The Divorcees one of 30 performers at long weekend's inaugural festival, 30 minutes outside of Moncton

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BY NICK MOORE
TIMES & TRANSCRIPT STAFF

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Listen long enough to what some scientists say about the world's environmental future and one can't help but get a lump in their throat.

"Let's face it, most people are either overwhelmed, feel helpless or are angry," says Olivier Weil, one of the organizers for this long weekend's first ever Green Festival, being held near Clairville (about 30 minutes north of Moncton's Magnetic Hill) from Saturday to Monday.

Instead of people throwing their hands up in despair at the dire predictions of environmental havoc, the Green Festival wants people to throw their hands up in celebration and have a party.

"Let's bring people together in music and fun," says Weil. "Let's combine some education with celebration because it's more effective that way."

In the midst of local musicians performing, food, camping, and the great outdoors, the Green Festival wants to send a message out that it doesn't need to be difficult or expensive to go green.

Peter James, the festival's head organizer, donated his 500 acre (200 hectare) property to become the event's outdoor venue. James and his family moved to New Brunswick from the United Kingdom last November with the goal of living greener and being less dependent on fossil fuels.

The idea for a multi-day musical festival, centered on environmental awareness, only took shape about four months ago. While ensuring local music and all the regular concert fare would have the starring role in this festival, James says it will come with a little something extra.

"The main thing for communicating awareness has more to do with attracting people and while they're being entertained, (introduce them) to green products, organic products, natural products," he says "That is how they become greener."

Awareness kiosks informing people about eco-friendly energy choices will be on site and concertgoers will have the chance to buy local products from local artisans.

In an effort to make the concert a family friendly event, a supervised play area featuring an inflated jumping area, games, face painting, pony and hay rides will be on site for children.

The Great Canadian Pub will be co-ordinating a beer garden and those who want to spend the long Labour Day Weekend at the festival have the choice to camp on the property.

Even a screening of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's documentary "An Inconvenient Truth" will be a part of the festival, being shown inside a barn.

First and foremost, music will take the festival's centre stage. Last week, it was announced The Divorcees would be amongst the nearly 30 local performers on the festival's schedule.

Buying tickets in advance for the Green Festival has been priced at $10 for one day or $25 for a three-day pass. Kids under the age of 16 can get tickets for $5 a day while kids under the age of five will get in for free. Tickets can be purchased online through the festival's website, www.thegreenfestival.ca, or at 18 other locations in New Brunswick.

James has hopes of taking his home off the power grid and a goal of building guest lodges out of recycled, natural and environmentally-friendly materials. Still, he says it's more important and effective if he changes the perspective of other people because collective effort adds up quicker.

The goal of the festival in its first year is to break even and become sustainable, with the rest of the money going to T.O.T.E.M. Wildlife & Children's Charity. T.O.T.E.M. is an acronym for "time out to enjoy myself." The hope is to develop a place where young people can explore and appreciate green, tranquil outdoor spaces.