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Festivals in Transition

Date started: 
1 February 2010
Public Launch date: 
1 February 2011
Number of People Involved: 
1
Geographic region : 
South West
Geographic region : 
England
Geographic region : 
United Kingdom
Last updated: Friday, 16 April 2010

Website

http://sunrisecelebration.com/sustainability/transition-manifesto.php
Contact Project
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Project Aim

To produce a manifesto that music (and other) festivals can sign up to as a commitment to Transition Principles. As temporary communities, sometimes the size of small cities, and a key part of our cultural environment, festivals experience many of the same issues as permanent settlements. This manifesto will address that and ask festivals to make the same commitments that Transition Towns are in countering Climate Change and Peak Oil. 

The aim is to establish a commitment from up to 5 UK festivals in the first year, with the primary target being Glastonbury Festival. As well as altering the habits of these major cultural events, this commitment will help in raising the profile of Transition Towns, especially amongst a younger audience.

 

Further details

The Transition Manifesto is based upon the principles laid down in the Transition Handbook. As temporary communities, festivals experience many of the same issues as their more permanent counterparts. Issues such as water, waste, food and energy, large populations to house, administer and entertain. As the UK prepares for a Transition to a low carbon society, the festival industry must do the same

The Transition Manifesto for Festivals will look at key areas that both permanent settlements and temporary communities share an interest in, though with a different slant in many cases. The Manifesto, like the Transition Town process, will be both self-regulated and peer-monitored.

These currently are:-

  • Waste
  • Transport
  • Energy
  • Health and Well Being
  • Education
  • Food and Drink
  • Local Economies
  • Environment

Participating festivals will sign a code of conduct and resolution that commits them to the targets within. These targets will be drawn out in discussion, but based upon a blueprint within the manifesto.

 

Inspiration

I am a festival organiser and have committed my own festival, The Sunrise Celebration, to Transition Principles. In 2008 we experienced a major flooding incident, which drew my attention further to the parallels being faced by settlements everywhere, in the face of Climate Change, and by festivals. Festivals, like towns, rely upon food brought in from the outside, most events rely heavily upon fossil fuels and produce large amounts of waste. The consumer culture is clearly in evidence and often in a more grotesque way than in everyday society - See the tens of thousands of left tents at Glastonbury Festival, for example. The festival industry needs to change rapidly to adapt to what's coming. This manifesto is a step towards that. It will also raise the profile of Transition to a younger audience, which I believe is important.

Outcomes so far

Still in development, though being tested upon the Sunrise Celebrations.

Links and Partnerships

Natural Communities CIC

Contacts

Primary point of contact: 
DanSunrise
Themes: 
Arts & Crafts
Themes: 
Business & Economics
Themes: 
Education
Themes: 
Energy
Themes: 
Food
Themes: 
Health
Themes: 
Inner Transition
Themes: 
Transport

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