ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL

GIVES THE GREEN LIGHT TO ECOVILLAGE
SUPPORTED IN PART BY RESCUE EARTH, SILVER DAGGER
AND GREEN ART USA

Return three plastic bottles and redeem them for a collectible band sticker or recycle 250 plastic cups for a hoodie with crystal embellishments, complements of Silver-Dagger Fashion. Is this a scene out of Mad Max, the 1979 Australian post-apocalyptic action thriller starring Mel Gibson? In fact, this scenario will play out in the ECOvillage at ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL (UMF), Friday, March 27 and Saturday, March 28 in Miami's Downtown Bicentennial Park.

An estimated six tons of plastic bottles are converted into the bargain chips by 75,000 concertgoers to redeem in the ULTRAGREEN TRASHed Recycling Store, done in conjunction with GLOBAL INHERITANCE. Ultra Green is the on-site recycling program launched in 2007 where a mountain-size wasteland is transformed into a treatise on the hidden eco politics of everyday life. The new 'green' stamps fetch iPods, Netflix® memberships, premium spirits from Liquor Group, LLC, artesian water from Bravura Distribution, Bindi Desserts from PDF Foods, Flora Italian Imports and other enticing prizes. GLOBAL INHERITANCE—a Southern California-based non-profit organization working to empower individuals worldwide to think and act creatively in solving global imbalances—will also deliver their Tour De Energy Exhibit and TRASHed Art of Recycling with live painting on recycling bins. For more details on the different programs, visit: www.globalinheritance.org.

The ULTRA MUSIC FESTIVAL is South Florida’s favorite music festival, internationally renowned for its memorable live performances and DJ sets from the world’s top electronic and alternative rock artists. The 2009 line-up includes The Black Eyed Peas, Tiësto, The Prodigy, Paul van Dyk, Bloc Party and many more. The entire roster will be displayed via onsite plasma screens provided by Impact Media Group. ECOvillage offers an oasis of calm under a grove of Banyan trees and steps away from the frenzy unfolding on the main stages. The two ECOvillage stages host non-stop, live entertainment and dance. Why let a little global meltdown spoil our fun?

Where Green is the new Black, ECOvillage is coordinated by Heather Read and Danny Chasen in conjunction with Jose Rivas of RescueEarth.org. New tribes with corporate support are coming forward weekly to contribute to the building of the ECOvillage including Funkshion.com, a one-week fashion extravaganza beginning March 24 that takes place in two cruise ship-size tents on Miami's South Beach. “The collective sense of urgency has reached the tipping point,” states Sale Stojanovic, Funkshion Managing partner. “Global has become local with initiatives that encourage recycling on-site. Music revelers participate in an illuminating, hands-on example of what living in a sustainable planet really means,” states ECO Organizer Heather Read.

The ECOvillage comprises a Recycling Center and a Rescue Earth & Silver-Dagger Depot where UMF rations and provisions can be had for a donation to the causes. A first, BookLA.com® in conjunction with Vector International Pictures, Darfur Doc, Flora Foods and PDF Foods will oversee the “Sourced Local Competition!” Wild fruit, weed greens, edible flowers and vegetables found in back yards, parks and inner-city green areas will be prepared by South Florida's top chefs and filmed by Thel Patterson. Tulio of Casa Salvatore and Dane Iacangelo of Potions in Motion are among those chefs competing. Dean Taha of Santona Corner in Coral Gables and acclaimed concert promoter confirms: “The Chefs are slated to compete for top prizes in the preparation of a meal foraged from locally grown ingredients.”

Luis Valenzuela and Alexis Rodriguez of greenartUSA.org are providing art direction reminiscent of their Green Art Fair that coincided with this year’s Art Basel. Most of their plans are under wraps but what has been revealed is the Eco-Village design includes a spectacular art installation representing the connection of humans united for a global mission in saving our planet. MannequinsInternational.com and canvas and bamboo tenting by Kool Bamboo have been donated for Green Art's couture vert fashion exhibit. The leading edge fashion is made from recycled cigarette butts, plastic bags and yesterday's news and accessorized by Silver-Dagger, who is also staging informal modeling. Film director, Mohamed Hassan is planning to preview new footage from his documentary Death in Darfur, produced in part by VectorIp.com.

Another first, Solar Panels donated by Electron Solar Energy (electronicsolarenergy.com) will generate enough 'sun-juice' to power-up an on-stage sound system. ECOvillage's main supporter RescueEarth.org, co-founded in 2000 by Jose Rivas, began as a community grassroots organization serving Dade County schools and underwrites restoring and replanting indigenous trees, educational programs and supports Rock Garden Herbs’ Green Railroad Organic Workshop (G.R.O.W). Ecomb (ecomb.org), another ECOvillage, backer has maintained and sustained Miami's beaches since 1991 and is best known for their aggressive Coastal Clean Up on Biscayne Bay.