Background

Festival of Life (FOL) is a non-sectarian, non-profit network of dedicated individuals who are working co-operatively towards helping inform, educate and promote the benefits of more healthy diets and lifestyles. In an age of ever increasing sickness and obesity – aggravated especially by the predominance of junk & fast food, drug use, stress, environmental pollution etc. in modern culture - FOL aims to present to the public alternative modes of living which enhance physical, mental & spiritual health rather than destroy it.
Concomitant with individual ill-health, the environment is suffering as a consequence of, among other things, a consumer-orientated society, lack of respect for the beauty of our countryside & wildlife, ignorance of the dangers of modern farming practices & land management and our dissociation from more natural ways of living resulting from intensive urbanisation.

The Earth is reaching a crisis point in its ability to sustain ever-increasing numbers of people with an ever-growing demand for material goods and services. Now, more than any other time in history, is it necessary to implement changes for the benefit of present and future generations of humanity, as well as for the preservation of natural habitats and wildlife diversity. The essential message of FOL would be along the lines of “Feet on the ground, head in the clouds, love in the heart".

Suggested Ideas, Products, Organisations, Charities & Services are :
Permaculture Association : sustainable plant cultivation, ecology books, courses
Centre for Alternative Technology : sustainable energy, housing, products
Soil Association : organic, non-GM food, enhancing soil fertility & bio-diversity
Henry Doubleday Research Association, Plants for a Future: plant diversity
People Tree, Greenfibres, Yogi Clothing : organic cotton & hemp clothing & products
Vegetarian & Vegan Societies : plant-based nutrition and compassionate lifestyles
Fresh ! Network : raw & living foods promotion, cleansing products, advice, foods
Vipassana Trust, Brahma Kumaris, London Buddhist Ctr : meditation instruction
Yaoh, Dr. Gillian McKeith, Kiki : raw & living-food snacks, supplements & products
ECOS, Auro : solvent-free, natural paints, varnishes, preservation products
Motherhemp, Hemp Union Foods : hemp seeds, flour, food products
Kitchenaid, L’Equip, Philips : food processors, juicers, blenders, kitchen equipment
Watkins Bookshop : religion, philosophy, theosophy etc. books & talks
Nutricentre, Baldwins : alternative health books, herbs, natural foods & products
Vitaorganic, Country Life, Beetroot, Plant : vegan restaurants
UK Centre for Living Foods, Jill Swyers : detoxification, cleansing, naturopathy, sprouting, juicing, wheatgrass, living-food preparation
Harmonious Living : counselling, yoga
Ecoforest, Shekinashram : raw retreats, community living, permaculture courses
No Logo, anti-globalisation : reducing – reusing – repairing – recycling – composting
Changes, Goma : chanting, bhajans, invocation, devotional music, dancing
Outdoor Festivals : Funky Raw, Rawberry, Sunrise, Big Green Gathering, Buddhafield, Healing Fields.
Artists, musicians, poets, authors, speakers et al. interested in creativity and life