Community Unites to Combat Climate Change
Released 25 May 2009
Community Unites to Combat Climate Change
A willingness to change behaviour to combat climate change has prompted an unprecedented response, from community leaders, performers and exhibitors, to Australia’s largest, free ‘green-living’ festival, which celebrates World Environment Day and Queensland’s 150th birthday.
Greenfest brings together innovative ‘green’ ideas, diverse culture, independent films, popular music, eco-fashion, organic food and ‘green’ products and services, presented on four stages, over three days (5 – 7 June, City Botanic Gardens, Brisbane). The entire festival is free and family-friendly.
Festival director Colman Ridge said: “Greenfest is a sustainable lifestyle festival for organisations and families who are optimistic that they can be the change they want in the world. We invite full community participation and interaction in a bid to win the race against climate change”.
Greenfest is presented by Brisbane City Council under its Green Heart CitySmart program to make Brisbane Australia’s most sustainable city.
Lord Mayor Campbell Newman said Greenfest would open on World Environment Day (Friday 5 June) and was about protecting Brisbane’s precious environment.
“Brisbane is just stunning and we’re lucky to live here. This event is about coming together to protect the city we love by taking simple and affordable steps to sustainability in all areas of our lives.
“Council is working on helping the city become carbon neutral. For Greenfest, we’ve created the ‘Green Heart Zone’, which will be filled with ideas for people to save money, energy and water.”
In a letter of encouragement from Achim Steiner, United Nations Environment Programme director, he said: “When the people of Brisbane come together at Greenfest to share their hopes and commitments for the future, they will be joining millions of others around the globe on World Environment Day”.
Greenfest celebrates the passion and talent of more than 40 musicians, who’ll perform their exhilarating music in a free concert on World Environment Day Friday from 12pm to 10pm and throughout the festival. Artists include Ash Grunwald, Jeff Lang, Tame Impala, The Boat People, Botanics, Kevin Borich, Laneous and the family, Golden Sound, Tim Loydell and the Deckchairs, Little Scout and many more.
The Green Queensland Day concert celebrates Brisbane and Queensland’s 150th Birthday on Saturday 6 June from 10am to 10pm. A diverse line-up of music will suit diverse moods and tastes across three stages through the City Botanic Gardens, next to Brisbane’s idyllic Brisbane River.
Highlights from the Byron Bay film festival will screen at Greenfest on Friday evening from 6pm to 10pm. Best Film award winner the Laya Project is a personal and collective tribute to the resilience of the human spirit, and is dedicated to the survivors of the 26 December 2004 Asian tsunami.
Highlights from Gympie’s Heart of Gold Film Festival will screen, under the stars, on Saturday from 6pm to 10pm. All films are screened under the stars and family-friendly (G or PG rated).
Greenfest highlights:
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Green Economy Hub – more than 50 ‘green’ innovators will present and run workshops under a colourful circus big top, embracing fresh intellectual capital to invent the world we hope for ·
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Green Heart Zone – Brisbane City Council’s hub of 18 CitySmart exhibitions is a one-stop-shop of information and tips for people wanting to adopt simple, cheap and effective ways to save energy and cut down on carbon emissions·
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Tesla Roadster – the world’s fastest, electric car that accelerates from 0–100kph in 3.9sec·
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Hush Wind Power – new Australian inventor of the year, silent bird friendly 1.5m blade that offers 1.65 KW to residential homes·
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Eco-Fashion leader Summer Rayne Oakes: global author and leading model for Eco Fashion ·
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Organic food – and BBQ cooking with Justin North, Australian Chef of the Year ·
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Timeless wisdom – Aboriginal story telling, art and culture ·
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Conservation – learn from informative displays from conservation groups including the Koala Foundation, Save the Bilby, Wildlife Queensland, Wildlife Warriors (Australia Zoo), Sea Shepherd, the Wilderness Society, WWF and many more·
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Workshops – diverse topics for a diverse community including practical recycling with Life Line to a comprehensive explanation of the CPRS ·
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Healthy Life: Healthy Planet – local organic food, fitness and fun including yoga, organic food, kick boxing, footy skills, interactive art, and workshops to help you get healthy·
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Kids Zone – drumming workshops, bungee jumping, interactive art, dance and more.
Greenfest is a carbon neutral event supported by Ecofund that meets current best-practice in energy management, low-energy lighting, minimising waste, recycling, eco-printing, carbon offsets and biodegradable consumable in food area.
People coming to Greenfest are encouraged to ‘lose the car’ and travel by bus, train or bicycle. Australia’s first bike storage centre cycle2city, under King George Square in Adelaide Street, will provide free, secure bicycle parking for the first 400 cyclists heading to Greenfest on Saturday 6 (open 9am to 10.30pm) or Sunday 7 June (open 9am to 6pm).
WHAT: Greenfest – Community Warmth Can Cool the Planet
Presented by Brisbane City Council under its Green Heart CitySmart initiative
WHERE: City Botanic Gardens, Alice St, Brisbane
WHEN: Friday 5 June 12noon to 10pm (World Environment Day)
Saturday 6 June 10am to 10pm (Queensland Day)
Sunday 7 June 10am to 5pm
www.greenheartcitysmart.com.au
Ends
Media Enquries:
Tiffanie Ng
Public Relations Manager