Much of Buffett's dough comes from the insurance underwriting business where the odds, much like Vegas, generally favor the house. Using complex algorithms and a lot of other dark magic, insurance companies write policies on future cataclysmic events that have a slim chance of ever occurring. Companies, cities and individuals pay handsomely for this protection and peace of mind, but if the catastrophe doesn't strike, the insurance company pockets the cash for essentially doing nothing more than promise that it will someday pay up if such and such should happen. It's a brilliant business -- if nothing ever happens.

But occasionally things go haywire, like a Hurricane Katrina or madmen flying passenger planes into skyscrapers. Then the money forked over for the policies was well spent.

And that was Buffett's point. Why not buy a little insurance now on climate change for potentially a lot of protection down the road? If that logic appeals to you, the next obvious question is this: What can be done about it?

The answer, it turns out, is plenty.

Today, MSN launches Live Earth, a user-friendly, green-tinged site wrapped around one of the most ambitious music events of all time: A worldwide series of concerts on July 7 by gifted artists and performers who are dedicated to fostering dialogue and raising awareness of climate change.

MSN's mission is not to lecture or browbeat you into changing your lifestyle. There's too much of that already, and, frankly, it doesn't work. Our mission is to provide sound information to allow you to make informed choices.

Live Earth is a rich site brimming with practical information, everything from lowering your heating bills to greening your home, office or the kids' classrooms. In addition to the cool features and provocative programming, we will be adding interactive maps of global hot spots, calculators and video contests in the upcoming days and months. Also, keep an eye out for interviews with world leaders as well as rankings of the greenest cities, sports teams and businesses.

When Live Earth was announced Feb. 15 by Control Room CEO Kevin Wall, former U.S. Vice President Al Gore and MSN executive Joanne Bradford, the idea of a coordinated worldwide concert on all seven continents captured the imaginations of both audience and performers. Since then, more than 100 artists, including Madonna, The Dave Matthews Band and Fall Out Boy, have agreed to perform and tens of thousands of tickets have been sold, the proceeds of which will be used to further study climate change.

MSN users will be able to view the concerts live online for free. After the concerts are broadcast, users then will be able to access -- again for free -- the concerts on MSN's video-on-demand service.

In the days and weeks leading up to the concerts, MSN will publish exclusive interviews with the artists, venue footage and selected songs. Check out a current list of the venues and bands.

If anything, Live Earth proves that you can have fun and help the environment at the same time. It doesn't have to be drudgery.

Now turn off that light. You're wasting electricity.

(Mark Pawlosky is editorial director for MSN Live Earth).

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