MUMBAI: Live Earth India, the massive concert promoting environmental awareness to be held in Mumbai on 7 December, has been cancelled due to the terror attacks.
A statement sent out late Friday night by the organisers, including former US vice-president Al Gore, one of the forces behind the venture, said that the event was called off.
The statement said that everyone involved with the concert was “stunned and saddened by the tragic events of the past few days” in which gunmen attacked two hotels and several major sites in Mumbai.
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The statement did not allude to any future event in India or Mumbai.
A statement on the Live Earth website says – ‘Everyone involved with Live Earth India, from our U.S.- and India-based staff, artists and crew to our India-based broadcast, production, non-profit and marketing communications partners, is stunned and saddened by the tragic events of the past few days in our host city Mumbai. We always felt very welcomed and safe as we spent more time on the ground in Mumbai to finalize plans for Live Earth India, scheduled for December 7.
Due to circumstances far beyond our control, we are saddened to announce that Live Earth India has been cancelled. We will continue to work for solutions to the climate crisis for the good of the people of India and around the world. But for now, our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims of this terrible attack, with the bereaved, with the people of Mumbai and with everyone in India.’
The Mumbai concert would have included international performers, including Jon Bon Jovi and Bollywood star Amitabh Bachchan, environmental advocates and celebrities from around the globe. It would have echoed last year’s musical extravaganza, which took place on 7 July 2007. The Live Earth concert spanned four continents and featured 150 acts performing over a 24-hour period.
Gore had said organizers chose India because it was on its way to becoming an economic powerhouse. Live Earth India’s proceeds would have been channeled to charities in the country. Information on getting refunds for tickets already purchased to Live Earth India will be available via liveearth.org next week, according to the Live Earth website.
