Can Elton John and Jon Bon Jovi save the world from global catastrophe? Al Gore thinks so.
The former vice president is starting a 24-hour telethon of sorts Friday afternoon, called “24 Hours of Reality and Live Earth: The World is Watching.” Its focus: to raise awareness about climate change ahead of the Nov. 30-Dec. 11 United Nations conference on climate change where President Obama wants to sign a global deal on cutting greenhouse gas emissions.
Gore, a long-time global warming activist, is raising the specter of danger to drive concern, given his past attempts at raising awareness with the documentary “An Inconvenient Truth.” The U.N. “climate talks can be a breakthrough moment to change the dangerous course we’ve set for our planet,” Gore said. “We want the world’s leaders to know the world is watching, and it’s time for them to act.”
Its also a perfect fundraising opportunity for Gore’s activist group Climate Reality Project, which is organizing the event. “Help us educate the public and power a global grassroots network devoted to solving the climate crisis,” the event’s website reads after clicking the donate tab.
The show runs from noon Friday until midday Saturday. The opening will take place with Gore under the Eiffel Tower in Paris, before launching into musical acts from decades past, such as Bon Jovi, Neil Young, Elton John and Duran Duran. But it also has some newer faces, including the likes of Hozier, Pharrell, Fall Out Boy and various up-and-comers.
In between the musical acts, activists, actors and former government officials will speak about the threat of climate change. All the segments will streamed over the Internet via the Climate Reality Project and offered by Verizon Fios. Gore’s group will even send details on hosting watch parties.
“You can use the watch party as a way to speak out as a collective voice to world leaders to call for a strong agreement in Paris,” the group said. The performances will take place in Paris and various other cities around the world.
