Tuesday, July 17, 2007

 
posted by Sarah Krasley @ 12:27 AM
Phil Eck and Perry Farrell were mythical creatures to me as a teen. I used to doodle their names on the toes of my converse. I met Phil Eck at a bar in Seattle a few years ago and turned bright red in the cheeks and didn't say a damned thing for an entire hour because I was so nervous.

In preparing to move, I've been importing all my CDs into my ipod over the last few months and have been enjoying some nineties alternative jams--makes me wish I had some violet manic panic in my hair while writing this. I've been itching to cover this fruitful genre of music, and am kind of mad at Pitchfork for saying that there wasn't much green about the indie rock scene, so I was excited to see that Lollapalooza is stepping it up a notch in their greening efforts this year. I might just doodle Perry's name on my kicks right now!

It seems that they have partnered with Green Mountain, who is, in my mind, doing some of the most interesting projects in greening the music industry. I really like it when festivals offset the emissions associated with running the festival, but also offer ways fans can get involved.

Similar to the principle used when I ordered my zen-ned out alarm clock (which is awesome by the way), concert goers can offset the emissions associated with their travel right when they buy their tickets. A $4 Lollapalooza BeGreen (sm)Fan Tag will neutralize your impact. Four bucks, c'mon! I'll even give you the proceeds of the Yo La Tengo CD I just sold at Amoeba if you do it.

If you're planning to go to Lollapalooza, find out more about BeGreen Fan Tags here.

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Comments:
Good, yes. But I hope that Lolla is doing it's part to actually cut down on the consumption/waste generated by the festival. I'd like to see an analysis of the average amount of packaging waste the average festival goer creates...
 
I agree -- and the HUGE area these fests- and rock fans MUST start looking at is the FOOD...I know this will get a lot of eyes rolling -- but Vegetarianism/Veganism... is a great way to really take a bite out of petrochemical usage.

Walk up to the concessions stands at these shows- if they HAVE vegan/veg options -- THANK THEM and encourage it -- if they don't- Politely suggest that you would spend your money there if they did..

The modern meat industry dwarves all others in it's use of water, arable land and oil. I;m sure you've heard of the methane that is created by all the extra cows we raise for industry. Do the math on all the truckloads of animals you see criss-crossing the USA for slaughter and sale. LOTS of diesel fuel that doesn't need to be.

Right now several states are in SERIOUS trouble with the runoff problems and the animal waste. Take another look at eating LOCALLY, using LESS PACKAGING when you shop..Eat more RAW FOODS that need no packaging..etc.

I know-- there's a big backlash against this ("No one's gonna tell ME how to eat") and people feel like there is nothing to eat but meat -- but in 2007 -- you have a million & 1 options to stay meatless --or at least cut WAY back --and when you DO eat meat -- insist on the more expensive organic, free range stuff --all those pesticides and drugs are PETROLEUM based.

Finally - and as important - we should all find ways to EAT LOCAL FOOD -- it makes no sense to sit in Chicago at Lollapalooza...enjoying a kiwi from New Zealand and a liter of water from Evian/France.

Let's do all we can...check all kinds of websites including www.vegsource.com

This is the final, and BIGGEST part of the environmental discusssion - the elephant in the room that we HAVE to deal with. All the other stuff is a drop in the bucket. I didn't even get into what is happening with WORLDWIDE fishing stocks -- do a quick google - you'll be amazed this crisis is not in the news. The food chain in the oceans is being completely changed by mechanized, human over-fishing.
 
Please take a closer look at "offset" programs like Green Mountain's before touting their benefits. Most (including Green Mountain's) don't really offset any pollution, but merely act as fronts to attract new funding for energy companies (albeit "clean" energy companies).
 
All great comments, but I have to address the last one. I've put several years of time looking into offset programs (one example, see: http://green.jambase.com/2007/05/new-offset-emerges-wink-wink.html), and I stand behind my recommendation of Green Mountain--their RECs are independantly certified and verified on an annual basis. I absolutely agree that consumers have to be careful, but Green Mountain provides lots of customer disclosure information on their website (and the one I linked to in this posting).

I address additonality (the wonky term for what you're referring to) in the post I reference above. But it may be a good topic to revisit for the future.
 
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