Asian stars for Live Earth's Shanghai show

SHANGHAI - Shanghai will host a line-up of mainly Asian stars for next month's Live Earth concert aimed at promoting awareness about climate change, promoters said Tuesday.

China's financial hub will be among nine cities hosting the 24-hour global relay of concerts on July 7.

The brainchild of former US vice president Al Gore, concerts will also be held in Sydney, Tokyo, Istanbul, Johannesburg, Hamburg, London, Rio de Janeiro and New York.

In Shanghai, mainland Chinese, Hong Kong and Taiwanese stars will entertain the audience, such as Canto-pop favourites Eason Chan and Joey Yung, and the all-female violin troop, the 12 Girls Band.

The only major international act listed to perform in Shanghai is Sarah Brightman.

Madonna, Linkin Park, the Black Eyed Peas, Bon Jovi, and the Red Hot Chili Peppers are among the music giants signed up for the other eight cities.

Organisers hope the concerts will raise awareness of climate change just as the 1985 Live Aid concerts raised awareness of starvation in Africa.

They aim to reach over two billion people on television, radio and the Internet.

"The climate crisis affects us all, Live Earth is about uniting all of us to be a part of the solution," said Gore in a videotaped message to reporters in Shanghai.