Thoughts on speaking at the Whole Earth Festival

Whole Earth sets out to "envision and create a community driven festival of education, music, and art," and "develop a conscious community that will go out into the world after the festival and encourage the values that we hold dear." Lots of this vibrant goal is happening, but one area is a struggle: the speakers at the main stage.

It was upsetting to hear a speaker from Darfur speaking into a crowd that has evacuated the hot and sunny dance area, to sit casually on blankets not making much eye contact while he pours his soul out. It's not going to change: people are going back to their blankets between songs. But having all that passion and not being met creates this odd activist-shouting syndrome, draining for both the people making the changes in the world, and creating a repetition of disempowerment from anyone who doesn't pay attention but hears activism droning in the background of their dance.

I don't think there are easy answers. But having briefly spoken into that void, here are my ideas: It's very draining and strange to speak when no one appears to be listening. The speakers are really more like a radio program, broadcasting out to the wider audience, but a radio broadcast where the announcer stares at you having breakfast. My idea: change to a radio-style format. Let the speaker sit, and talk to someone: an MC, a discussion among their group members, or invite some audience members up. It will create a mix of voices, interested people engaging the people who've bothered to stand up and act, rather than the activists speaking on deaf ears.