July 2nd 2024.
The Glastonbury Festival was in full swing this past weekend, and it was hard not to notice the helicopter buzzing around the event. It's no secret that Glastonbury is known as the best party on earth, but it's also been called out for being a bit hypocritical. As someone who has tried and failed for years to snag tickets, this was my first time attending and my expectations were sky high. But let me tell you, Glastonbury exceeded all of them.
It's no wonder that this festival stays with you long after you've left the dusty Worthy Farm grounds. My partner and I were dragging our exhausted and dirt-stained bodies away when he turned to me and said, "That was the best weekend of my life." And I couldn't agree more. However, there was one thing that bothered me more than I thought it would - the helicopters.
Glastonbury prides itself on being a sustainable event, but it seems that only applies if you're wealthy enough for it not to matter. TV personality Maya Jama proudly declared that she was ticking off a bucket list item by flying away from the festival in a helicopter. And let me tell you, the sheer size of Glastonbury is jaw-dropping. From the bizarre scenes in the theatre and circus area to the 1960s time warp of the healing fields, I thought I had seen it all. That is, until I stumbled upon Shangri La, a pop-up town of pure madness. It felt like something out of a post-apocalyptic world with its 6am DJ sets and surreal shop fronts. This alone could be its own festival, but there's so much more to see and do on the 1,500 acre grounds. It would take a month to experience it all, let alone a weekend.
The vibe at Glastonbury is unmatched. Everyone is friendly and polite, and you'll often hear strangers saying "sorry," "please," and "thank you." And if you happen to get lost, no need to worry. A fellow festival-goer will go out of their way to help you. This is all part of the social responsibility that Glastonbury stands for. Their "leave no trace" ethos is evident in the Green Fields area, which has been powered by solar, wind, and pedal energy since 1984. And in keeping with their hippy mentality, the festival's "do not bring" list includes items like glitter, disposable vapes, and face wipes, which harm the environment.
So you can imagine my disappointment when I arrived at the festival and found that my tent was located in a helicopter flight path. I couldn't help but stick my middle finger up at the sky, imagining some rich person looking down on us peasants in our humble tents, while they arrived in style in their private helicopter.
According to the Glastonbury Festival website, they do not endorse or facilitate travel by helicopter, except for operational purposes. However, I'm not entirely convinced that Maya Jama's "bucket list" moment of leaving Glastonbury by helicopter falls under operational purposes. And it's not just one or two helicopters, there are three designated helipads at the festival. Plus, there are numerous companies offering exclusive charter services for guests. These luxury private helicopter hires can cost thousands of pounds per hour and can fly in from anywhere in the UK. How convenient for the wealthy attendees.
But here's the real issue - helicopters emit a whopping 500kg of CO2 emissions per hour. And for what? Just a handful of festival-goers to enjoy a brief moment of luxury. In comparison, a commercial flight emits only 112kg of CO2 per passenger per hour. So riding in a helicopter is not only extravagant, but it's also incredibly bad for the environment.
While the festival itself may not be directly involved in organizing these helicopter drop-offs, their presence is impossible to ignore. All you have to do is look up. I believe it's time for celebrities like Maya Jama to arrive at Glastonbury like the rest of us - by coach and waiting in the two-hour queue to get through the gates. Not only would this be more environmentally friendly, but it would also align with the festival's values of peace, equality, and love. The constant buzz of helicopters overhead represents none of these things.
I have no problem handing back my reusable Coldplay LED wristband, using soggy paper straws, and sacrificing the convenience of a face wipe clean at 4am. But every time I looked up at those helicopters last weekend, I couldn't help but feel less inclined to do these things. It's a reflection of the wider issue with the current global climate emergency. Those with little influence are guilt-tripped into making small changes, while those with the power and money to make a real impact choose not to.
Glastonbury Festival may not be directly endorsing or facilitating the use of helicopters, but by turning a blind eye to it, they are allowing the wealthy and famous to indulge in their extravagant and environmentally harmful habits. It's time for a change.
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