In our first podcast of 2010 we chat to Greenbelt's incoming Festival Director, Gawain Hewitt.
In a departure from the format of previous Greenbelt podcasts, Phil Smith, Greenbelt's Head of Communications, chats to Gawain Hewitt, Greenbelt's newly appointed Festival Director, about his life, his interests, his faith, and his feelings about and vision for the role [...]
January 2010 podcast: enter the new Director
Site Vibing Making Days
The Site Vibing volunteer team make the Festival site look amazing. Every gold-wrapped tree, hand-crafted venue sign, or triangle of bunting is made by this creative bunch.
And now, they're inviting you to join them!
The Site Vibers are running four Making Days in Leeds and London, at which the creative among you can contribute a little [...]
Helping Haiti
As the effects of the earthquake in Haiti continue to occupy people's thoughts, we would like to encourage Greenbelters to consider giving to help the people of Haiti endure this ongoing disaster.
Since the earthquake struck on Tuesday 12 January, the devastation has affected three million people, and the Haitian Interior Minister estimates that it will [...]
Tamsin Omond's Resolutions
When asked to write ten resolutions for a greener New Year, GB09 speaker Tamsin Omond instead came up with twelve. Twelve examples of "things that are filling the space between more radical activism and the real world – that are pulling the mainstream into a sustainable vision".
There are some great tips in there for Greenbelters [...]
Gawain Hewitt announced as new Festival Director
We are pleased to announce the appointment of Gawain Hewitt as the new Festival Director. Gawain will start his new position at Greenbelt in February 2010.
Gawain said of his new appointment: “Having always admired Greenbelt I am delighted to be appointed as Festival Director. It's a fantastic event and I am looking forward to working [...]
Greenbelt Book Club 2010
I'm a big fan of bookclub meetings with friendly banter, good books and being a meeting of minds. The bookclub meetings held at the Festival last year were an absolute treat. Following the comedic revelation that I was not Carol Ann Duffy there were some wonderful insightful comments about her poetry. Sally Nicholls also gave [...]
Failing Gaza
Following on from our highlighting of the Kairos Palestine Document, we'd like to draw your attention to a second document that was published before Christmas by a variety of organisations including Amnesty International, Oxfam, CAFOD, and Greenbelt partners Christian Aid.
Entitled "Failing Gaza: No rebuilding, no recovery, no more excuses", the report is an analysis of [...]
10 ideas that might make the next 10 years more interesting… from Bono
Bono – who probably won't be at next year's Festival – had an article in yesterdays NY Times listing 10 ideas for the future.
Our favourite idea is the Festival of Abraham:
Here’s something that could never have happened in the Naughts but will maybe be possible in the Tweens or Teens — if there’s a breakthrough [...]
A Moment Of Truth
In December, a group of Palestinian Christians, representing a variety of churches and church-related organisations, issued "The Kairos Palestine Document" – an animated and prayerful call for an end to the occupation of Palestine by Israel. The call comes at a time when many Palestinians believe they have reached a dead end. It raises questions [...]










