Written by Jason Grenier / translated by: 田珮苑

This year’s theme, “Back to Innocence”, represents a move back to simple roots, and marks the first time Peacefest will be held in a location other than Kunlun Gardens.

A BIG MOVE

Last year’s Hoping for Hoping Peacefest was certainly unforgettable for many reasons, not the least of which was the mud. And we’re not just talking a little mud; that was mud of biblical proportions! Fortunately, it didn’t keep people away or dampen anybody’s spirits! The inclement weather made it a bit of a nail-biter for organizers though, and this year the festival has been moved to November to get well clear of typhoon season. Amplified music will end this year at a very reasonable 2am, and natural sleep cycles will be allowed to proceed accordingly. Those who want to stay up and party the night away will simply have to make their own fun, just like back in the good ‘ol days. In addition to great live music, there will be speakers, a media tent, workshops, and a special area known as Rainbow Camp in the spirit and style of Rainbow gatherings held around the world.

This year’s theme, “Back to Innocence”, represents a move back to simple roots, and marks the first time Peacefest will be held in a location other than Kunlun Gardens. A stripped down, simplified existence seems to do wonders for wearied bodies and spirits, and organizers look to provide this kind of revitalizing experience to fest-goers, while simultaneously breathing fresh wind into the sails of the festival herself as she glides into her 6th year. Enter Sanjhan.

Nestled between Hualien City and Taroko Gorge, and home to the Taroko tribe, the village of Sanjhan sparkles like a jewel on Taiwan’s East Coast. It’s almost as if time has forgotten this magical valley where crystal-clear turquoise rivers meander through mist-shrouded mountains of verdant green and on to the sea. One can almost imagine long-necked brontosauruses lazily munching reeds in the riverbed while pterodactyls swoop and wheel above them. The glory of the Central Mountain Range will provide a jaw-dropping backdrop for three days of peace, love, music, and local indigenous culture. The hope is that peace, tolerance, and compassion can flow from the confluence of the two rivers at Sanjhan and out to the rest of the world.

A LOOK BEHIND THE CURTAIN

Who runs Peacefest, anyway? The short answer would be that no one “runs” Peacefest. There’s no CEO, no Board of Directors, no hierarchy. Peacefest has created itself as a grassroots, single-tier, egalitarian collective representing a diverse and amorphous group of pacifist volunteers from countries around the globe. Peacefest in this way represents a set of ideals, and is more social experiment than formal organization. Decisions are reached through group discussion and consensus-building. In cases where consensus cannot be reached, decisions are put to a vote, however reluctantly. Is this an efficient way to get things done? Certainly not always, but this process is arguably just as important as the decisions that are reached. The latter can always be revisited. New experiments can be tried, lessons can be learned, and mistakes can be corrected from year to year. But the relationships built along the way are forever, and lo and behold, there is a viable alternative to top-down, pyramid-shaped organizations! Peacefest is a big loving family, with everyone bringing his or her visions, ideas, and eccentricities to the circle. What binds the family together is a strong opposition to war and other forms of violence, and a belief that there is always reason to hope the world can be a better place. The family is always growing, as new people get involved and inject their fresh enthusiasm, energy, and ideas. There’s room for you, too.

As always, the Hoping for Hoping festival is a fund raiser, with all proceeds (after covering event costs) going directly to charity. The list of 2009 Peacefest beneficiary charities will be posted at www.hopingforhoping.com

All bands, DJs, other performers, and speakers generously donate their time and talents to this event, and receive no monetary compensation.

This festival is organized and staffed entirely be volunteers. Want to be one? Email to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

WHEN? Fri. Nov. 6th (6pm) to Sun. Nov. 8th (6pm) 2009.

WHERE? Sanjhan Village in Hualien County (about midway between Taroko Gorge and Hualien City)

WHO’S PLAYING? 26 bands including: Red I and the Riddim Outlaws, Divebomb, The Admissionaries, Black Lung Inner City Choir, Kou Cho Ching, Native Space, Tyler Daykin & the LNB, The Moneyshot Horns, David Chen and the Muddy Basin Ramblers, Brian Funshine, and Highway 9.

See www.hopingforhoping.com for updates and schedule.

COST: Please see website for details.

CAMPING: Quiet camping with washrooms and running water is available on adjacent land at a nominal cost. Bring your own tent and gear. It’s about a 25 minute walk from the stage area. There will also be a shuttle between the camping and stage areas. See website for details.

OTHER ACCOMMODATIONS: There is a nearby Buddhist retreat with rooms as well as numerous home-stays in the area. For a list and more info, please see www.hopingforhoping.com. Please especially note and respect the rules for those wishing to stay in the Buddhist retreat and note any advance booking/confirmation requirements that may apply to individual home-stays.

FOOD: A few small restaurants and family-run convenience stores operate in the village, five minutes walk from the stage. Vendors will be selling food inside and outside the festival.

DIRECTIONS:

TRA Train to Hualien Station. Taxi from Hualien Station to Sanjhan (taxi will be around 400-450NT)
TRA Train to Shincheng Station. Taxi from Shincheng Station to Sanjhan. (taxi will be around 300-350NT)
TRA Train schedules available at http://163.29.3.96/twrail_en/index.aspx

By car: Exit Highway 9 at either the 188.5km marker or just past the 190km marker and follow signs to Sanjhan.

Stage and camping sites are wheelchair accessible.
Please do not bring alcohol or illegal drugs.

As always, it’s important to minimize the environmental impact of this event. Please do your part by keeping the festival and camp sites clean, cleaning up after your pets and disposing of cigarette butts in garbage cans.