Live Earth's impact heard around the world

'We want to be healthier'
But that did not stop criticism of the event from many who asked why rock stars — with their jet-setting, high-consumption lifestyles — should be asking others to be more environmentally friendly. Others questioned how a concert without a clear-cut goal such as raising money could be effective.

Many of the musicians acknowledged that they were not rock stars when it came to the environment, but said it was important to start a discussion about climate change.

“If you want to peg me as not being entirely eco-friendly, you’ll win,” said John Mayer, speaking to reporters after his set. “We’re just getting together saying ‘We want to be healthier.”’

Rocker Dave Matthews said he tries to go green by driving a hybrid vehicle that uses less gasoline than other vehicles and uses cloth diapers for his new baby.

But Matthews admitted he wasn’t perfect.

“I’m flawed. Cows fart and so do I,” he said, referring to methane gas released by cows that also contributes to global warming.

NBC video Musical call to arms July 7: Can an around-the-world musical concert compel people to take concrete action in fighting global warming? NBC’s Ron Allen reports. Nightly News

At other venues around the globe, aboriginal dancers opened the first concert in Sydney, Latin artist Shakira shook her hips in front of a crowd at Hamburg, and Linkin Park entertained fans at a Tokyo concert.

About more than music
On Rio’s Copacabana Beach, about 400,000 people gathered as the sun set to hear Lenny Kravitz, Macy Gray, Pharrell Williams and Brazilian superstar Jorge Ben Jor. And in Johannesburg, the concert ended with the artists and audience clapping out SOS in morse code — a reference to the evening’s theme of answering the call to save the planet.

At the New Jersey concert, the crowd was dotted with people who heeded the call to wear green. Many said they were already taking steps at home to lead a little more green lifestyle, and felt the concert wasn’t just about music.

“It’s cool that whole continents are meeting up. We’re all tied to one another,” said Katie Juron, 24, of Warwick, N.Y. “Everyone is interconnected.”

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