Mumbai (IANS): Live Earth India, a mega musical concert featuring western and Indian musicians, including Bon Jovi and Anoushka Shankar, scheduled here for Dec 7, has been called off after the terror attacks in the county's financial and entertainment capital.
A statement issued by the Live Earth founder Kevin Hall said the show had to be called off because of “circumstances beyond our control".
The concert at the Andheri Sports Complex was to promote "Light a Billion Lives" campaign - a project to light up India's villages with solar energy.
“But for now, our thoughts and our prayers are with the victims of this terrible attack,” the statement said.
Billed as one of the largest green events across the globe, the show founded by Emmy winning producer Kevin Hall in partnership with former US vice-president Al Gore, Live Earth was built on the belief that entertainment has the power to transcend social and cultural barriers to move the world and the community.
This year's show featured a host of big names like musicians Jon Bon Jovi, Anoushka Shankar, Roger Waters, will.i.am and Bollywood stars like Aishwarya Rai, Hrithik Roshan and Live Earth spokesperson and superstar Amitabh Bachchan on the list of global superstars.
The tickets had been sold out.
“Logistics problems apart, the cancellation will have an psychological impact on spirit of the movement,” said a Live Earth official.
Last year, individuals, organisations and communities demonstrated their support for Live Earth by hosting 10,413 events in 132 countries around the world.
Friends of Live Earth reached out to nearly two billion people who were involved in some way to “7.07.07” concerts.
There are many reasons why Live Earth 2008 was focusing on India. Not only is India the most populous country in the world - but it is also one of the fastest growing economies.
The country's rapid industrialisation and extreme weather conditions put it at the forefront of the battle to overcome the climate crisis, sources at Live Earth said.
Scores of young music lovers in Mumbai are disappointed.
“The cancellation has let us down. I eat, live and breathe music and was looking forward to the concert. It is a pride for the youth to be associated with such prestigious green campaigns,” Mumbai-based Guarav Gupta, an advertising professional, told IANS.
Gupta was involved with the "Batti Bandh" campaign - a youth movement to raise awareness about environment and energy conservation - in Mumbai last year.
“It is no point saying the spirit of Mumbai has been hit. The strikes are a bigger call to the country to tackle internal security,” he said.
Mumbai, said Gupta, was suffering from a terror fatigue. “The people have realised that we are safe nowhere. The spirit now is 'jo hoga, dekha jayega (we are ready, let it happen)'. For two days, I could not step out. It is better to go out and have fun."
Perhaps, music could have helped fear-hardened Mumbai to ride the storm.
