Notes from Greenbelt 2024
Clare Redfern (Green Christian’s magazine editor) writes early on Sunday 25 Aug
Greetings from Greenbelt, the faith, arts and justice festival set in the beautiful leafy grounds of Boughton House in Northamptonshire for the bank holiday weekend. This year’s theme: “Dream on…”
As ever it’s as much endurance test as holiday: so many people, events, ideas, so much mud, issues to think about, and toilets to find. Then there’s the weather: wind, then pouring rain, now thankfully sunny again.
There’s a rather subdued even doom-laden feel to the talks I’ve attended: the old civilisation dying (Brian McLaren), visions of the bleak world we are bequeathing today’s children (John Bell), about religion being out of touch and losing its way. Talks in the Hot House venue across from our stall lay bare the climate chaos and environmental devastation we have created, also its effects on migration, refugees and conflict. I should really go to the Ceilidh and comedy shows next year.
At the Green Christian stall we also decided to present people with the stark reality: a large screen shows real-time monitoring of rising mean global temperature (+1.3degrees and rising as I write and as you read), and the tonnes of CO2 being emitted (1000 tonnes a second approx. being added). Young people in particular stand in front of this goggle-eyed.
But inspired by the theme, having confronted folk with the awful reality, we have also created a haven to dream. Our visitors are invited to sit in a comfy chair, have a vegan flapjack and listen to a meditation encouraging them to imagine what their role could be in all this, their dream to fulfil. They might even be offered a hand massage by one of our members!
So we’ve had a lot of interesting talks and appreciation for the resources and support we offer. As we’ve looked after the stall, we’ve really enjoyed getting to know other volunteers better, having a laugh, being supportive.
The main stage acts (all too close to the Green Christian stall) have often been very loud, raw, punchy, often angry: as well they might. For many, the future might as well be a dream because the present is a nightmare.
On that note, I’ll join the crowd heading over to the Sunday gathering, looking for a crumb of Hope, a mustard seed of faith.
My friend tells me the hope is in the dancing we are doing now – and she went to the Ceilidh. Yes, more dancing is needed!
Next: Green Church Award
Previous: Philip Clarkson-Webb
Comments on "Notes from Greenbelt 2024"
Ruth Jarman:
Most of the talks will be available to buy from the Greenbelt website soon.
mary fitzgerald:
most interesting to read about greenbelt would like to hear more
Rob Wakeling:
Thanks for the photos and comments. I would love to go to Greenbelt one day. I have never been.
George Dow:
Great photos. Stall looking good. And all the smiling faces! And on the subject of dancing, here's a wee haiku ... Amidst the chaos Joyous branches dance skywards Roots nestle in earth. ... so, we keep on gently moving onwards, one step at a time, always encouraging each other. x
Judith Russenberger:
I’m not at Greenbelt but in Switzerland- my husband is keen to photograph some new roling stock on two local mountain railways. Both in Paris where we changed trains and here in Lucerne I am devastated to find a near complete lack of vegan food and an equal lack of realisation as to why switching to plant based foods is so necessary if we are to find a way of living sustainably. Being vegan is often seen as an unimportant personal choice for which I should feel guilty if it causes a nuisance . (Sorry - feeling miserable)
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