Literally a large fire- as in those set to burn the jungles down, deforest and heat our planet.
I love the idea of Live Earth, tomorrow's globe-spanning, multi-city concert event where rich jetset musicians- some of whom are probably not even registered to vote- will tell us how the planet is in peril due to global warming and other ravages that are largely our fault.
Well, these ravages ARE largely our fault, but that's not the point here.
I see events like Live Earth as summer parties for the converted. Perhaps the overriding message will convince the apathetic in some nations, including ours, to register and vote next year. And that could have some effect sometime down the line, but only in a few nations that contribute to global warming but also have at least somewhat honest political systems.
But that's a hypothetical. Ready for reality?
Yet as has been often shown, funds raised from such events are like a piss in a large bucket. They never seem to have a lasting effect on socioeconomic or political conditions that help create the crises that these events seek to draw reference to or help lighten.
So if we look at Live Earth realistically, we have to ask if songs by John Mayer, Kanye West, Dave Matthews, Madonna, Joss Stone, John Legend, will:
Be heard by Asian billionaires whose desire for teak from Indonesia is causing the Sumatran rain forest to disappear?
Be heard by illegal whale hunters?
Be heard by politicians who turn a deaf ear- but an open hand- to companies who pollute the air?
Be heard by the gangs of mercenary poachers hired to kill elephants for their tusks and gorillas for their hands?
Be heard by underpaid game wardens as they reach out to accept bribes from some of these same poachers?
Be heard by men who would chastize or in some places, even beat their wives if they discovered contraception? Contraception that could reduce family sizes and overpopulated burdens on the planet?
Be heard by developers trying to find a way to drain swamps and wetlands for tract housing?
Be heard by YOU? YOU who may well burn gasoline this weekend on a trip to the shopping center to buy more STUFF YOU DON'T NEED?
I strongly doubt all the above.
The only thing that will change this situation is if incorruptible forces with worldwide reach make even the smallest violation of this planet a truly great shame with major consequences. For that to happen everything about the only Earth we have needs to be as globally revered as those forces who billions believe created this Earth are revered.
Given our nature as greedy, superstitious, acquisitive beings, that's going to require quite a transformation.
A transformation far more extensive than any song, or songs, is capable of delivering.