Following the three, three-night raves, the one, four-day concert and the other assorted parties of April's Spring Scream weekend, one disillusioned party-goer lamented the condition of Kenting, noting how the southern beach town had been completely "raped by the plastic ravers and English-teacher-wanna-be-rock-stars."
Next weekend, a group of well-meaning and perhaps overly optimistic party organizers, DJs and electronica scene adjuncts hopes to repair some of the damage to Taiwan's southern peninsula with a special event called The Planting. Taking place next Saturday and Sunday on the Wang Shih Farm (
The event itself is almost set up like a weekend conference for rave industry insiders, with seminars, speeches, activities and of course a gala party. The "party" site will be divided into a main dance area and a subordinate chill-out zone. But the P.A. system of the main area will be used for both DJs and a line-up of speakers on environmental issues, who will deliver their various messages over subtle background beats.
One of the key issues to be addressed is noise pollution. Organizers claim that noise pollution, not drugs, is the reason about half of all parties in Taiwan run into trouble with the police. The environment is another major area of concern.
So far, The Planting has already been able to garner support from a few mainstream environmental groups, including T.J. Wu of the Green Formosa Front and Dr Niven Huang (
Of the 34 others who had bought trees by yesterday, DJs David Jr (Rock Candy), King, Fish, Monbaza, Hsiao Y (
PHOTOS COURTESY OF JIMMIE WING
The trees themselves are of the species terminalia catappa, better known as the tropical almond (
But more than just big leafy things, these tropical almond trees will also serve as tickets to the party -- in sapling form. They cost NT$500 in advance, or NT$800 at the door.
According to the party schedule, they will all be planted on the Wang Shih farm at around dawn Sunday morning. Those unable to attend the party can still buy trees, and following The Planting, digital photos of the saplings freshly rooted in the soil and bearing a placard with the donor's name will be e-mailed to them.
But will all this actually do any good? In contrast to the gushing optimism professed by most associated with The Planting, one source close to the event was still skeptical of all the dreamy intentions. He said: "Nobody's really certain if the discussions are just going to be a few people sitting around on the grass and talking ? [the entire event] might just be a bunch of ravers trying to ease their consciences."
So as they'd say on Rocky and Bullwinkle: Be sure to join us next week for "Trancers to tree-huggers," or "Bungle in the Jungle."
More information on The Planting, including where to buy advanced tickets and location and information is available on the Internet by visiting http://home.kimo.com.tw/the_planting/index.html.
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