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Save Koh Tao Festival 2010 ‘Preserve Paradise’ Date and Venue March, 20th-21st, 2010 at the first Koh Tao Pioneer’s Coconut Garden (Arom), Had Sai Ree
Organizers Save Koh Tao Community Group, Or-Bol-Tor Koh Tao, Ob-Bor-Jol Suratthani, Local Dive Shops, Koh Tao School, and the Koh Tao Community Introduction March may be the best time of the year to be on Koh Tao, not only for the great weather and whale shark migrations, but also for the annual Koh Tao Festival. The festival is a two day, two night, celebration of the island’s diverse culture and community. Last year’s festival featured live music from Thai and foreign Reggae, Ska, and World Music bands as well as DJ’s to keep the dancing going till sun rise. There were also performances by our local school children, the elders on the island, a Mr./Ms. Save Koh Tao Fashion Show, and a rendition of Grease put on by Big Blue Dive School. Since Save Koh Tao took over running the festival two years ago, it is not only about music and dancing, it is an opportunity for our community to come together to highlight our past achievements and address current environmental and social issues on the island. For last year’s festival we released 49 sea turtles, created a nursery with 1,000 baby giant clams, and raised enough money to add grades 7 and 8 to the local school, for the first time ever. During the day we host talks from experts and professionals to raise awareness, display posters and information for anybody interested in marine and land conservation, and have fun activities for visitors of all ages. If you are lucky enough to be in Thailand around the 20th-21st of March then do not miss this festival. Admission is free, and all money raised from drinks, food, and games goes to fund the local projects conducted through the Save Koh Tao Community Group. Background Save Koh Tao is a local community group dedicated to increasing awareness and involvement in activites and programs which support or enrich the natural environment and local community. The group was first started about 8 years ago, but became more active on the island over the last 2 years due to increased involvement and attention to problems on the island. Past group activities include; turtle realeases, land and underwater clean-ups, replanting and erosion control, island zoning, funsdriaing for the local school, and much more. Now, the locals want to improve the image of our island through the protection of our resources and education of our youth to improve our community and make Koh Tao a role model for sustainability.  Koh Tao has been developing very fast over the last few years, many locals worry about the health and future of the local environment and its pristine natural areas both on the land and under the sea. With the Save Koh Tao Festival, the goal is to increase awareness, create community unity and involvement, and promote respect and stewardship of natural areas. Through these efforts we hope to provide people the hope that the situation here can change, and provide the means to do so.
This year, Ob-Bor-Tol and Save Koh Tao will be joining together for this event to increase the participation from the local community in an attempt to further the collective consciousness of the people and the next generation that will be here to protect the island. This year’s festival will host educational booths and discussions, land/underwater clean-up, and a two day musical festival with games and activities to raise money for this years’ Save Koh Tao Projects. All money raised through the event will go directly towards the funding of the three Save Koh Tao Branches; Education, Land Conservation, and Marine Conservation.
Objectives 1. To continue the event as an annual festival on Koh Tao 2. To encourage natural resource conservation and responsible business practices 3. To encourage unity of the Koh Tao community 4. To raise awareness and educate locals about Koh Tao’s natural resources 5. To raise funds supporting in Koh Tao School and Save Koh Tao Group Activities Day Time - Environmental activities: Turtle Releases, Giant Clam Nursery Construction, Rubbish Clean-Ups, Education
- Games/Events: Volleyball Tourney, Tug-of-War, Boxing, Pole Climbing, Sand Sculpture Competition
- For Kids: Painting, Games, Carnival Rides, Arts and Crafts
- Thai Food Fair
Evening Activities - Live Music: Thai Reggae and Ska, Eastern and Western World Music, Local Bands, DJs
- Performances: music, dancing, and various shows by the local dive schools
- Events: Contests, Raffles, Save Koh Tao 2010 Movie Premier
- Thai Food Fair
Target Group Koh Tao Thai/Western community, tourists and visitors to the island Sponsor’s benefits Local sponsors are the heart of our festival, and in the past have stepped up to raise millions of baht which not only supported Save Koh Tao projects, but also added a new building and two more grades to the local school. All sponsors receive their logo behind the stage and also on these promoting tools with festival announcement through local radio and on the festival: · Information Booklet · Posters · Websites/internet · Local radio channel · Logo on stage · Logo on entrance sign · Preset gift on stage Contact Chad Scott at
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(English), Maleephan Zahir
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(Thai). Booth Rental  Booths for food, marketing, games, etc., can be rented out for a price of 2,000 baht per night. This will include table electric, and one light. Only vendors which fit with the festival theme of responsibility and sustainability will be allowed and must be approved by the Save Koh Tao group. No Plastic or Styrofoam will be allowed! Contact P’Kig at the New Heaven Bakery (10am-4:30pm) in Sairee for more information.
The Local Community Would Like to Thank the following Sponsors for Making This Event Possible:
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