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SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2009
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9

U2 Tour Not So Eco-Friendly

No word from Bono on whether or not he's offsetting his emissions

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(Newser) – U2 is all about “looking after our planet,” as frontman Bono once said—but they’re not practicing what they preach, according to Carbonfootprint.com: The band’s 44 concerts this year are the equivalent of “the four band members traveling the 34.125 million miles from Earth to Mars in a passenger plane” when it comes to carbon emissions, a consultant tells the Belfast Telegraph.

The U2360 world tour, with 100 dates over 18 months, will require 70,000 air miles in a private jet—and three 390-ton stages, plus 200 crewmembers, will be coming along. The experts at Carbonfootprint.com determine U2 will create as much waste as 6,500 average people in 1 year, and would have to plant 20,118 trees just to offset this year’s dates.

U2's Bono performs during the group's 360 Tour at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, July 2, 2009.
U2's Bono performs during the group's 360 Tour at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, July 2, 2009.   (AP Photo)
U2's Bono performs during the group's 360 Tour at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, July 2, 2009.
U2's Bono performs during the group's 360 Tour at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, July 2, 2009.   (AP Photo)
U2 band members The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Bono, and Adam Clayton perform during a  taping of CBS'
U2 band members The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Bono, and Adam Clayton perform during a taping of CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman," March 2, 2009 in New York.   (AP Photo)
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9 comments
VIEWING:
 
Yourself
Jul 7, 09 3:22 PM CDT
i wouldn't be shocked if U2 had 20,000 fans willing to each plant one tree... Reply
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
ClingingToHope
Jul 7, 09 3:58 PM CDT
Yeah, but what's the carbon footprint when they smoke them?
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+2
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Jul 7, 09 5:59 PM CDT
huh??? U2's crowd isn't exactly known for being smokers, and how the hell does one smoke a tree? i know how to smoke weed, but a tree???
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+3
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jul 7, 09 7:48 PM CDT
I believe PA speaks of ganga, my brotha, ganga...
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Newser001
Jul 7, 09 7:53 PM CDT
I'd like to hear U2 directly address this issue. Yes, they do plenty of good for the world, but there's an issue with this and any other touring group, symphony, ballet, broadway show, conventions, etc... It clearly needs to be addressed. Unquestionably, a valid issue.
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