The performers of a “Muses’s Market” lectured and sang about the importance of sustainability in the Pioneer Reading Room and Ice Auditorium on April 20.
According to its website, Muse’s Market is “a nationally touring, carbon- neutral, theatrical concert presenting inspired musicians, educational speakers, spoken word poetry and fine art in performance arts spaces where listening is the priority.”
Performer Chris Garre gave a lecture and discussed the concept of waste vegetable oil as a sustainable form of fuel for vehicles that have diesel engines. Waste vegetable oil is carbon neutral; it provides the same gas mileage as a vehicle using standard fuel, and it can save people money because they can collect it themselves, he said.
Garre also noted that 90 percent of waste vegetable oil goes to the dump and only 10 percent of it is recycled.
“We highly recommend it for someone who is driving a lot of miles,” Garre said.
The evening performance in the Ice Auditorium was inspired by theatrical production. It included live music, speeches and poems related to sustainability and environmental issues.
Garre’s speeches included several statistics and facts regarding the environment. He said that we dump 16 tons of sewage into our water every minute and that billions of plastic bags are thrown away every year. He also brought up the point that 31 countries suffer from water shortage and that CEOs earn 400 times as much as their workers.
Garre said that his main motivation for touring is to put the issues out in the open.
“We just want to encourage people to talk,” he said.
Senior Avalon Fox attended the concert as a way to get involved with Earth Week.
“I think it is great to raise awareness about environmental issues. It provides social commentary,” Fox said.
Senior Sarah Valentine also attended the event and said she was impressed with the truth behind the messages.
“We, as a society, have not been willing to face these issues, and we will have to in the coming years,” she said.
Senior David Kellner-Rode is involved with Greenfield, and he arranged the Muses’ Market performance at Linfield.
Kellner-Rode became acquainted with Garre and singer song-writer Gabrielle Louise of Muse’s Market when he was traveling in British Columbia. He began talking with them about their touring in a vehicle that used waste vegetable oil for fuel. He developed a friendship with the group, and this year marks their second performance at Linfield.
“I thought it was really awesome,” Kellner-Rode said. “It was an amazing use of media and art to send a message. The direction we are headed as a society is very negative.”
Chelsea Bowen/Opinion editor
Chelsea Bowen can be reached at [email protected].