1st anual "Vallarta Verde Fiesta Ecologico" » April 6 /2008

by Barbara Sands

Puerto Vallarta - Mark Sunday April 6 on your calendars to come by the Fiesta Ecologico to be held from 11 am till 8 pm at Cuiza, on Isla Rio Cuale. Vallarta Verde, a group of young and ardent ecology-minded activists has launched a new initiative to foster “green” thinking among Vallartenses.

Spearheading the new group’s efforts are Greta Fuentes, Tatiana Meneses, Carole Oury and Mercedes Sanchez among others.

The event will feature theater, poetry and an all-day concert featuring Joe “King” Carrasco, Don & Rhonda, Paco Barajas, Azul, Lalo Quimixto, Teocalich, Philippo lo Grande, Oscar Fuentes, Jerôme, Baco, Martín, Los Goodies, Rasta Michol and other local artists who are dedicated to the preservation of Puerto Vallarta’s ecological wonders.

Programa:

• 11:00 Joe King Carrasco & the PV All Stars (Tequila Reggae) HIMNO A VALLARTA VERDE
• 11:45 Jorge Luis Vivanco Limón : Comité de Vigilancia Ambiental (Procuraduría federal de protección al ambiente)
• 12:00 Apertura: Ceremonia Indígena de la Mexicanidad Dr .Ayotl. Circulo Verde Esmeralda
• 12:30 Javier Fabriz (Orador Los Árboles)
• 13:00 Azul y Connie ( Guitarra y voz)
• 13:30 Querreque y Froylan (Violín)
• 14:00 Maestra Limón (Comité de educación de Profepa)
• 14:10 BACO & Rasta Michol (Rock & Reggae)
• 14:50 Nuestra Tierra Grupo Ecológico (Orador)
• 14:55 Muhallebia & Middle Eastern Dance Group (Belly Dance)
• 15:00 Don & Rhonda (Dueto Cithara)
• 15:40 Bobby Tansen & Steve York with Memo
• 16:20 Paco Barajas con Miguel Salazar & Celebrators
• 17:00 Vallarta Verde (Presentación de el grupo, reconocimientos)
• 17:10 Traveling Band (Rock Clásico)
• 17:50 Oscar Aranda Co Fundador de la Asociación Ecológica de Occidente (Tema: Tortugas Marinas)
• 18:05 Los Goodies (Rock)
• 18:45 Javier Niño (Ecología y recuerdos de Puerto Vallarta)
• 19:00 Max & Shawn ( R&B Acústico)
• 19:20 Nacho y Cristina Varela (Música Cubana)
• 19:45 Dr. Ayotl (Tema: El Florecimiento)
• 19:00 Joe King Carrasco & Los PV All Stars ( Tequila Reggae) HIMNO A VALLARTA VERDE

AND -Martín Montenegro (Sax) - Teocallich (Pintura) - Philippo Lo Grande (Pintura) -

Jerome (Harmónica) - Y MUCHO MAS!!!

The keynote theme of the day is information and ecological awareness. All it takes, sometimes, is a bit of chit-chat among friends and neighbors to uncover common concerns and to determine ways to address them.

Vallarta Verde aptly conveys the aims of the newly established group to build public interest in exploring all ways to preserve what very few green spaces we have remaining to us.

Major among these spaces is the eastern end of the Isla Rio Cuale whose development into yet another commercial corridor has been envisioned by the last two municipal administrations. The Isla is still a micro-nature preserve for iguanas, squirrels and an amazing numbers of birds.

But, more importantly, it’s a cool respite on a hot day; it’s a shady outdoor classroom for kids during the summer months and remains a small verdant microcosm in the Cuale. What an idea it would be to label those many varieties of trees; to have a plant and animal map. John Huston would find himself less lonely in his director’s chair.

The Isla effort will go hand-in-hand with public education through the press, in schools and in city-wide presentations to encourage ecologically sound waste management along with water and other natural resource conservation.

Development has moved so quickly in Vallarta that concrete bastions rise before our eyes without warning. Development certainly cannot be confused with progress and isn’t always the best answer for the municipality.

We can’t forget what put Vallarta on the map besides the torrid Taylor-Burton affair. It is its very Mexican-ness, its leisurely demeanor, its tile roofs and feeling of a city with proud roots, and those it has in abundance.

All those who have grown weary championing the preservation of our beautiful city’s native charms can only applaud these new faces picking up the challenge and bringing in new troops to carry on the battle to preserve our beautiful surroundings, our trees and the city’s heritage.

From the southbound bridge, Cuiza is located down the stairs and toward the ocean. From the Malecon, access is down the stairs and straight ahead to Cuiza on the right before Oscar’s and River Café.

For more information or to offer assistance, contact Greta Fuentes: zuckyinc (at) yahoo.com; Mercedes Sanchez: aisforartist1@hotmail.com; Carole Oury: carolepvr (at) yahoo.com; Tatiana Meyeses: llomera (at) gmail.com or Barbara Sands: barbsands007 (at) yahoo.com. Musicians or singers (dancers?) DJs or MCs who want to be part of the action can contact Joe King at joeking (at) joeking.com. Please! drummers need not apply.