Live Earth Brazil cancelled

2007-07-05 16:12

Los Angeles - The Live Earth concert in Brazil has been cancelled over crowd safety fears.

A judge ruled there would not be enough police officers to cope with the anticipated 700 000 people expected to attend the event on Saturday on Rio's Copacabana Beach.

Prosecutor Denise Tarin 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."

However, concert organisers are trying to overturn the ban as they don't want Latin America to be left out of the worldwide event being held to raise awareness of global warming.

Spokesperson Vanessa Vascouto said: "We're negotiating, and expect to reverse the decision."

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 also will perform in Antarctica. - Bang Showbiz.com

- Bang