf Islam - the British musician and singer originally known as Cat Stevens - Metallica, Madonna and the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Gore says he hopes the concerts will jump-start "an unprecedented and sustained global movement" against climate change. He has become one of the world's most visible activists campaigning for action to stop global warming. The "Live Earth" concerts also have drawn some criticism from some who say that flying celebrities - many of whom are accustomed to luxurious lifestyles - all around the globe is more likely to result in a net increase in global warming. Some information for this report was provided by AP.