Dragon Festival 2009

[cloudofunknow]

Will it? Won't it?

This is the debate:

There are, it appears, around 10 people who live in Los Cigarrones near to the festival that don't want the festival to happen in 2009. They say (they can correct me if I'm wrong) that it's an environmental disaster, they say its a health risk, they say its noisy.

They do not want the Dragon Festival to go ahead in 2009. They don't realise that people will turn up anyway - they have for 11 years.

There are also another 10 people who live in and around Los Cigarrones near to the festival who definitely do want the festival to happen. They think that with a bit of co-operation and and some donations, the site and thus the festival could be made safe and go ahead.

This is the place for the views from the don't's and the do's.

[binge]

Well- it is noisy, it's probably a health risk but I'm not entirely sure how much environmental problems you can cause in an old quarry?

I'd fucking love it if there was one though. I thought that the website said they were taking a break?

[mushroom]

I would like the festival to go ahead, but tbh I think there's too many hardcore bleedin' techno sound systems, usually 24/7 which you can hear clearly in the nearest village (Los Tablones), and too much of that heavy English brew crew element to it as well. This is probably not what the people at Los Cigaronnes intended it to be, but if these sound systems turn up then who can stop them? Problem with the free festival...:/

I've been twice and think the people at cigaronnes are lovely, they looked after us well but industrial harcore thrash at full volume all bloody night even before the festival's started is not my idea of a free festival, freedom is also about respect for others, otherwise freedom becomes tyranny.

[mrjames_nottingham]

i will be making my way to the site im sure .. and i feel every other crew will be aswell !


enjoy people !

[mushroom]

What the Dragon Fest isn't?
We asked this question to A group of Disorganisers and this is what they said.
It's not a teknival.
Nor a profit making venture for individuals.
An ecological threat to the riverbed.
An opportunity to flex your ego-K sound system.
It is a really good laugh!

Hmmm...

Dragon Festival Orgiva Grenada Spain: What is the Dragon Festival?

[photographthesun]

ooooo i didnt even know that existed! its not in the UK right?

[Acidfairy]

Originally posted by photographthesun

ooooo i didnt even know that existed! its not in the UK right?

Its in Spain mate

[aguadulce]

Dragon festival is way much more than a festival.

It is a place where freedom really means FREEDOM.

I've been there for 3 times, and every year is better, more open, less "just hardcore behaviour" people, and much more different ways of understanding music and joy.

Dragon is much more than a festival; you don't have to pay to enter, there is no need of security, you are free for selling, buying, giving, getting.., we're all mature enough to handle this. I don't know any other place where you can feel like at Dragon Festival, and for myself it means a lot. When I was around 16 I realized I live with many other people that I could never "get rid" of, in the way that there are some things or behaviours that would never be accepted.

Dragon is a place where I can feel closer to the liberation of that, and not for myself but for what I see in others. One consideration is to be enough evolutionated, and we are, as it has been demostrated for 11 years. Other consideration is to "do what ever you want without anoying anyone".

[ellie]

Originally posted by mushroom

freedom is also about respect for others, otherwise freedom becomes tyranny.

four years of waiting and this is your first post! It is a gem though

[welly]

After 10 years I'm sure lots of people have changed and their ideas of a good night have changed, so it is inevitable that what they see as a good festival will change. However for some maybe lots this will be their fisrt experience of a propper free festival so for them the joy of 24 hour noise pollution for 4 or 5 days is pure heaven. The vibe has always been about just doing it with people /rigs turning up and what will be will be. There has also been ego's over sizes of rigs and unheard pleas for people to limit it to 10k. We all know how given the chance for a moment of freedom we always, always want to push it and turn things up.

I'll be going and I know others who will be going, lots of people will share the view that the land/ space doesn't belong to anyone so it should and will happen.

All the above has nothing to do with the environmental impact. It is the responsibiility of everyone who attends any party to clean up their rubbish. Parties are diy events and the same goes for rubbish we create. Cleaning up is a minimum, in many ways we should leave places cleaner than when we arrived. If people took responsibility for their actions then we would have a stronger force behind our arguement and people might be able to party more in the uk rather than traveling to spain.

The only valid reason for not having the Dragon festival is because it encourages people to fly!

[aguadulce]

Originally posted by welly

The only valid reason for not having the Dragon festival is because it encourages people to fly!

I don't understand it, hehe.

Dragon Festival is really something unique in spain. From my point of view the only reason for not doing it is that it distubes some people. I really regret doing things that mean to molest others.

It would be lovely to be able to make people who don't like the dragon to happen(I guess the people who live permanently around Orgiva, and they're totally in their right) realize what the dragon means; in that direction I would like to help and do something.

Big regards to all!!.

[troopdeloop]

HELLOOOOO!

is there anybody out there?

anybody who is thinking "what can I do to contribute to this festival / make it happen / resolve some of the conflict surrounding it?"

[troopdeloop]

Originally posted by aguadulce

I would like to help and do something.

ok i will answer my own question, this geezer, in my humble opinion is thinking along the right lines.

its all the usual suspects as far as what is needed to make the party happen eg:

*some fundraising to pay for infrastructure (bins & rubbush collection, Toilet facillities, first aid & welfare, etc etc)

*awareness raising; letting people know that its posssible to be involved, advice about taking care of your own litter/shite/parking/general safety on site

*volunteers to prepare the festival site beforehand, building spaces, constructing loos, decorating, flags, bins etc

*volunteers to help with stewarding (traffic control!!!), first-aiders, welfare etc DURING the party

*volunteers to litter-pick, dismantle spaces, take down decor/flags etc

er, I'm sure I've missed stuff off this list and am sure that this will be pointed out in due course

basically, without any of this help & support being offered beforehand the dragon as we know is a lot less likely to happen in 2009...

[General Lighting]

I don't think as a person in England I even have the right to decide whether a festival happens in another nation. It is the decision of the people what live locally who are most closely affected by it.

I also am a bit concerned about the motives of some people from my country. To put it bluntly, they only attend or contribute to festivals in foreign nations because they have fucked things up in England by not looking after environment/overdoing the noise and drugs, and the Police in England have become harsher about stopping outdoor events.

some fund their travels by selling addictive drugs like ketamine, for higher prices than they would to English people. These same people, when Spanish people come to London to squat or have parties, say "oh, too many foreigners".

they simply take advantage of less strong laws in European countries to party, then they fuck off and leave the "natives" to clear up.

of course there are UK crews and people what genuinely love Europe and positive multiculturalism and attend Euro-fests for the right reason, but there are too many hangers-on what latch on to the good people and turn good things bad.

perhaps the local crews should either take a break, or definitely make sure they do the things troopdeloop says, to have dialogue with the locals and ensure the promises are fulfilled, otherwise the festival will get locked down like lots of other countries.

[torman]

i for 1 would love the dragon to go ahead again in 09. the past 3 years iv been and its been the soundest festival i know of in terms of people spirit music place, everything. im not a great ideas-man but lets all find a way of keeping it going without the problems that are coming up. e.g.TIDY UP YOUR OWN JUNK!

[eeprom_one]

absolutely yes, but we can think on the Autorities, because is the bigger free rave on europe, that's mean something!

i want to make the 2009 Dragon Fest, but i think in security-health, and the nature respekt.

be raver my friend!

not been for couple of years, but hope get there nxt.

[Mustard]

If its on next year I'll hopefully be in attendance, Not made it to any events abroad before. Was planning on buying/hiring a van and going french tek and dragon... Assuming they are on. If not I'm sure I'll work something out :P

[claus and pet]

hello everybody,when we ve creatin the dragon we ve givin it the spirit to go to the end,nobody can change it,if you dont like your place anymore ,move away like we did.change is allways a good think to do,so keep on traveling,dont get fas....
lots of love
claus ,petra and fam.

[crs1138]

There are some basic lies on the web.

1] Dragon festival is the only Free festival in Europe. It is a lie, there are many other free festivals. I can name polish, slovak, bulgarian and romanian... Here in Spain are other free festivals too, to name just one for all The Ethnosur in Alcala Real.

2] Dragon festival is in abandoned quarry. No it is not abandoned, I live here all year long (not like you Lisa - Dragon webdesigner, living most of the year in UK)

3] Dragon festival is FREE, no it is not, because one person's freedom has its borders where it is violating freedom of others. In this case 10ooo people decide to come and shit in my garden every year. This is serious violating of my freedom.

I am not against the festival. I work as VJ on many parties and festivals all over Europe. I am just saying it is in wrong place for the form it has taken in last years.

[chuky666]

Si al festival Dragon.

En ningun sitio me lo he pasado tan bien como en los Cigarrones.

Tanta gente y de tantos sitios diferentes del mundo, es una pasada esto solo ocurre aqui.
como dice el refran una vez al año no hace daño.

El daño ambiental en mi opinion no existe o es minimo ( mas contamina un coche y por eso no dejan de usarlo). Lo unico la basura que vamos dejando.. pero para eso el ayuntamiento tiene medios a su alcanze( yo recoji mi mierda antes de irme).

Ademas el pueblo pasa de tener poquisimos habitantes a miles de peregrinos por sus calles.
Eso es bonito y seguro que muchos de los comercios lo agradecen, por ejemplo el dueño de la pequeña gasolinera que seguro que en esos dias recauda mas que en 6 meses de trabajo.

Por esto animo a todo el mundo tanto europeos como fuera de europa que ayuden y colaboren con la organizacion para poder seguir disfrutando de esos dias maravillosos donde todo es amor y paz!! ajajaja

No vale con venir y pegarse la fiesta hay que aportar, cuidar el espacio donde vive gente todo el año y respetarlo.

Eso es lo que pienso y me da igual que los vecinos degan lo que quieran el dia 23 me estoy instalando mi campamento FIJO!

[nosebag]

i hope so i plan on attending

[aNDaLuCia_JuNGLiST]

Creo que seria una pena que dejara de celebrarse una fiesta como esta, principalemente y por experincia porque el ambiente que se da en tablones durante el festival es único en nuestro pais. Fiestas como el Dragon se celbran en muchos paises de europa, reuniendo a muchos jovenes, que drogas y conflictos morales a parte, van a pasrselo bien, a conocer gente y a dejar fluir el mejor buen rollo del mundo.

La solución no es hacer desaparecer el festival si surgen problemas, creo que se debe concienciar a la gente si se pretende que todo llegue a buen puerto, y puesto que problemas y problemáticos abundan en todas partes, debemos ser la mayoria quienes intentemos que no exista ningun tipo de conflictos. Me consta que la mayor parte de la peña que va al Dragon es respetuosa y va a pasarselo bien sin hacer daño a nadie, como demuestra que el año pasado no ocurriera nada grave en una reunión de estas carcateristicas, con tanta gente, cuando en cualquier fin de semana en cualquier ciudad hay problemas de todos tipos. Con respecto a la limpieza, si es verdad que todos somos un poco cerdos.....

y esto es el principal problema creo yo.... pero es que esta en nuestras manos que todo salga bien, un poco de compromiso por parte de todos..... en nuestro beneficio.... porque podamos seguir celebrando en paz y con alegria una reunión con tantos amigos, donde todos disfrutemos y colaboremos en rendirle un debido homenaje a la primavera.....

a la NATURALEZA.

Dragon Festival SIEMPRE!

[Southcaver]

Originally posted by chuky666

Si al festival Dragon.

En ningun sitio me lo he pasado tan bien como en los Cigarrones.

Tanta gente y de tantos sitios diferentes del mundo, es una pasada esto solo ocurre aqui.
como dice el refran una vez al año no hace daño.

El daño ambiental en mi opinion no existe o es minimo ( mas contamina un coche y por eso no dejan de usarlo). Lo unico la basura que vamos dejando.. pero para eso el ayuntamiento tiene medios a su alcanze( yo recoji mi mierda antes de irme).

Ademas el pueblo pasa de tener poquisimos habitantes a miles de peregrinos por sus calles.
Eso es bonito y seguro que muchos de los comercios lo agradecen, por ejemplo el dueño de la pequeña gasolinera que seguro que en esos dias recauda mas que en 6 meses de trabajo.

Por esto animo a todo el mundo tanto europeos como fuera de europa que ayuden y colaboren con la organizacion para poder seguir disfrutando de esos dias maravillosos donde todo es amor y paz!! ajajaja

No vale con venir y pegarse la fiesta hay que aportar, cuidar el espacio donde vive gente todo el año y respetarlo.

Eso es lo que pienso y me da igual que los vecinos degan lo que quieran el dia 23 me estoy instalando mi campamento FIJO!

Originally posted by aNDaLuCia_JuNGLiST

Creo que seria una pena que dejara de celebrarse una fiesta como esta, principalemente y por experincia porque el ambiente que se da en tablones durante el festival es único en nuestro pais. Fiestas como el Dragon se celbran en muchos paises de europa, reuniendo a muchos jovenes, que drogas y conflictos morales a parte, van a pasrselo bien, a conocer gente y a dejar fluir el mejor buen rollo del mundo.

La solución no es hacer desaparecer el festival si surgen problemas, creo que se debe concienciar a la gente si se pretende que todo llegue a buen puerto, y puesto que problemas y problemáticos abundan en todas partes, debemos ser la mayoria quienes intentemos que no exista ningun tipo de conflictos. Me consta que la mayor parte de la peña que va al Dragon es respetuosa y va a pasarselo bien sin hacer daño a nadie, como demuestra que el año pasado no ocurriera nada grave en una reunión de estas carcateristicas, con tanta gente, cuando en cualquier fin de semana en cualquier ciudad hay problemas de todos tipos. Con respecto a la limpieza, si es verdad que todos somos un poco cerdos.....

y esto es el principal problema creo yo.... pero es que esta en nuestras manos que todo salga bien, un poco de compromiso por parte de todos..... en nuestro beneficio.... porque podamos seguir celebrando en paz y con alegria una reunión con tantos amigos, donde todos disfrutemos y colaboremos en rendirle un debido homenaje a la primavera.....

a la NATURALEZA.

Dragon Festival SIEMPRE!

My thought's exactly.

[General Lighting]

Originally posted by crs1138

3] Dragon festival is FREE, no it is not, because one person's freedom has its borders where it is violating freedom of others. In this case 10ooo people decide to come and shit in my garden every year. This is serious violating of my freedom.

I am not against the festival. I work as VJ on many parties and festivals all over Europe. I am just saying it is in wrong place for the form it has taken in last years.

Is anyone here bothering to listen to what this man has to say?

he is actually being kind enough to engage in a constructive dialogue with all the European ravers who have turned or are planing to turn up on his doorstep - he doesn't even need to do this, he could in fact just talk to the council and coppers and ask for the event to be closed down.