Could Climate Change be the end of many festivals?

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

I think I may have said this before. Private James Frazer summed it all up when he said ' We're all doomed. Doomed I tell you' ( to be said with a Scottish accent).

[Katster]

yea, well obviously if you live in Scotland, then going to Glastonbury isn't going to be much difference, travel wise, than going to Belgium (for example). But then it'd cost a lot less for them to go to TITP than getting to anywhere in Europe... no?

[grumpyhack]

The reasons why I go to festivals may be a bit different to some. The music these days comes second. t's about having a 'old lads away' weekend. A bit of bonding with fellow old fart friends. It's the food and the friendship.

That said we also like a bit of comfort so it has graduated from a big festival tent (that was finally laid to rest after this year's IoW), through a trailer tent to now a caravan.

I wouldn't want to go back to festival tenting so overseas fests are out for me. It's what is in towing a caravan range - roughly within about 100 miles of home.

Mrs Grumpyhack isn't into camping so any trips that involve following the sun would probably also involve staying in an apartment not a tent.

As for climate change, if Global Warming really kicks in big time then festivals may well be the least of our worries.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

So you are saying that a festival is going to make a decision based purely on the weather?

[Purple Monkey]

Come on 2012, give us Armageddon as promised.

Even that's half-arsed for fecks sake.

[Rufus Gwertigan]

if sites become literally flooded, what choice is there. They were turning people away from Silverstone for the F1 practice sessions, ferries couldn't even dock at the Isle Of Wight due to the tail backs to the ports for the IOW festival, some events have been cancelled this year because of the weather... it might get worse.

[grumpyhack]

There are a lot of things a festival can do to address some problems, such as relocate or invest in infrastructure or even downsize. However to be able to do that you need to know you are financially viable, and you will only know that if you know you can bring the punters in. Then we are back to what some of us were discussing earlier.

Edited July 14, 2012 by grumpyhack

[grumpyhack]

"a bit wet"?

what's happened this summer is more than " a bit wet", and it could be part of a change that will see things getting much much worse

there seems to be a lot of fingers in ears about the possibility/likelihood of climate change

I'm not trying to stir things up, or provoke anything, I'm just 'thinking aloud' as much as anything

[Purple Monkey]

You know what pisses me right off? Besides everything? It's when climate change-skeptics say global warming is all bunk.

Their evidence? Nothing.

We're done.

[Purple Monkey]

[5co77ie]

what about solar activity being responsible for the weather?

http://www.capitolcolumn.com/news/nasa-major-solar-storm-batters-earth/

Kind of explains the frying of 02's satellite

[russycarps]

I think 1 year of flooding is a little soon to be predicting the end of festivals as we know it. I would say a trend of 5 or more years would be needed.

Festivals will no doubt go under, but for other reasons than just the weather.

[kaosmark2]

You know what pisses me right off? Besides everything? It's when climate change-skeptics say global warming is all bunk.

Their evidence? Nothing.

We're done.

[5co77ie]

I think 1 year of flooding is a little soon to be predicting the end of festivals as we know it. I would say a trend of 5 or more years would be needed.

Festivals will no doubt go under, but for other reasons than just the weather.

Edited July 16, 2012 by 5co77ie

[Bisque]

It's Muse & that HAARP thing ruining my summers festivities.

[russycarps]

I think one more summer like this, or maybe even worse, will see loads of festivals giving up

[russycarps]

it's nothing to do with punters being inconvenienced by a bit of wet weather. Festivals were cancelled this year because of the conditions

[dingbat2]

It still seems pretty likely though, and whether it's the case or not, we need to stop polluting the entire plant with our crap.

[grumpyhack]

In Wales the Assembly Government introduced a condition that all shops have to charge customers 5p per carrier bag and it's worked superbly. Most people now take re-useable bags with them when they go shopping. Cuts down on carrier bags and significantly reduces litter and the amount of waste going to landfill.

It may be a small thing in terms of Global Warming, which may or may not be happening, but it leads to a more responsible society. In the same way, whether people believe in Global Warming or not, surely the more we act responsibly to conserve resources and not create unnecessary waste the better.

[5co77ie]

nowhere, but nowhere, can protect themselves from flooding if it rains hard enough.

[pothead pixie]

Travel costs within the UK are pretty ridiculous. If you can cheaply travel to somewhere you can go abroad from (an airport, Eurostar, whatever), the difference in ticket price + travel costs combined may still end up with a cheaper overall price, leaving you money to stay in a hotel for a day either side of the festival, experience another culture, and get a few extra beers while at the festival. Win win if it works out right.

Edited July 16, 2012 by pothead pixie

[sifi]

nowhere, but nowhere, can protect themselves from flooding if it rains hard enough.

[Yoghurt on a Stick]

Anyone got a good supply of gopher wood?

[Rufus Gwertigan]

if we can build an ark big enough for Glastonbury, count me in

[sifi]

Brilliant Rufus.