don't shoot the messenger

*long entry*

I have to emphasise my enormous amount of hate for the LIVE EARTH promotional video that Channel 5 was airing a couple of weeks leading to 07.07.2007.

Basically it showed a mix of female (who are "naked" - well, we're shown their naked shoulders so what's that supposed to imply?) and male (completely dressed) "celebrities" (u call that host of spell cast a celebrity, not that there is anything inherently wrong with him) making "green statements" that "need your attention".

Things like "they're not exaggerating" or "if you don't do something, who will?" - gives me the goosebumps - actually i think its the way they say it PLUS their facial expressions combined. they speak with such fervour that i find it almost repugnant enough to contribute to alot of global warming by dumping all those plastic bags in the garbage.

But i will not.

The same thing when An Inconvenient Truth, a documentary by Al Gore, highlighted climate crisis and eventually teamed up with Kevin Wall (the same producer who did Live8) to stage Live Earth - received much flak from critics and skeptics.

Critics - including Live8 founder and humanitarian Bob Geldorf - criticised the documentary and the giant-scale concerts as "political" in nature (although Mr Gore maintained that he wouldnt run for presidency) and are mere acts of his political strategy. Bob Geldorf was "furious" when he heard about Live Earth, calling it a "replica" of Live 8 just without the "purpose" - and of course, Mr Gore's choice of name, Live Earth, is seen as one that's riding on Live 8's fame.

I actually did watch 85% of Live Earth - but slept for about 15% - didn't miss much. I get to see keane, rhcp, madonna, the whole sydney, some enrique, some shakira, some BEP, razorlight, smashing pumpkins, metallica etc etc. i did miss john mayer and damien rice though - but i caught the act online.

I was bombarded with heaps and heaps of information. things like what i could do at home to save electricity. something simple like using Energy-Saving lightbulbs - well that's something my house has been doing for the past 10 years at least. things like pluggin out your charger cos they still drain energy.

i was even more determined to live a greener life after Live Earth. Not because Madonna pranced and danced like a 20-year-old. Not because RHCP sang and danced like 20-year-olds. Not because Keane or Damien Rice or John Mayer asked us to remember why we're watching the show.

I feel the show definitely created awareness - it is important to show the world what is going on like in the coal-mining industries amongst others that are contributing to global warming yet nations couldn't do without because thousands of lives depend on it for livelihood.

the dilemma is one decision that politicians and rulers of countries have to face and solve - but often neglected.

yet, as individuals, there are little things that we can do - through little actions of ours in our daily lives. so you saw tobey maguire replaced his old kitchen towels with one made of recycled paper and jennifer garner using reusable coffee filter and ben affleck picking out discarded soft-drink cans from a garbage bin and dumping them in a recycling bin.

and then critics condemned their "celebrity" ways because they jet around in private planes which consumes an enormous amount of fuel which inadvertently emits an obscene amount of CO gases into the atmosphere - contributing to the rise in sea level - because the earth becomes warmer.

when Leonardo DiCaprio stood up for Al Gore and said something (can't remember what) about wanting to make a film about global warming - journalists and media asked if he came for the event via his private jet.

he of course got agitated and even more so when the journo asked him if he felt it was hypocritical of celebrities proclaiming to go GREEN when their lifestyle and habits are in conflict with what they say.

to which he replied something (and i can't remember what) - and also "DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER".

i didn't agree at first - but after Live Earth, i actually do.

The concerts might be an avenue for "dying" artists who see this chance as one that will propel them to fame considering the whole world will tune in to watch. And especially for old bands - sad to say - my favourite band, Smashing Pumpkins.

They recently reunited - if you have not heard of - Live Earth is one of their first few performances as the reunited Smashing Pumpkins. And i was elated to watch. :D

Unfortunately i can't help but think and feel (and kinda know) that Live Earth was a platform for them to "announce their reunion" as well as to "seek publicity" and also one avenue for them to showcase their music to the "new generation".

The same went for Live Aid when many "dying" bands revived after Live Aid, and Bono's album sales went a notch up after the performances.

Before you go - gross, all these hypocrites - think before you judge.

As much as the performers, the organisers, the sponsors etc has a different and often hidden agenda, other than that explicitly said of - in this case, climate crisis awareness - the message did get out. And i'm sure a million other people benefitted from the funny, witty and often hilarious recycling short films and the "Answer The Call" messages on how we can make "green" a part of our daily lives.

All i want to say is as much as you feel (or I feel) the ads are gross, mediacorp's green logo is gross, al gore is so gonna run for presidency when the time comes, and di caprio just wants publicity and rhcp is dying for the extra fame (though they really dont need it, i reckon) - don't let all these cloud your judgment and let the message slip through the fingers.

being critical and being aware of all these, puts us in a position where we can objectively choose what goes into our ears and brains. to let all these messages & information affect your judgment and your behaviour and action is to do your intellect a huge dishonour.

Aristotle said "It is the mark of an educated mind to be able to entertain a thought without accepting it."

Recycling is a habit.

Everyone should make it a habit of their own. I don't even have a green shirt or even a green underwear.

But i am a greener person than those who proclaim and "encouraged" people to wear green to support Live Earth.

*Angry Expletives-Driven Nonsensical Rant* [Fuck lah, wear green means you're environmentally friendly? You're only nice to your mother on mother's day lah?] *had to get it out of the system for underneath all these supposedly fluency of english, i'm really a vulgar ah lian]* so you can actually ignore this part.

I decline plastic bags when i buy stuff from provision shops downstairs and 7-11. Once i bought a bottle of coke and the shopkeeper gave me a plastic bag to which i declined and he gave me a 10cents discount.

and almost 100% of the time, they ask me why and i said, save plastic bags, "huan bao".

they might not understand the true meaning of it - but at least they have encounters with someone who recycles.

Now i will remember to plug out my charger and try my best to use recycled items (even if they're more expensive) and continue my recycling efforts.

DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER.

it basically means - don't chastise the carrier of the message and focus on the message alone - if you didnt already know.

ANSWER THE CALL.

Haha - that was a sarcastic and sartorial take on the Live Earth message.

I'm not shooting at the messenger.

I'm laughing at them.