Arctic Monkeys Blast Eco 'Hypocrites'
Friday July 06, 2007
Sky News
Live Earth, July 7th 2007 (London, New York, Sydney, Johanannesburg, Hamburg, Shanghai, Tokyo) http://www.liveearth.org/
Top rock bands have boycotted Life Earth concerts saying the artists taking part are hypocrites.
Arctics: 'Who are we to preach?'
Live Earth, organised by former US vice president and green campaigner Al Gore, takes place in seven cities worldwide - London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hamburg, Johannesburg and New York.
The concerts aim to raise global awareness of the dangers of climate warming.
The Artic Monkeys have become the latest band to question the merits of the concerts.
"Since the stage lighting alone would be enough to power 10 houses, it's all very hypocritical," said Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.
"And also consider the long haul flights and the carbon footprint to get rock bands to the concerts," he added.
"Someone asked us to give a quote about what was happening in Sheffield and it's like 'who cares what we think about what's happening'?"
"There's more important people who can have an opinion. Why does it make us have an opinion because we're in a band?"
Other stars who have already turned their backs on the event include The Who singer Roger Daltrey who said "the last thing the planet needs is a rock concert".
And Bob Geldof, the man behind Live Aid and Live8 has said the battle against global warming needed commitment from politicians and polluters not rock stars.
Live Earth organiser Yusef Robb dismissed the criticisms.
"Live Earth is going to bring together a massive audience around the world to take action against the climate crisis," he said.
"Some may say that rock stars tend to be conspicuous consumers, but if we can get those people to turn the corner then we're happy to do so."
news.sky.com
Friday July 06, 2007
Sky News
Live Earth, July 7th 2007 (London, New York, Sydney, Johanannesburg, Hamburg, Shanghai, Tokyo) http://www.liveearth.org/
Top rock bands have boycotted Life Earth concerts saying the artists taking part are hypocrites.

Arctics: 'Who are we to preach?'
Live Earth, organised by former US vice president and green campaigner Al Gore, takes place in seven cities worldwide - London, Sydney, Tokyo, Shanghai, Hamburg, Johannesburg and New York.
The concerts aim to raise global awareness of the dangers of climate warming.
The Artic Monkeys have become the latest band to question the merits of the concerts.
"Since the stage lighting alone would be enough to power 10 houses, it's all very hypocritical," said Arctic Monkeys drummer Matt Helders.
"And also consider the long haul flights and the carbon footprint to get rock bands to the concerts," he added.
"Someone asked us to give a quote about what was happening in Sheffield and it's like 'who cares what we think about what's happening'?"
"There's more important people who can have an opinion. Why does it make us have an opinion because we're in a band?"
Other stars who have already turned their backs on the event include The Who singer Roger Daltrey who said "the last thing the planet needs is a rock concert".
And Bob Geldof, the man behind Live Aid and Live8 has said the battle against global warming needed commitment from politicians and polluters not rock stars.
Live Earth organiser Yusef Robb dismissed the criticisms.
"Live Earth is going to bring together a massive audience around the world to take action against the climate crisis," he said.
"Some may say that rock stars tend to be conspicuous consumers, but if we can get those people to turn the corner then we're happy to do so."
news.sky.com