Festival-goers at this year's Glastonbury Festival will be asked to sign up to the "I Count" climate change campaign. The target is for 100,000 people to make a commitment by the end of the weekend (22-24 June).
Everybody arriving at the festival will be given a special wristband with the "I Count" message, "We can stop climate chaos". As people sign up, the rising total will be registered at the main Pyramid music stage.
"We've put a lot of effort into focusing Glastonbury on the environment and climate change this year," says festival organiser Michael Eavis. "We hope to see at least 100,000 new supporters sign up to the I Count campaign - and I'll be the first to put my name down."
The "I Count" campaign encourages people to take 16 steps in their everyday lives to reduce their carbon footprint - and to urge the world's leaders to take climate change seriously. The campaign is supported by the Stop Climate Chaos coalition of over 50 organisations, as well as the three main causes supported by Glastonbury - Oxfam, Greenpeace and WaterAid.
Climate change is now acknowledged as the single biggest threat to the planet. It will increasingly affect everyone – rich and poor alike. The richer countries must take urgent action to reduce their carbon output, help deal with the effects of global
warming already being seen, and help provide new technologies that allow the poorest countries to develop in a climate friendly way.
Greenpeace, Oxfam and WaterAid will all have a major presence at this year’s festival, showcasing activities that underline the "I Count" message as well as their own campaigns.
The Greenpeace field at Glastonbury will be blowing both hot and cold over climate change. Hungry guests can get a good organic meal at Café Tango, then cool down without damaging the planet with a nice carbon neutral shower - using hot water produced by solar and biomass energy. Then get hot all over again by making new friends in the 'Soulmates' carbon dating venue run in conjunction with The Guardian or try out a few tricks on the new skate ramp, a showcase for FSC certified timber. Then finally, go back to the future in the Techno Dome, which takes you on a carbon trail to find new ways to save the planet.
"We have to start reducing carbon dioxide emissions immediately and begin to phase out fossil fuels and switch to renewable energy," says Bob Wilson of Greenpeace. "Oil companies, instead of spending money exploring for more dinosaur fuels, must begin to invest in the future - clean, sustainable energy and a huge investment in energy efficiency. We need more efficient cars, fewer flights, and better and cheaper trains. None of this will happen unless we make our leaders feel the heat."
Oxfam will be highlighting the effects of climate change on world poverty by inviting festival goers to try out their carbon cycle, test out the weights of carbon footprints around the world and freshen up with some climate-friendly Fairtrade snacks. The charity will also have two shops selling recycled goods.
Climate change is a direct threat to the hopes of millions of people around the world who want to make poverty history, says Stuart Fowkes of Oxfam. "The world's poorest people are being hit first and hardest by climate change: we can't tackle poverty unless we work together to stop climate chaos. But it's not too late to act: immediate action is vital in the fight against the biggest crisis facing us today."
WaterAid, which is dedicated to providing the world's poorest people with safe drinking water and effective sanitation, will be running VIP latrines in King's Meadow, keeping them clean and ensuring a pleasant toilet experience for festival goers. This year also sees the return of the female urinals - the 'She-Pees' - which WaterAid volunteers will be 'womaning', ensuring a speedy loo break between bands. WaterAid will also be handing out water to thirsty festival goers at our stand by the Pyramid stage.
"Climate change means that not only is the world warming up but rainfall patterns are changing and water tables falling," says Duncan Wilbur of WaterAid. "This puts increased pressure on already stressed water resources. The survival of millions of people depends on careful water management."
To find out more, visit the Greenpeace Field and the Oxfam and WaterAid stalls by the Pyramid stage.
For more information:
Oxfam press office: 01865 472498
Greenpeace press office: 0207 865 8255
WaterAid press office: 020 7793 4793
I Count campaign and Stop Climate Chaos Coalition: 020 7729 8732
To find out more about the Stop Climate Chaos Coalition and I Count campaign see www.icount.org.uk or www.glastonburyfestivals.co.uk.
