Bad News Mounts For Goracle

First, his son gets busted again, then we find out people are becoming more skeptical to his alarmist bloviations, and now his much-hyped Live Earth concerts Saturday are running into some problems.

Rio may cancel Live Earth gig on safety worries

Brazilian organizers of the Rio de Janeiro leg of the Live Earth global concerts were trying to convince authorities on Wednesday not to cancel the Saturday show due to security concerns.

The Rio state prosecutor's office said earlier there were not enough police to safeguard the climate change awareness concert on Copacabana beach as all security efforts would be concentrated on preparations for the Pan American Games, starting July 13.

Police have stepped up operations against drug gangs in Rio's slums in the run-up to the Games. Last week, they raided a slum on the city outskirts, killing about 20 people after a long siege of the area in which two dozen people had been killed and more than 60 wounded since May.

A real quagmire in and around Rio.

A cancellation would be embarassing for city officials who hope the events will showcase Rio's legendary charms instead of exposing its rampant crime.

Rio has one of the highest murder rates in the world, with a toll comparable to some war zones. At least 1,800 people were killed in the first four months of 2007 in the metropolitan area, official figures show.

Meanwhile, Rio isn't exactly the only trouble spot for this silly exercise in self-congratulations.

Last month, Istanbul was dropped from the list cities set to hold the concerts because of a lack of interest and security concerns. Ticket sales have been slow for most Live Earth shows and organizers had to shift venues in Johannesburg in a bid to improve sales.

UPDATE: The Rio show is canceled (via Hot Air).