Dominical represented at Rain Forest Aid
After a ten year hiatus I return to the Osa Peninsula for the first annual (?) Rain Forest Aid Festival. It’s summer solstice or rainy season in the jungle. Is this the time for a $2 million fund raiser to create a sustainable landfill and recycling center in one of the most biodiverse areas in the world? Obviously not.
The tourists are gone and the economy is shit. And it rained and rained. Nobody came. But I did and a few of my diehard friends in nearby communities. The foremost Costa Rican musician Manuel Obregon consented to perform for free with my friend Nancy Buchan, the fantastic violinist. They made it all worthwhile. Even though that huge goal hit the skids and ended in minus numbers.
Did Michael Crandon and the other organizers learn anything? I hope they’ll try again. How about in the dry season? How about in the rain forest or at least under shade trees, instead of a sucky soaking soccer field? How about half the price of $150 and lots more attendees?
I wish them luck and thank them tremendously for my good luck. I won the raffle for two nights in the Finca Bella Vista Tree House.
I’m returning to the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica for the Rain Forest Aid 2009 concert June 19 - 21. The festival aims to raise $2 million for rain forest awareness, protection and regeneration and potentially fund a sustainable landfill for the Osa Peninsula in the next five years. That’s a massive goal, but whatever they reach will help save one of the world’s most biodiverse areas, which includes Corcovado National Park. For more information go to the website http://rainforestaid09.com.