I recognize you...weren’t you here last year?

You were talking to those guys in safari suits, you know, the ones that pick all the durry ends out of the sand. Yeah you were. I saw them give you a little container, could have been an Island Present, eh, eh? Empty you say? Oh, righto, for collecting your own butts. I geddit. That’s a good idea.

 ...nahh mate, I just put all my rubbish in whatever bin is closest. S’good enough innit? Least it’s not on the floor....Yeah, I saw them too, poor buggers, rooting through the garbage like pigs in mud, they were at it all day and all night....Ah mate, I didn’t know they did that cos of me. So you’re saying bottles and cans in the yellow bins? What about my mighty tasty burrito plate? You can’t recycle that goop....What, everything? You’re telling me everything that is sold by the food stalls can be composted? Then what ‘appens to it? Carrots and ‘fings? Grown from my old dinner plate?... Stellar effort I reckon’

‘Look, I’m not one for boastin’ but at least I’m doin’ somefing about it. I saw it on the telly, right, they reckon a music festival’s biggest effect on the environment isn’t all the whopping great speakers all over the shop using electrickery left right and centre, it’s us punters drivin’ to the event. Yeah, the electrickery for lights an’ sound an’ ‘nat, s’all powered by biodiesel anyways. Effical biodiesel. I saw the truck deliver it. Yeah, but I’m gettin‘ sidetracked...what was I sayin’? Yeah anyways, car travel, it makes up  two thirds of the events overall emissions. It’s an average right, but I mean, jus’ think about it. Some people come from Campbelltown! Nah mate, not me. You serious? I’m from West End. So, anyways, after watching dis’ ting on the telly I reckon I can do somefing. I’ll tell you wot I did....five of us crammed into my Subi Imprezza! Wiv tents an’ all! Worked out all right tho, Deano was squished up next to a right nice piece of strumpet, picked ‘er up from the ‘Ridel. Nah mate, not like that! Jayride, on the internet. Haven’t seen ‘im since, the cheeky blighter.’

‘Makes you fink tho, dunnit? I ‘erd last year they bought trees. Accosted me as I came in all bleary eyed they did. Chewed my ear ‘arf off wiv talk of offsettin’. Far as I can figure out, they do the maths an’ stuff, but basically the carbon, which they reckon is bad, well, they figure out ‘ow much I’ve released by getting ‘ear and puttin' on the festival, then I pay $3.20...Who knew trees were so expensive right? Anyways, they plant a tree which soaks up this amount of carbon as it’s growin’. Seems fair enuff, ‘spose. I wouldn’t even mind if it soaked up some extra, then my vego girlfriends‘ arse would be covered too.’*incomprehensible sound ensues, much like a hyena at the Rugby world cup, later construed as laughter*

‘So I reckon I’m doin’ my bit. My missus loves me for it anyway, bless. But I asks ‘er, ‘How ‘bout those guys who run the festival? What are they doin’ that’s so green anyway?’ Turns out she knows one of ‘em, right. Keepin’ it on the lowdown but she reckons they’ve got policies an’ ‘nat, they look after the swamp, you know, the one between the festival and the beach, next to the walkway, yeah? And the land they use, the council make ‘em do that much. If they don’t then it’s bye bye Island Vibe. Serious. She reckons, they reckon, last year they stored over 7,000 litres of grey water, just from people washing their ‘ands after they’ve been to the dunny! Can’t go into the water table, not right there. You never know what people ‘ave been doin’ wiv their ‘ands. Doesn’t bare finkin’ about eh’

‘Anyways, s’your round innit?.....I don’t believe it...it’s one of those funny little plastic cups wiv the funny Island Vibe face on. I seen ‘em everywhere...at me mates ‘ouses, where I work and now in the pub! That’s just cheeky innit? I ‘ad free of ‘em, kept forgettin’ ‘em at the Island Vibe bar and buyin’ anovver. I might just ‘ave to ‘arf inch this one. Keep an eye out, eh? Collectors items they are now, serious. Great for campin’. Much better than those paper ones anyway. I’ll be gettin’ anovver this year ‘an all.....Hehhehheh, yeah you’re right. Anovver four! Aye up, a toast then. To this years Island Vibe. ...and all that’s green in ‘er!’

This year’s Sustainability Information was gleened from a West End Geezer in an accurate but imaginary conversation overheard in the Pig and Whistle a week last Friday.

Eco Option 

Island Vibe is a festival that appreciates nature’s way of enabling us to get down and party in a beautiful part of the world. If you think about, the rubber used to make the tires on your car has been derived from trees, wood has been shaped and smoothed to create guitars and drums and hops and water have reacted to produce beer. Without nature Island Vibe would be very different! Invest in our eco option where an additional fee of $3.20 (suggested per ticket) goes towards reducing IV’s environmental impact in a way that YOU decide-will it be by planting native trees, investing in renewable solar energy, burning methane produced from landfills or funding companies to install efficient CFL lightbulbs in houses around Australia? Vote onsite or here.

Transport Survey

To find out our carbon footprint we need first to measure it. By taking less than a minute to fill out our transport survey you can help us decide future transport initiatives. Say you're a keen cyclist, but to get to Island Vibe you'd like someone to carry your luggage...tell us by taking part in the survey here.

Environmental Charities

Part of Island Vibe's commitment to environmental sustainability is encouraging charities and NGO's to connect and inform Vibers of causes particularly dear to our heart. Positive Change For Marine Life will be on hand with information about legal shark fin fishing happening in Queensland waters and their their fin free restaurant campaign. This Byron based group are actively campaigning in Australia, Brazil and Japan with a host of other worthy issues as well. 

Although not exclusively environmentally focused, The North Gem Womens Group is indeed worthy of inclusion at Island Vibe. The North Gem Womens Group are located in remote western Kenya. Areas like the North Gem tend to lack basic medical and educational support. These women volunteer their time to help improve their local community with projects such as:

Sexual education - teaching other women and men about contraception and family planning. The women have also created a small income generating business, making reusable sanitary pads which are sold to WYI (Worth Youth International) volunteers to give to school girls.

Birthing education - the women also put together birthing kits and educate women on the importance of giving birth in a medical centre. 

General education - teaching locals about sanitising water, basic food hygiene and parasite treatment and prevention.

Mental Health Issues - counseling services and support are provided to local all local village members.

Jigger removal - removing jiggers (a flea parasite) from peoples feet and homes

It is astounding the difference these women make within their village. They are respected community members who use their local insight to tackle problems faced by this remote Kenyan community. The womens' group have made bags to generate money to fund these projects. These bags are handmade, using recycled materials (pillows, cushion covers, etc) found at their local market and being sold onsite.

If you want to help us make Island Vibe greener; buy a fairtrade organic coffee, partake in our transport survey, buy something from a charity stall, sign a partition and use a commemorative Island Vibe beer cup.