{"id":1683,"date":"2016-03-01T17:08:42","date_gmt":"2016-03-01T17:08:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/eventsglos.wordpress.com\/?p=1683"},"modified":"2018-11-05T15:52:00","modified_gmt":"2018-11-05T15:52:00","slug":"have-festival-organisers-thought-about-the-local-community","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniofglos.blog\/eventsglos\/2016\/03\/01\/have-festival-organisers-thought-about-the-local-community\/","title":{"rendered":"Have Festival Organisers Thought About The Local Community?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Have Festival Organisers Thought About The Local Community?<\/h2>\n

For many people today, the excitement of a festival begins from the moment they\u2019ve been lucky enough to get a ticket, to booking the time off work, buying their wellies & packing their rucksacks.<\/p>\n

However\u2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Being a festival goer, you may consider yourself a modern young adult who is eco-friendly, but when you book that ticket have you thought about the impact on the environment and on the residents living in the village, along with the rest of the local residents in the surrounding community?<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFestival audiences consider environmental performance important.<\/em><\/p>\n

The virtual festivals census of 2012 concluded that 67% of participants considered environmental friendliness of festivals very important.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(Powerful Thinking, 2015, p5)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

If so, you\u2019ll be pleased to know that many festival organisers are now considering these issues.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201c80% of festivals organisers participating in the Industry Green Manifesto stated that they are committed to improving performance.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(Powerful Thinking, 2015, p5)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

What\u2019s working?<\/h2>\n

\u201cIn 2014, nine UK festivals undertook the A Greener Festival assessment & five of them were awarded.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

>(Powerful Thinking, 2015, p15)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Festival organisers are working on making festivals better for the environment with new procedures in place.<\/p>\n

Noise<\/h2>\n

Noise patrols are new measures that some major music festivals are deploying to reduce noise pollution. Organisers can be fined if noise levels aren\u2019t monitored correctly, and conversely this is very difficult to measure. In some cases, events offer to pay for temporary relocation of residents in the immediate locality. Some argue that although noise can have a large impact, any noise pollution created by festivals is only temporary. So does it matter?<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cFestivals are noisy \u2013 that\u2019s part of the reason why they\u2019re fun! But noise can be a pollutant too.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(A Greener Festival, 2016)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

A great example that\u00a0measures to tackle noise pollution is Glastonbury\u2019s innovation; the festival had a fun idea to introduce a silent disco. This was set up to reduce overnight noise for residents in the nearby village of Pilton. This was a fantastic idea!<\/p>\n

\n

“This time last year, Glastonbury were getting complaints about overnight noise so this is a fantastic improvement.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(BBC, 2005)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However this graph shows that noise is still considered an issue. What more can be done?<\/p>\n

Transport<\/h2>\n

A great way of making people travel to events via public transport is to charge festival goers \u00a320 per car and also ask for donations. Shambala Festival do this very well and although people are still taking cars, the amount of car shares has risen, which is excellent.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cNearly a third of all ticket holders come to the site on\u00a0coaches<\/a>,\u00a0trains<\/a>\u00a0and other forms of\u00a0public\u00a0transport. We\u2019d encourage you to join them, and reduce your carbon footprint.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(Digital, P. 2016)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

Main incentives for traveling by public transport are money off when purchasing your ticket and being greeted by a performance when arriving at the festival. This is seen as a reward to those who support carbon footprint reduction. Shambala are always going to extra measures to make their festival a responsible \u2018green\u2019 event, along with many other festivals.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cCoach travel is the most environmentally friendly way of getting to Bestival and Big Green Coach makes it even greener with their commitment to sponsor and protect 5 square foot of Amazonian Rainforest.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(Bestival, 2016)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

However, transport is in the top five areas that still needs to improve fast in order to reduce the immediate effects on the surrounding community and environment.<\/p>\n

Would you agree?<\/p>\n

Recycling<\/h2>\n
\n

\u201cGet a reusable bottle, re-use a bag you already have for shopping, and re-use straws \u2013 they can\u2019t be recycled and they end up everywhere.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

(Drake, Kambe Events, 2016)<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The aftermath of a festival was once probably the most noticeable impact on the local environment. Many creative ideas have since been put in place at festivals to keep this to a minimum.<\/p>\n

Shop local<\/h2>\n

Using local suppliers and produce will help the environment and can generate a positive economic impact locally. Festival organisers now require suppliers and contractors to change what they offer in order to enable local suppliers to be sustainable.<\/p>\n

Glastonbury Festival encourages stall owners to be sustainable by having the \u2018Green awards\u2019 which means each supplier gets rewarded either bronze, silver or gold!<\/p>\n

Bestival takes place in the Isle of Wight which has a policy that ALL food & drink stalls need to use 100% compostable cups, glasses, knives and forks which can go in with the organic food waste.<\/p>\n

What still needs to be done?<\/h2>\n

Festival organisers have come a long way over recent decades in reducing negative impacts on the local communities, but they recognise there is still some way to go. Industry think-do tank, Powerful Thinking have presented a pledge to the festival industry in the hope that participating festivals will sign up to take on the action.<\/p>\n

Festival Vision: 2025<\/h2>\n
    \n
  • Reduce waste where possible and aim for 50% recycling rates.<\/li>\n
  • Work with audiences, suppliers & artists to positively influence travel choices & reduce travel-related emissions.<\/li>\n
  • To work with the supply chain to improve sustainability of food sourcing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Remember\u2026<\/p>\n

    While your local festival is working hard to be responsible, it can generate a lot of money for your community!<\/p>\n

    \n

    \u201cA study has revealed that last year\u2019s Glastonbury Festival generated over 73 million in spending in the local area!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

    &<\/p>\n

    Enjoy getting ready for the festival season!<\/p>\n

    \"\"<\/p>\n

    (Photo Sources: Google Images & Pixabey.com)<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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