The İstanbul-based Purple Concerts organized the Turkish section of the Live Earth concert series, currently planned to take place simultaneously in nine cities on seven continents on July 7. Purple Concerts co-founder Cengiz-han Yeldan told Today's Zaman in a phone interview that it was true they had been experiencing a number of financial problems, but that they would complete the task undertaken. "The event might be smaller than we initially planned," Yeldan said, adding: "But it is not canceled. The reports that appeared in newspapers today (Thursday) are not based on an official statement. … I would never let such a fiasco happen. We will go ahead with our plans. … We have already put a lot of investment in this task. Even if we do not have any sponsors, we will carry on with what we started and assume the rest of the costs."
Reports published in Turkish newspapers on Thursday claiming the event was canceled stirred a debate about whether Turkey had lost a great chance at self-promotion ahead of İstanbul's turn as a European Cultural Capital in 2010. Also questioned was whether it was a lost opportunity at making its voice heard internationally by hosting the A-list stars involved in this concert, expected to be viewed by some 2 billion viewers worldwide in live broadcasts.
It had actually been apparent for the last few weeks that Purple Concerts was facing problems in organizing the event. Purple Concerts announced in May that the concert would take place at İnönü Stadium and that the lineup would be announced in June. At a press conference on June 12 with concert-architect and former US Vice President Al Gore present, the venue for the Turkey concert was instead announced as the Yedikule Dungeons, with no details on the acts scheduled to take the stage. Also according to previous statements, concert tickets were expected to go on sale on June 18. However, two days after that date there was no word on when and how the tickets would go on sale.
Yeldan said they are now planning to make the İstanbul concert free of charge, joining Brazil, previously the only country hosting the event for free. Meanwhile the new venue for the concert is yet to be confirmed although less than 20 days are left until the concert.
Asked if he could name some of the acts expected to take the stage at the event, Yeldan said he currently did not want to give any names. However Yeldan added that there would be both Turkish and foreign stars as planned. "There are artists who've told us they will come and sing at the event even if they have to sing from a balcony," he said.
Refusing to disclose any more information, Yeldan said official statements would be made at a later date when details of the event become clearer.
Other cities hosting Live Earth concerts are London, New York, Sydney, Shanghai, Tokyo, Johannesburg, Rio de Janeiro and Hamburg. Aimed at increasing awareness on global warming and raising funds to fight against climate change, Live Earth was founded by Kevin Wall, CEO of Control Room -- the company producing the concerts globally. More than 100 of the world's top music acts will take to the stage for the 24-hour concerts which will kick off with in Sydney and wrap up in New York.
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