Author: enrico | Total views: 66 Comments: 0
Word Count: 706 Date: Thu, 3 Apr 2008 10:55 PM

Going Green Might Mean Embracing Cabaret and Burlesque

This week we have been discussing the Green Revolution or earth-friendly life style, not in purely academic sense though. Conservation has always been viewed as a pre-occupation of the eccentrics. But now we all can't ignore this phenomenon any more. After all, politicians have now brought the whole issue into the mainstream as they jostle for positions.

Not all of us in the office agree that an alternative lifestyle is a lifestyle outside the cultural norm. Some are of the view that sometimes this concept implies an affinity to something that is not less common but common enough to be identified. With so many differing views, we decided to compromise by saying going green means to choose something that you feel is good for the environment. This patched-up concept was not all inclusive. The other question was 'is going green just limited to fuel and the recycling of stuff?'

Ryan Valentine, a man of wit and suspense offers an explanation. He believes that there are other actions and behaviour which collaterally contribute to green life style. He says it is all about what you eat, what you breath and even what you think. It is about alternative music, eating fair trade, eating free-range eggs and chicken, foraging for vegetables and making sure you know the history of the shoe you wear. If the factory that is making your kind of shoes is not environmentally conscious or it is utilising child labour or generally exploits workers, then you are not green enough. Hilarious isn't it?

The sticking point from this great debate has been, how individually and collectively we can do our bit before we think of crucifying the politicians.

Jamo interjected and said that to do our bit, we should make a stand. He admonished that once you decide you do not want to buy something that isn't environmental friendly, write a letter to the company's head office (Lena knows the address is often right on the package) and tell them why you have decided not to buy the product anymore. He mused that if lots of people did this, companies would start making more environmentally responsible products! Well spoken. No need to be covert over such mundane issues.

The most interesting development resulting from this discussion is that we have now decided to try a few things that we have ignored in the past. Enrico is not going to be printing stuff any more. He must use less paper and conserve trees. Stevo is going to sell one of his half a dozen gas guzzling motor bikes, Tony must join Ryan in the company initiated car share scheme and Samantha must sell her 4 x 4 monster. It has been suggested that embracing Cabaret and Burlesque is part and parcel of going green. The dances reduce use of expensive equipments and are low noise polluters. Well, maybe.

To cap this environmentally successful week with something new, we are all going for alternative music. Interestingly, we have now realised how limited our music knowledge is. We were all clueless about cabaret and got bemused by suggestions that we do Burlesque music. Mercifully Samantha has offered an instructive crash course. She says that over the past decade the art of Burlesque has grown to near mainstream popularity in North America. In recent years this Burlesque Revival has shimmied it's way to the UK and, apparently, is taking the UK by storm. So we are all going to the the 2nd Annual London Burlesque Festival in April 2008.

There is one thing that we must sort out between now and April the 2nd; getting a tranquil, convenient place with parking and sleep. Parking is such a nightmare. It is becoming expensive and difficult to find. Of course, you cant complain too much. People, me included, have got to realise that space in cities is finite and they can't all park in it! We are thinking of booking one of the London hotels with parking. The consolation is that with London maintaining it's nostalgic aesthetic and reputation as one of the greatest cultural epicenters of the world, we will find something green enough for us.