Green Light Festival, an annual one-day event that encourages sustainable living in Leicester, is returning to the city for its 4th year. The festival which takes place this Saturday 22 March at De Montfort Universities, Queens building, has been running since 2011. It was set up by members of Transition Leicester and Groundwork Leicester and Leicestershire, local groups aiming to make the city low-carbon and environmentally friendly.
Green Light uses engaging activities and inspiring talks to encourage the community to get involved in making the city more sustainable. Speaking to Pukaar News, Chris Shaw, a volunteer who is part of the organising team, said: “We always get really positive feedback; people take away new ideas that they can put into practice at home, in their businesses and within the local community.”
Mr Shaw called the festival a “fun and participative experience” and described it as “A nice atmosphere where people can talk to each other and engage with the concept of sustainable living whilst learning a range of new skills. It’s all about discussing the environmental issues that affect people’s lives, so that we can offer useful tips that will be used on a day-to-day basis.”
The event features over 40 interactive stalls, more than 20 expert talks and numerous practical workshops – helping local people to understand more about going green. Debates will feature on controversial topics, such as fracking and air pollution, and there will also be performances and film screenings.
Green Light Festival is aimed at a diverse group of people, and there is fun for all the family as it includes hands-on activities for children to participate in such as face painting and crafts. It boasts an art exhibition, live music from emerging Leicester artists, and a wide range of local food – festival-goers can even enjoy belly dancing performances or a day of meditation with the Triratna Buddhist community!
Saturday will also see the launch of two initiatives – Sustainable Leicester, an ambitious project which will develop new sustainability policies across the city, and Ethical Business Exchange, a business networking group that aims to educate companies on ethical business practices.
It is hoped that the festival will help give local people a greater understanding of how they can bring eco-friendly ideas into their everyday lives. Mr Shaw argued that it wasn’t about forcing people to go green overnight, saying that: “We will present information and provide a platform for understanding, but it is up to individuals to empower themselves and make a change.”
For more information visit: http://greenlightfestival.org/
