The Green Festival, held Sept. 24 and 25 in the Washington D.C. Convention Center, gave participants the opportunity to hear speakers, tour informational booths and participate in other activities that advocated and promoted environmentally-sound practices.
The festival also afforded American University students the opportunity to learn and have a good time.
"There are great speakers, informational tables and free samples ... It's amazing," said Lisa Rotham, a junior in the College of Arts and Science, who attended the festival.
"I am concerned about the environment," Rotham said. "This was a great way to get informed and get involved."
Festival volunteer Janine Cardoso said the event has raised interest and awareness, including her own.
"I've learned a lot about the environment and what we need to do to keep it safe for years to come," she said.
Global Exchange and CO-OP America, two human rights organizations, organized and oversaw the event. This is the second year that the festival was held in D.C. The Green Festival is also held in San Francisco, where it will celebrate its third anniversary this November.
Attendance was down due to other events happening in the area, including the National Book Festival and the Operation Ceasefire peace rally, both held on the National Mall.
Megan McKissack, a screen printing and design vendor who worked the festival, noted that the rally did bring in people. The event "started off slow, but people came in," she said.
"With the rally being right across the street, people came in and were really enthused," McKissack said. "People who are interested in the green movement are also really interested in peace."
The festival also allowed over 350 local and national businesses to showcase their environmentally sound products. Products ranged from fair trade coffee to recycled paper products and ecological fashion.
Laurie McCarriar, a participant in the festival, said the festival is a great opportunity to browse vendors for her business, Ginger Print.
"I am in this business," she said. "I'm looking for suppliers and ideas."
Over 50 speakers, including Congressman Dennis Kucinich, Global Exchange Co-founder Medea Benjamin and Environmental Analyst Lester Brown, spoke at the festival. They spoke on a variety of subjects including organic lifestyles, fair trade and the war in Iraq.
