Strip it all away

Last week, in Body&Soul, I talked about the state of Glastonbury’s camping fields when we all trudged off site at the end of the weekend. It was pretty appalling and all sorts of rumours have been going around about whether or not the deserted tents really were rescued and packed off to humanitarian organizations (as explained here).

Since then, I’ve had a tonne of feedback about whether or not a festival can be green. Good to see the subject sparks such debate. Here is what Lu Prentice has to say:

"There always are and always will be some people who are too lazy to bother, or don't care about leaving stuff or not taking it to a designated collection point, but this is not the norm. With 177,500 people on site this year, 12,000 bins still seemed too few, but they were all emptied on a regular basis unlike other festivals. Added to this was a charming guy wandering around the green fields with guitar, singing his message of putting rubbish in bins and most of the groups of people that I saw him approach joined in with the chorus, whilst perched atop Banksy's portaloo tribute to Stonehenge. Only at Glastonbury!"

I defend festivals by bringing up the value of spending a weekend outside. When I’ve been stuck in London for a month or two, I can feel my comfort levels creeping up. My expectation of what is acceptable rises. I want a more comfy sofa, and while we're at it, a new duvet. I want to know why the energy-saving lightbulbs don’t dazzle my kitchen like the old bulbs did.

Camping strips all this away. That’s what I love about it. It takes you back to basics: tent, fire, food, water and a hurricane lamp. It makes you realize how little you need and how satisfying it is to have less. After a few nights without electric lights or a kettle, waiting patiently while a tiny gas cooker boils water for your cup of tea, your attitude changes. Returning home, a bed and a roof over your head seems like utter luxury, never mind hot buttered toast and a device that boils water in minutes. Can’t say the tea tastes as good though.

Comments

[greendemon]

Hurrican lamp? And you said you were green. What about the paraffin? No, only kidding. Lamps are fun aren't they. I take one into the garden sometimes. Not a camper, really, though. Too uncomfortable.

[Brien Comerford]

It's time for a vegetarian music festival with no meat allowed. Performers would include Paul McCartney, Chrissie Hynde, Moby, Morrissey, Bryan Adams, Thom Yorke, Jeff Beck, Ringo Starr and the Church's Steve Kilbey. Vegetarianism reduces cruelty, famine, land, air, and water pollution and it saves the environment from global warming.

[Exiled Angel]

We went to Sunrise Festival this year which was one of the greenest festivals going, with all food and drink packaging compostible, all caterers certified 80% organic and every bin offering the full array of possible recycling options rather than one area tucked out of the way. We went to 070707 festival last weekend and was appalled at how many people got up and left their food and drink packaging on the ground like someone else would clean it up after them, that there was no recycling points, that you couldn't sit down in a clean space by Saturday afternoon without first flinging used tissues, tin cartons and beer cans out of the way. Sunrise spoiled us and we won't be attending any more commercial festivals where the focus isn't on minimising the effect on the land and being ecologically responsible because it made us too sad and too angry to see such disregard.

[jamble]

I write a blog (www.jamblemag.co.uk)which features green music festival stories and i've been impressed by some of the initiatives shown by festivals this year - such as paperless tickets, battery exchange programmes and eco-workshops - but i think festivals still have a long way to go before they can be really green.

Next year's festivals may also see the introduction of recyclable tents called MyHabs and mini-wind generators designed to fit on a tent and recharge a phone. There's some exciting stuff.

[Hanaflower]

The Larmer tree festival this year was fairly green I think - certainly very little rubbish left around, and the bins were frequently emptied. The Wychwood festival has a solar powered cinema! Sunrise sounds great.

Oh, and waiting ages for your tea? Get a petrol stove...(maybe not the greenest, but the water's boiled by the time you find the teabags!)