Brazilian judge Maria Paula Gouvêa Carvalho, from the 4th Court of Public Treasure in Rio de Janeiro, overturned Thursday, July 5, a preliminary order issued by another judge, which prevented the presentation of the Live Earth, on Copacabana Beach this Saturday, July 7.
Accordingly, the Military Police reviewed their strategy to guarantee safety to spectators of the international show as well as of a Gospel show that will be presented the same day in Rio.
According to Rio's Public Prosecutor's Office the military police's command had informed, in a letter, that they would not have the necessary manpower to guarantee the public's safety. The prosecutor also argued that the police are in charge as well of preventing drug use during the show and controlling the sale of alcohol so minors cannot get it.
Denise Tarin, the city's environment prosecutor, has already announced that she will file a suit against the show organizers demanding from them compensation for the environmental damage caused by the music show. Any money collected in the suit will be reverted to the Environment's National Fund.
Tarin mentions the close to one 1 million people who are being expected for the free music extravaganza to justify her action. "The magnitude of the impact," she said, "is proportional to the presence of 700,000 people expected in Copacabana beach for the event."
Associations of Copacabana's residents have also joined the prosecutor claiming "disrespect for the residents' quality of life."
The prosecutor accuses Rio City Hall of violating a city resolution and a state decree which determine that the Police have to be informed about any public event where police security is needed eight days before the event takes place. In this case, the prosecutor says, authorities were notified only July 3, four days before the show.
The company organizing the event, however, presented documentation showing that the police had been told about the show on June 11, 26 days before the music show.
The prosecution also points to what they see as a contradiction of the Live Earth organization, calling attention for global warming while at the same time causing a very negative impact to Rio's environment.
Live Earth Communiqué
Live Earth Communications Director Kristina Schake issued the following statement:
"Live Earth Rio de Janeiro on Copacabana Beach will go forward as planned. Earlier this week approval for the concert was withheld by local authorities who wished to review local security capabilities. We met with authorities and addressed their concerns, and the concert will continue as planned.
"We are thrilled that Brazil will be a part of this monumental global event and that Latin America will help drive Live Earth's message about working together to combat the climate crisis. Rio is the only concert that is free and open to the public, and one of Live Earth's enduring images will be of the hundreds of thousands of people on Copacabana Beach being a part of Live Earth's global movement."
The 24-hour Live Earth concert series will begin in Sydney, Australia on July 7, 2007 and continue across all seven continents with events in Tokyo, Japan; Shanghai, China; Johannesburg, South Africa; London, United Kingdom; Hamburg, Germany; and Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, before concluding in New York City, United States.Â
Live Earth marks the beginning of a multi-year campaign led by the Alliance for Climate Protection and other international NGOS to move individuals, corporations and governments to take action to solve global warming. Former Vice President of the United States Al Gore is the Chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and a partner of Live Earth.
The following statement was issued by Mondo Entertainment, the local Live Earth promoter in Rio:
"The Military Police feel that they can guarantee the security of the show. The Military Police will guarantee the security of all the sites in Rio with the same efficiency that is required for all events."
"Mondo Entertainment/Live Earth thanks the press and the public for helping to spread the important message of the Live Earth concerts."
