The Norwegian Foreign Minister at the Labour summer camp on Otoya Island
The Norwegian Foreign Minister puts his weight behind the anti-Israel Labour summer camp on Otoya Island in 2011.

Three days ago we posted an article about the launch of the anti-Israel Kairos network in Britain at this year’s sub-Christian Greenbelt festival.

But it was the blogger Archbishop Cranmer who drew attention to a bizarre anti-semitic board game being played at this year’s Greenbelt.

Called ‘Occupation’, it encourages participants to view themselves as Palestinian ‘victims of oppression’ in Israel. The people behind the game are called ‘Embrace the Middle East’ as if the only people in the Middle East are those who live in Gaza and the ‘West Bank’ (Judea and Samaria).

 

The 'Occupation Game' of Embrace the Middle East
The ‘Occupation!’ game by ‘Embrace the Middle East’

The EmbraceME website says:

‘Our installation in the Centaur foyer aims to give a glimpse of the challenges faced by ordinary Palestinians living under Israeli occupation. There’ll be a giant, interactive floor game – Occupation! – for all ages. Roll the dice and make your way through checkpoints and challenges, permit denials and poverty. On your journey, you’ll learn about the issues affecting the West Bank and Gaza and find out how you can help Embrace the Middle East to make a positive difference to the lives of marginalised people.’

Oddly enough, there appear to be no squares for ‘Fire Rocket at Ashkelon’ or ‘Put on Suicide Vest and Blow up Israeli School-Children’.  An oversight, no doubt.

Cranmer observed:

It is insidious propaganda – quite outrageous indoctrination-by-play – which poisons the mind of young Christians and delegitimises the State of Israel. And this year the Festival also hosts the launch of Kairos Britain – an anti-Semitic/anti-Israel mis-information and propaganda network which condemns Israel at every turn as oppressive and racist – with no mention of its right to self-defence against acts of terrorism and rocket bombardment, or even of its right to exist at all.

But it was the shameless propaganda of the ‘Occupation’ board game which took this writer’s mind back two years to the Labour Party summer camp on Utøya Island in Norway and the similar games being played there.

The adult organisers of the Utøya camp encouraged the young people placed in their charge to hold up signs calling for a boycott on Israel. Mr Jonas Gahr Støre, who was Norwegian Foreign Minister at the time, was pictured walking past approvingly as the young people did their masters’ bidding.

Good game - Labour Party Utøya summer campers play at being a Hamas flotilla.
Good game – Utøya summer campers play at being a Hamas flotilla.

Israel National News (INN) reports that the Labour Party youth movement also invited representatives from the Palestinian Popular Front of Palestine to participate in their Utøya camp.

The Norwegian Prime Minister was also photographed getting a T-Shirt from the Fatah Youth leader Hassan Faraj with the inscription “Free Palestine”, which INN observe means death to Israel.

The jolly game played at Utøya (you need water – this game won’t work so well in the middle of Cheltenham), was a re-enacting of the HAMAS flotilla in which terrorists tried to murder Israeli soldiers.

Nothing impresses a point on adolescent minds quite so readily as acting it out, something which Jeremy Moody, CEO of EmbraceME, will be well aware.

Greenbelt possibly have some way to go to ascend to the dizzy heights of Norwegian-style leftist anti-semitism.

But just imagine someone from Fatah sharing a stage next year with Peter Tatchell and calling for liberation for gay Palestinians.

Come on Greenbelt, how inclusive would that be?

 

P.S. We understand over a hundred Christians were outside the Greenbelt festival on Sunday standing with Israel against the pro-Palestinian propaganda inside. Read the report here.

 

Find out how to join Christian Voice and stand up for the King of kings (clicking on the link below does not commit you to join)

 

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81 COMMENTS

  1. The inhabitants of the Israeli pseudo state are not the chosen race of God.

    False worship of the “Jews” by the bulk of the “Christian” (so called) church is a cripplingly false doctrine.

    Consider these Biblical identifiers of God’s chosen race & compare them diligently:

    + God’s chosen race’s home would be Northwest of Palestine. Isa 49:12; Jer 3:18 (i.e. not in the Middle East)
    + God’s chosen race was to have a David king. Jer 33:17, 21, 26; Ezek 37:24; II Sam 7:13, 19 (Queen Elizabeth II is a direct descendent of King David)
    + God’s chosen race to be like a Lion. Num 23:24; 25:9 (i.e. the British lion)
    + God’s chosen race to have control of the seas and a great naval power. Deut 33:19; Psalms 89:25; Isa 50:5; Isa 43:16
    + God’s chosen race to have great colonies. Gen 17:4,6,15,16; 35:11; 48:19 (The British Empire)
    + God’s chosen race was to possess the gates of his enemies. Gen 22:17 (Gibraltar, Malta, Singapore, Hong Kong, Arden, Yeman, Falkland Is, Midway Is,…..
    + God’s chosen race to loose all military and financial strength before the return of Christ. Dan 12:7

    Who are “the holy people”? First, what is meant by “holy”? Is it a person who is sanctimonious and self-righteous, who makes a six-reel production out of refusing to drink a pint of beer? No: the word means simply, “dedicated to the service of God.” All men are imperfect: even King David,who is the only person God ever called ”A man after Mine own heart”, was an adulterer and a murderer. No, God didn’t choose him because of his sins, but in spite of them: King David had sincerely dedicated his life to the service of God; and the sacrifice by Jesus Christ on the cross was sufficient to take care of all sins. So, “the holy people” are the race who are dedicated to the service of God, carrying out His purposes, despite their individual faults and sins. God Himself selected them: it is the same as Jesus Christ’s statement to His 12 disciples,

    “Ye have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you” – (John 15:16)

    The sons of Isaac, Isaac’s sons, the Saxons.

    • Craig,
      There isn’t time to go through all your points. But point one, which contends the home of the chosen race would be northwest of the Holy Land, is not supported even by the Isaiah and Jeremiah quotes you give in support. Both speak of people who come from those parts back to the Holy Land.
      The word ‘Saxon’ can as easily be derived from the word ‘seax’ meaning sword or knife:
      ‘In Old English the word for Saxon was Seaxna. A seax was literally a small knife or dagger..so perhaps Saxon litterally means something like “knife boys”.’ (Wikianswers)
      I don’t think you do the British-Israel case justice.

    • I find your comments to be slightly one sided. Where you actually at the festival? I went to a talk with an Israeli and there was applause for him.
      Stephen you come across slightly argumentative and rude. I don’t find it very appealing or Christian.

      Best wishes
      Amy

  3. I was kicked out of the Greenbelt Facebook group page after attempting to post a link to the Cranmer article (the moderators declined to publish it). Seems as though meaningful, balanced dialogue about the Israel/Palestine conflict is being censored from all public forums associated with the festival. What a strange beast Greenbelt has become.

  4. I had never heard of greenbelt until I saw it mentioned as a pro gay movement, so its just as well I suppose. However I am very pro Israel and receive emails regularly from a group of missionaries who give out Messianic Bibles to the people in Israel. I was surprised when they told me how only a small percentage of Jews believe that Jesus was their Messiah. However the Messianic Bible points out all the places in the Jewish old testament proving that He is just that. A couple of my friends who lived out there for a while had their meetings stopped and their visa annulled. However they are back home now. Dave H.

  5. I can’t wait for the New Shepherds to be appointed, no wonder in the future 10 gentiles get hold of the tzit-tzit of a Jew to find out who Jesus really is – few I met at the gates on the Pro-Arab side (we were the voice of Israel, outside) actually believed in the Bible.

    All the people I spoke to clearly hadn’t read all the Bible, they said they didn’t believe it was inspired by God, but just written by people, nor believed it was true, they had an odd idea of love, a love with no boundaries, no responsibilities and a blatant lack of respect: and a c of e vicar didn’t believe in the Judgement……….and so Jesus’ propitiatory death means??? Two vicars mentioned ‘their’ church – glad I’m part of Yeshua’s 😉

    It was certainly and eye opener, Greenbelt: a clear example of listening to Jesus who said ‘ follow me’ and not follow the crowd.

    • Both the board game and the flotilla game present Israel and the Jews in a bad light. That makes them anti-Semitic. We are not scared of questions, equally we don’t publish silly ones. Not sure how yours escaped the trash bin.

      • Possibly because both it, and this one, are honest and, I hope, polite.
        As a pro-Israel attender of the festival, I agree both items presented Israel in a bad light. Do you equate anti-Israel with anti-Semitic?

        • Yes. Look, you can hold a point of view that the Jews are absolutely marvellous people but the state of Israel is awful, but from what I have seen that is rare to vanishing point. So in practice, anti-Israel is inevitably anti-Semitic.

          • I am very concerned about insidious anti Jewish propaganda but we need to be very careful that being Pro the Jewish race, their rights and their biblical standing does not mean accepting evry action of the Jewish Government as right. we need to naintain balance and love for others . i dont think abusing or mocking comments by people who dont agree with us is right or glorifying God.

          • Its not inevitably anti-Semitic, no more then being critical of Idi Amen is inevitably racist. Anti-Semitism is the irrational hatred of a people for simply being Jewish. You cant simply equate that with any criticism of the somewhat heavy handed treatment of the Palestinians.

      • What is happening to the Palestinians is so appalling that we can’t be quiet until it stops. Even more and more Jews are of that mind. I have met many and heard them say so. There is ABSOLUTLY no way that calling the Zionist state of Israel to account is anti-Semitic. Except that they would like everyone to think so, in order to use that as a way to silence whose who speak out.

        • “There is no way calling the Zionist state to account is anti semitic”. Think about what you have written Clara. Opposing the Zionist state can NEVER be anti-Semitic?! What about if it demonises Israel to an extent other countries are not demonised, holds Israel to standards which aren’t expected of other countries and criticises Israel to the point of suggesting the world would be a better place without one Jewish state IN IT. What goes on at Greenbelt is demonisation, double standards and delegitimisation of the state of Israel – all other viewpoints are not welcome as speakers. Obsessive, rampant and in the context of what is going on elsewhere in the Middle East today, anti-Semitic.

  9. Greenbelt is a DISGUSTING festival. I had the misfortune of being their over the weekend and I couldn’t believe by ears at the LESBIAN PROPAGANDA that was around every corner. Having prayed hard about it over the entire festival I was overjoyed to read and glad to see that they are demolishing Cheltenham racecourse in its entirety and that the festival will have to move next year. This is clearly GOD’S JUDGMENT ON GREENBELT owing to THE PRAYERS OF THE FAITHFUL and should be applauded with silent hands reaching up to the highest heaven. PRAISE YOU STEPHEN AND KEEP UP THE GO(O)D WORK.

    • I hate to break it to you but Cheltenham Racecourse is not being completely demolished, although there were rumours going round so I can see where you got that from. I feel that the festival is somewhere full of love and support no matter who you are, and think it’s a definite fresh breath of air to the spiritual community. I would like to know your reasons for hating someone just based on who they choose to love until the day they die. Even if it was to be the wrong way to live, I don’t think you should judge them. Did Jesus himself not say “he who is without sin cast the first stone”? I think God is big enough himself to judge people, he doesn’t need our help.

          • Firstly, your question is premised on the idea that I hate someone or some group, so it falls down there. I know it was and still is fashionable amongst those who dislike Christian morality to say that all Christians must be filled with hatred, but isn’t it time to move on and grow up a bit? It goes without saying that I hate no homosexual, although those recruiting in schools and campaigning for children’s ‘sexual rights’ do try my patience a bit.

            Secondly, there is an element of choice in homosexuality, certainly in actions, and there were feminists in the seventies who just decided to be lesbian. On the other hand, many discovering same-sex attraction in themselves will say they did not choose those affections.

            Thirdly, the expression ‘to love’ contains a weasel word, whose intention is to mislead. A mother loves her son until the day she dies. Or a son would love his father. You specifically mean ‘indulge in homosexual acts with’, although I accept that the carrying out of those acts is an attempt to repair a real psychological deficit and comes with some degree at lest of emotional attachment.

            Fourthly, ‘until the day they die’? You’re talking about homosexual relationships? Dream on. Heterosexual marriages break up, and the state, through its divorce laws, encourages that, but homosexual relationships are inherently and notoriously short-lived. Around six months is good for homosexual men, and two years for lesbians. Very few civil partnerships and ‘gay marriages’ will make it to five years.

        • Firstly, I only echoed what Amber said. Secondly, I would agree that you *do* hate gay people, not because of some fashionable viewpoint, but from the contents of your website. I don’t believe for a second that all Christians are full of hatred at all. Third, when I say love, I don’t mean sex, I mean love. You know, the opposite of hate.

          To rephrase the question – why do you have such an antagonistic attitude towards gay people, for simply being who they are ?

          • You don’t even know what shoe size I take and yet you can peer into my mind and decide that I have lied when I said I don’t hate homosexuals (but that those recruiting in schools try my patience a bit) and then pass judgment based on your opinion. If you mean ‘love’ then why should not a father and his daughter, who love each other, get married?

        • But what is truth? / Is truth unchanging law? / We both have truths / Are mine the same as yours?

          Let’s leave aside the overwrought style of that post (which is what suggested to me that it was satirical) and concentrate on what it says. In the first instance, is Greenbelt full of lesbian propaganda? Well, it invites openly gay and lesbian speakers. It welcomes people whether they’re gay, straight or bi. It has seminars and marketing materials about how to come to terms with your sexuality and what it means for the Church. Is that propaganda? If you have a problem with homosexuality, I suppose it is.

          Then there’s the matter of Cheltenham Racecourse, which is not going to be demolished. There are various changes afoot, but Greenbelt has known about them for some time. We may have to move, but I think most people knew we wouldn’t be at Cheltenham forever – moving on is an upheaval, but it’s not really a problem. To attribute this up-and-coming shift in destination to divine intervention is so laughable that it more or less gives away the original poster’s intent to make a joke out of CV’s tendency to blame rat infestations.in Tesco on the wrath of God.

          The Galatians verse is presumably something you dug out after typing ‘Bible verses that deal with mockery’ into Google, and it misses the point entirely. Wallace’s comment (which, I’d be willing to concede, may be serious, although it’s telling that we’ve heard no more from him since) isn’t mocking God, it’s mocking CV, and the belief system and writing style of its minuscule number of supporters. Although you don’t really need us to show you up. You do it pretty well yourselves.

          • The very fact it is a race course tells us something. So how do you explain the deaths of race horses? Humans do frstivals and horses suffer. It makes me weep. Thank goodness we have Stephen as something of a ‘long ranger’

          • This may be of interest: In 2001 the Festival was cancelled due to an outbreak of foot-and-mouth disease in Britain. The meeting had initially been postponed to April, but when a case of the disease was confirmed locally, putting the racecourse within an exclusion zone, all racing had to be called off.

    • Please would tell me of a single verse in the Bible that condemns lesbianism, because I know theological scholars who have not found one yet.

      As I am sure by now you are fully aware of your erroneous belief that Cheltenham Racecourse is being demolished entirely, and at no time was it stated that Greenbelt Festival was moving anywhere else. There is considerable redevolpment being planned to increase the size of the Grandstand facilities which will have the added benefit, in the long run, of enabling the Greenbelt Festival to expand its use in future.

      So, far from God judging Greenbelt through the prayers of the faithful, which should be applauded by silent hands reaching up to the highest heaven, I believe it may be time to listen to the true voice of God which has spoken loud and clear in support of such an open and inclusive Festival continuing for many years to come.

      • Theological scholars can be a bit thick, so for their benefit and yours, here is the Apostle Paul writing to the church in Rome. Verse 26 condemns lesbianism:

        Romans 1:22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools, 23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things. 24 Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves: 25 Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen. 26 For this cause God gave them up unto vile affections: for even their women did change the natural use into that which is against nature: 27 And likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust one toward another; men with men working that which is unseemly, and receiving in themselves that recompence of their error which was meet.

          • You have to read on just a few (not too many – you could have done it yourself) verses to the end of the chapter for the condemnation of those caught up in lesbian practices:

            Romans 1:32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

  10. Wallace that is one of the funniest things I have read in a long time. I don’t think there us an accurate statement within it! I must have missed all the lesbian stuff, so I don’t know which corners you were hanging around near. I hardly think that redeveloping a small section of the main grandstand constitutes demolishing the whole racecourse either. If we move it will simply be due to the disruption over the next two years making it impractical. The festival have known about this for over a year and have been planning accordingly. Very good of God to provide such a decent period of notice before imposing his wrath don’t you think? I suggest you get your facts right before using so many capital letters, it makes you seem like an angry person to be around and I am sure that can’t be true..

  11. In the words of the former ABofC you all need to grow up. Really do you think this is how to represent Christ. Also Wallace, Cheltenham racecourse is not being demolished in its entirety, just some old stands and new ones are being rebuilt for the 2015 race season. There may be a change of location for GB next year or not, it just depends on how the works are advancing.

    I missed the lesbian propaganda – where was it?

    As for Israel /Palestine, we will not see and real piece there without a two state solution. Its so sad that the worlds Abrhamic religions cannot sort out stability between us all.

        • It’s just a slip, Mike, don’t worry. We all do it. At the risk of appearing charismatic and positive-confessiony, may I suggest you stop confessing dyslexia. Have you heard that sort of advice before? I’ll bet it irritates you!

          • Doesn’t irritate me at all, and I’ve never been the arms up in the third stanza of the chorus kind of charismatic either. I think my misspelling might have indicated that somehow I was an appolgist for Islam. I’m not. I’m a follower of Christ, but there is much to admire in Islam and If we don’t engage with our Muslim and Jewish brothers and sisters then we do a disservice to our Christian witness.

  12. I am astonished at the tirades that appear here about the Greenbelt Festival. I was there this year again and have found it to be a profoundly relevant Christian festival each year. It challenges me to follow in the footsteps more closely each year and reminds me of the cal for usl to be peacemakers and changemakers. People who attend the festival are challenged each year to work with the poor, both in the UK and abroad, to raise a voice for the voiceless (both in the UK and abroad), it celebrates God and Jesus’s inclusivity and it’s a festival that calls us all to celebrate the goodness of God’s mercies in all that we do – in our care for fellow humans and our environment. It is an invigorating meeting point for justice, faith and the arts. I am horrified that a so-called Christian website should wish to demean it so comprehensively. Is it only because of the efforts Greenbelt makes to work for peace between Palestinians and Israelis or is there another reason why some Christian Voice authors dislike the festival so intensely? As I travel through life, I find it to be the most compelling place to be each August to celebrate life in all its fullness. You should give it a chance – come and celebrate life in its diversity at Greenbelt. It beats writing nasty stuff online.

    • Geraint
      I went for a day at the Greenbelt festival and have to say was moved but also saddened to see so many folks there, but wonder at the risk to their eternal souls. I’m not judging them, or anybody. I am judging the content of some of their talks. In one I attended (accidentally – I think something happened so they all had to come out of the venue and sit where I was having some sandwiches) the speaker was an American professor or something and he was speaking on radical theology. Instead of having a foundation of truth he spoke constantly of ‘ranking’ criteria for belief. Instead of having a foundation of doctrine it was all ranking, ranking and ranking – but nothing to say if one berson has ranked better than another and no way of getting a grip on the matter.
      I noticed
      a. a number of folks walked out
      b. the venue where the talk was supposed to have taken place had been struck by fire
      and thought “Rank that if you will”.
      I don’t think we’ll find faith or peace if all were left with is ranking
      Seek and YE SHALL find
      Dan

  13. Hi
    I was at Greenbelt and had a fabulous weekend. I am sorry that I didn’t know about any protesters at the gates until after I returned home as I would have been very interested in hearing their point of view. I find the festival programme full of inspiring and challenging talks, discussions, art installations, music and, most importantly, wonderful opportunities to worship in a variety of ways. Dare I suggest that the protesters would have reached a bigger audience if they had engaged with Greenbelt and participated in some of the debates? Maybe be next year they could buy a ticket and join in the festival or better yet, volunteer to be a contributor in the programme of events? Of course that would require an ability to listen to opposing views as well as making a strong case in support of a stated position!

  14. I think it’s sad that this is a Christian website judging and demeaning people and other people’s opinions. I’m a Christian who attended talks from Jews, Muslims and the LGBT group, as well as Christian ones. I don’t think God would want us to be so small minded to not open ourselves up to our brothers and sisters, I also think God wouldn’t want us judging others and making them feel like a religion based on love for one another is pushing them out. It’s people on this site who are the bullies, not Greenbelt.

  15. I have looked through the Greenbelt web site at some of their talks and things they have had there over the past years and I think that says it all. Over the past few years they have included:
    ‘How Rock ‘n’ Roll still saves my soul’
    ‘Confronting Fundamentalism at home and abroad’
    ‘meat is mudering the planet’
    ‘Faith in Football’
    ‘Using Puppets in Worship’
    ‘Keep Monday Special’ (seriously, it’s there. Check it out)

    • ‘Keep Monday special’ was an event they held to put back some of the zest in the last day of the festival – a day when a lot of people go home before the end. It can feel like a bit of damp squib. This was a programme of events encouraging people to stay; nothing more malicious than that. This may seem like mockery, but I would add that there’s a focused worship service on Sunday morning with hymns / choruses and Biblical passages, and which most people attend.

      As for ‘using puppets in worship’, well, what’s wrong with that? Our family specialist / now assistant pastor uses puppets to re-enact parables when she’s doing children’s talks. It engages the young people. It’s no different to doing a sketch.

      And ‘Mum, I don’t want to go to church’ (which you list separately) is something many Christian parents hear at one point or another. I know I said it to my mother more than once, and I expect the same sort of rebellion from my own children sooner or later. What point exactly are you trying to make?

  16. I’m afraid that some of the suppositions that you are making about Greenbelt, particularly Stephen, Pil and Phil show that you just don’t get it. It is a place to relax, think, enjoy, share and grow. The titles of lectures/talks are made to draw attention – they are headlines. If I remember correctly the Monday seminar was about ensuring that we carried the faith into our work on Monday and ensure that it is not a Sunday only faith. The reality of it I guess is that you are not comfortable with a festival that celebrates the joyful goodness of God and the earth, and challenges us all to live life for the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized whilst also celebrating creativity, the arts, the human capacity to think and apply faith to our unique situations in the early 21st Century. The range of views about this world and its creator are something that we should enjoy – not see as a threat to our maker or ourselves. It seems to me that we’re just not on the same page. My faith suggests however that we should take Jesus seriously and avoid ridiculing each other. I’m afraid that on balance, after reading extensively on your website, I’m happy to see Greenbelt as a Christian Voice, but am concerned that what I read in your website suggests that you are more comfortable with judgement and division than with being what your name suggests. There goes, I’ve fallen into the trap of being judgemental. Sorry.

    • Don’t be silly, Geraint. We are not happy with a festival which promotes fashionable left-wing causes as if they were the Gospel, promotes homosexuality and bashes Israel. On ‘the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized’ I would wager if I were a betting man, that you have never given a moment’s thought to those parents who have their children stolen by social services so someone can make a few grand by putting them up for adoption. They are the real ‘poor, the oppressed, the marginalized’ and Greenbelt has never mentioned them, just concentrating on fashionable warm-fuzzy-glow planet-hugging, from what you write.

    • Geraint
      If you really want to ‘grow’ you should place yourself in the hands of the teaching of a sound and just man such as Stephen and not run around race courses with gamblers and theologians
      Violet Causeway

  17. What about these from the second half of the last decade:
    How to start a revolution: 10 steps for living
    Faith in poetry, poetry in faith
    Touching cloth: unlocking whatever is within you
    Capitalism and growth: the seeds of the financial crisis
    Mum, I don’t want to go to church

  18. My last ones, I promise…
    My mate and I were up all nealy night ranking our favourites over ten years of workshops and talks and heres our top five:

    Let each little bean be heard (about what they call small steps to svae the planet – though it was manily an Al Gore film)
    Catch up on some reading
    Tooting your own horn in an expressive church
    Dispensing some soft serve, a gentler way of giving
    Art: Float your own air biscuit
    Becoming the porcelain assassin – by the Subversive Art Collective

  19. Calling filfth post-modern doesn’t make it any less disgusting. I read the above and had to go to another room. Even now I am typing without looking at the screen, and I’m a librarian for good ness sake. My job is rooted in culture. But not filfthy culture.

  20. I love the fact that you describe me as “another Greenbelt insider”. If by ‘insider’ you mean someone who routinely attends the festival, then, well, yes. I have nothing to do with its content or political stance, of course.

    Besides, what do you expect? If you’re going to write about Greenbelt you’re hardly going to be inundated with responses from people who don’t go, are you? I could counter by suggesting that as someone who has apparently never been yourself (at least not recently) and relies only on what comes out of the press office and what’s on the programme you’re perhaps not the best person to be dumping on the festival yourself, but that’s as misguided an argument as your own.

      • Well, Greenbelt feels like a family reunion, in one sense. You see the same people every year. Some have babies. Some have brought friends. But there’s the old chap with the guitar and the one with the converted lorry. There are always new people, but I see old friends there I don’t see any other time of year, so speaking as ‘we’ feels natural somehow, particularly when you’re pushed into a defensive pose as the festival supporters have been in this discussion. Excuse me but I think you’re nitpicking here, which if you remember is exactly the reason you once gave me for refusing to answer some of my questions.

        I will admit that I have been working as a volunteer for the past few years, along with hundreds and hundreds of other people (at least a few of whom, I’ll wager, have shown up on here this last couple of weeks). So I suppose that yes, I could be said to represent Greenbelt in an organisational capacity, if you really want to see it that way (and forgive me if I’m second-guessing but this seems to be important to you, as if it would vindicate a conspiracy theory or something). However, my views are individual and don’t necessarily reflect those of the organisers of the festival. I didn’t mention it before because I didn’t think it was important – as I said, I have nothing to do with what goes on the programme (I’m far too far down the food chain for that). I just do a bit of menial work, because it’s fun to serve; it keeps me grounded.