Rio's Live Earth Concert Goes Forward
More than 400,000 people packed Copacabana Beach on Saturday for South America's Live Earth concert, waving Brazilian flags and dancing at the global music festival's only free concert to raise awareness about climate change.
"By being here today, you have begun a nonviolent revolution to make the world a better place," singer Macy Gray said to cheers from the crowd, before thanking them in English and Portuguese.
There were no immediate reports of violence after a prosecutor tried twice this week to shut down the event, saying authorities would be unable to provide adequate security for an expected crowd of 700,000, police Col. Ricardo Pacheco said.
Luciana Fernandes said the concert was important to raise awareness about global warming.
"It's to show that all of Brazil is supporting this cause against global warming," the 24-year-old Web page designer said. "Music is a language that attracts the attention of everyone."
Photos: Live Earth Around The World
Fabiano de Azevedo, 17, said people who do not know much about the issue could be inspired to care about it.
"People have to pay attention to the show," he said. "And they will learn about the problems with the climate."
One of the biggest cheers from the crowd, however, came when an announcer broke the news that Rio's statue of Christ the Redeemer was chosen as one of the new seven wonders of the world.
"It makes us all so happy," 36-year-old Patricia Polanca said. "There's nothing better than to announce it at an event like this. This will be a boost for Rio and for Brazil."
Angela Maria Genasio, a retired civil servant, said she voted for the statue Friday.
"Rio deserves it," she said. "What's ours is ours and nobody can take it away."Photos: Live Earth In London
The global concert series promoted by former U.S. Vice President Al Gore kicked off in Sydney, and were held in all seven continents.
The Rio event was the only free concert for Live Earth, founded by Emmy-winning concert producer Kevin Wall. Proceeds from the other shows will go toward the Alliance for Climate Protection, a nonprofit organization chaired by Gore.
By Peter Muello