Brazil Live Earth Turned Back On

Fri, 06 July 2007 12:00:00 ET

Brazil Live Earth Turned Back On The Live Earth concert in Brazil is now back on after a judge overturned a decision to cancel it because of crowd safety fears. Organisers of the Rio de Janeiro event persuaded the judge that they had enough police and security measures in place to cope with the 700,000 people expected to attend tomorrow's (07.07.07) concert on Copacabana Beach.

A Live Earth spokeswoman said: "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."

Prosecutor Denise Tarin originally claimed the police were too busy preparing for the Pan American Games, which are being held in the city from July 13 to July 29, and tackling drug gangs in the slums of Rio. Tarin said: "It's too risky to hold a show for 700,000 people on the eve of the Pan American games and at a time when police are engaged in frequent battles over drugs."

The Rio line-up includes Pharrell Williams, Macy Gray and Lenny Kravitz and it is the only Live Earth event - organised to highlight climate change - that is free to attend.

Former US Vice President Al Gore has helped promote the Live Earth concerts which are scheduled for London, Tokyo, Johannesburg, South Africa, Shanghai, Sydney, Hamburg, and New York. A band of scientists will also perform songs in Antarctica.