Hi this is my first post on the forum, I go to lots of festivals and I always take all of my gear with me I even take my rubbish to the drop off point. So we're not all bad, it is noticeable the difference in attitude at German festivals where everyone takes their stuff with them, except the majority of the British contingent.
Quote: Originally posted by Rowlands on 21/7/2009
Some of the students I work with were under the impression that if you left your tent it was donated to a charity that used them in Africa....after looking at that video do you think that is fesable......I doubt many would be of any use in a backgarden, never mind Africa......
Not a swipe at you Rowlands to be sure, but what difference should that make? I mean, if ones property is of so little value that it can just be discarded like that, why should sending it to Africa be considered an option. Surely if it isn't good enough to take home, then it isn't good enough to send to Africa? I find it quite offensive that we in the so called '1st World' think it ok to dump our rubbish in Africa or anywhere else.
Rant over.
I'm just becoming a grumpy oul' f*rt, sorry
......I was only commenting on what I was told when I questioned some young people who said they were going to leave a perfectly good tent behind....but...isn't all charity giving what we don't need, apart that is from the truely selfless who actually give what they need themselves. The offensive aspect to all this is there are thousand upon thousand of people all over the world who would be overjoyed to recieve a decent tent whether from Glastonbury or anywhere else...as for it being rubbish..its only rubbish if its useless.....
I may have given the impression that I was against this equipment going to charities of Africa. I'm not.
I'm against the mindset that thinks it is ok to just dump unwanted stuff, in the arrogant, in my opinion, belief that it will go to a charity or Africa.
A subtle but important difference.
As adults we are the custodians of this planet for future generations, but on this showing, too many of the younger members of society have yet to learn, or perhaps couldn't be arsed, with taking an interest in preserving the planet for future users.
If one wants to give an unwanted tent to a charity, then that is great, all for that. But to just dump it in a field and leave it for someone else to sort out the problem is not just shocking, it is totally disgusting behaviour.
Although some of the festival goers themselves may believe they are donating their tents to charity, I am highly sceptical of both how many tents do find their way to any disaster zone and how much use they would be when they got there.
Its a throw away culture and its fuelled by Tesco, Halfords etc labelling rubbish tents as 'festival tents' and selling them for £9.99. These tents are bought as disposable and then taken to festivals with the deliberate plan that they will be left there. Horrible, wasteful.
------------- Tackling life the Western District way
Awful - what is the point of teaching young children not to drop rubbish in the street and then once they become young adults this happens. It seems that young junior school children are interested in saving the planet, recycling etc however once they grow up this attitude seems to go - where do we go wrong?
It's similar to the V festival at Stafford Park, we go to V quite often (although don't camp as we only live 10 mins up the road and camping prices are a total rip off)
Same thing happens there, thousands of tents are discarded, some of them are quite good! A neighbour of my girlfriend helped witht he clean up one year and had about six large, good tents that would have retailed for £250+ in a camping store.
Last year there were mounds of fold-up chairs left abandoned, we had a few ourselves to take home! I think like others have said, it's a by-product of our 'throwaway society', people see a £50 tent as temporary accommodation for the weekend and nothing else.
I think it's a bit lazy to blame Argos and supermarkets for this. People abandoned their tents at festivals long before the supermarkets latched on and sold their 'festival kits'.
its not the supermarkets fault its us we as humans we are a disgrace this is our world our childrens world to let this happen is a reflection on us it should be stopped now
Another thought....it's not just the tents. That's bad enough, but maybe all those thousands of people could be forgiven if they truly though abandoned tents would get a second life. BUT BUT BUT...what about all the rubbish left lying around. There is absolutely no excuse fo the disgusting attitude of these people that makes them think it's ok to leave rubbish strewn absolutely everywhere.
Quote: I think it's a bit lazy to blame Argos and supermarkets for this. People abandoned their tents at festivals long before the supermarkets latched on and sold their 'festival kits'.
No, you got me wrong - I was in no way blaming Argos and the supermarkets. It's great that stuff is so readily available. What I was blaming are the people who buy this stuff and just see it as ok to abandon it as it's of no value to them.
It is not just at festivals. Last couple of days at school there has been a couple of boxes of lost property - now I can understand that you may not realise that you are a school PE kit missing, as they only come home at the end of term, or even possbile the odd school jumper - but there were coats, some very expensive ones there. On the last day, towards the end, the staff said, if you want anything take it. I got two lovely coats for Alice, a couple of waterproof, a couple of jackets. and a beautiful heavy Lee Cooper jacket for Pip - which is too big now, but he will grow into. Oh and a couple of almost new cardigan for Alice next term, along with the reversable school jacket. To say nothing of the pair of swimming trunks and towel. How on earth can people not be bothered to look in lost property when their child come out of school without something. Even if you do not notice on the same day, surely within a couple of days you would realise within a day or two that a coat/jacket was missing?
I agree nutcase (!) our school lost property has some lovely winter coats in, but the parents change the kid's stuff each season so have no idea what is missing.
The glastonbury vid is awful, completely demonstrates the reason we won't go any more. I love the festival but it's 50 stupid yobby drunk kids now.
I can't believe people dump all that stuff. I think it is a brilliant idea to use that footage combined with the Leave no Trace slogan as background videos between acts.
------------- "There are only 2 lasting things we can hope to give our children, one of these is roots, the other wings"
I was angry/upset/disappointed when I saw that video. It's really sad that people actually think that it's acceptable to leave all their s**t behind when they leave.
All I left was a patch of flattened grass where my tent had been and a 2 bags at the bins, 1 recycle and 1 general rubbish.
As for tents for Africa, that message was put over badly in previous years. Tents are collected but you need to drop off the packed tent at a collection point.
Sad reflection of some of the society today I'm afraid.
I am disgusted by the mess of the fields aswell.It is groteque viewing on an astronomical scale.Like has been mildly pointed out,all the revellers and members of the bands that play there,consistently harp on about how '' NON Festival Goers '' are creating massive rubbish mountains,whereas '' They '' do their bit to help the eco friendly green planet,by holding a festival?!!!
I have seen many youtube clips in the past,featuring bands backstage at open air festivals.Guess what? They are holding bottles and cans of alcohol or plastic cups.They walk off,but,the bottle,can or plastic cup does NOT!!! The self glorifying eco friendly save the planet band members,are equally as bad as their ludicrous self delusionary fans.
After viewing that video clip,and dwelling over all the new laws we NON festival goers have to endure,i think THEY,the festival goers and band members.... and journalists,should be subjected to new laws,or have all the festivals banned outright!!!
------------- Boris Karloff: '' now will you give me my chalk!? ''
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Eureka K2 XT
Terra Nova Solar 2
Outwell Jersey S Pop Up Tent
Hennessy Hammock Explorer Deluxe.
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Topic: Glastonbury: the aftermath
