KEY POINTS:
Barely a week has passed since we had the momentous Diana memorial concert, and now it's the turn of former US Vice President cum film star Al Gore's event in aid of saving our precious planet.
Inspired by 2005's Live 8, Al has brought together as many of
his pop and rock star mates as possible and persuaded them to lend their vocal talents in aid of escalating global environment issues.
Live Earth is ambitious by any standard: eight concerts featuring the biggest names in music, across seven continents, playing for a 24-hour period across the globe - all for the cause of global warming.
And like its template - Live 8, the global concert devoted to poverty in Africa - the mission of Live Earth is to affect change. Its aim is to "trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis."
Some of the biggest names in the music industry have signed up to perform at Live Earth, including The Police, Genesis, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bon Jovi and pop's high priestess, Madonna.
In the US, The Police, Kanye West and Bon Jovi will be among the artists at the Giants Stadium in New Jersey. The Smashing Pumpkins, Alicia Keys, Kelly Clarkson, KT Tunstall, Fall Out Boy and Pink Floyd legend Roger Waters will also perform at the US leg.
Music impresario Pharrell Williams will be in Rio de Janeiro, Snoop Dogg and Shakira in Hamburg, Linkin Park and Rihanna in Tokyo, Wolfmother and Jack Johnson in Sydney, Joss Stone and Angelique Kidjo in Johannesburg, and Sarah Brightman in Shanghai.
Also planned are more than 6,000 parties in 119 countries - ranging from home viewings to museum festivals.
Auckland's "Aotearoa Live", a coalition of Kiwi environmental groups is organising a day of action starting at Aotea Square at 2pm on the 7th of July. Groups in Wellington, Christchurch and other regions throughout the country will also be making themselves heard this weekend in aid of Live Earth.
All profits from Live Earth events will go to organisations such as the Alliance for Climate Protection, the Climate Group and Stop Climate Chaos.
For those of you who prefer the hands-off approach, you'll be glad to hear that you can witness the Live Earth event from the comfort of your own home. C4 will be broadcasting the concerts live from 8pm on Saturday, 7 July.
Also tune in to radio station The Edge for live coverage of the concerts in all 8 countries on Saturday and Sunday.
Who's performing where
Live Earth New York
Who's playing: AFI, Akon, Alicia Keys, Bon Jovi, Dave Matthews Band, Fall Out Boy, John Mayer, KT Tunstall, Kanye West, Keith Urban, Kelly Clarkson, Ludacris, Melissa Etheridge, Roger Waters, Smashing Pumpkins, Taking Back Sunday, The Police.
Live Earth London
Who's playing: Beastie Boys, Black Eyed Peas, Bloc Party, Corinne Bailey Rae, Damien Rice, David Gray, Duran Duran, Foo Fighters, Genesis, James Blunt, John Legend, Kasabian, Keane, Madonna, Metallica, Paolo Nutini, Pussycat Dolls, Razorlight, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Snow Patrol, Spinal Tap, Terra Naomi.
Live Earth Sydney
Who's playing: Blue King Brown, Crowded House, Eskimo Joe, Ghostwriters, Jack Johnson, John Butler Trio, Missy Higgins, Paul Kelly, Sneaky Sound System, Toni Collette & The Finish, Wolfmother.
Live Earth Hamburg
Who's playing: Chris Cornell, Enrique Iglesias, Jan Delay, Juli, Katie Melua, Lotto King Karl, Mana, Mando Diao, Michael Mittermeier, Reamonn, Roger Cicero, Sasha, Shakira, Silbermond, Snoop Dogg.
Live Earth Tokyo
Who's playing: AI, Abingdon Boys School, Ai Otsuka, Ayaka, Bonnie Pink, Cocco, Genki Rockets, Kumi Koda, Linkin Park, Michael Nyman, Rihanna, Rip Slyme, Rize, UA, Yellow Magic Orchestra.
Live Earth Johannesburg
Who's playing: Angelique Kidjo, Baaba Maal, Danny K, Joss Stone, The Parlotones, The Soweto Gospel Choir, UB40, Vusi Mahlasela, Zola.
Live Earth Shanghai
Who's playing: 12 Girls Band, Anthony Wong, Eason Chan, Evonne Hsu, Huang Xiao Ming, Sarah Brightman.
Live Earth Rio De Janeiro
Who's playing: Who's playing: Macy Gray, Jorge Ben Jor, Jota Quest, Lenny Kravitz, O Rappa, Marcelo D2, MV Bill, Pharrell Williams, Vanessa Da Matta and Xuxa.
Live Earth Fast Facts
* Live Earth is a 24-hour, 7-continent series of concerts taking place on 7/7/07 that will bring together more than 150 music artists and 2 billion people to trigger a global movement to solve the climate crisis.
* Live Earth will be broadcast on over 120 television networks around the world
* Live Earth concerts will be broadcast to a live worldwide audience by MSN at www.LiveEarth.MSN.com
* Live Earth will be the first music event to implement new Green Event Guidelines: In the bathrooms, recycled towels and toilet paper, biodegradable soaps and earth-friendly cleaning products will be used. Portaloos will have biodegradable detergents, and ceiling fans will be used in place of air-conditioning
* Live Earth will be one of the largest global events in history
