Burning Man: Climate activists cause miles of traffic chaos by blocking route to festival
Desert festival reopened after venue was flooded by recent hurricanes Burning Man traffic was brought to a recent standstill by a group of anti-capitalist climate change activists who blocked the main road to the festival. The annual art and self-expression event is currently underway in the Black Rock Desert, Nevada. On Sunday (28 August), nearly half a dozen protestors from the climate activist group Seven Circles stood in the middle of the road used to enter the desert venue. Others chained themselves to a trailer parked on the road. Surrounded by signs and banners that read Burners of the World, Unite!, Abolish Capitalism and General Strike for Climate, the group said their protests were designed to draw attention to capitalisms inability to address climates ecological breakdown, according to the New York Post . They added that their protests were aimed at the popularisation of Burning Man among affluent people who do not live the stated values of Burning Man, resulting in the commodification of the event. Seven Circles argued that the events goal of becoming carbon-negative by 2030 is insufficient to tackle the pressing crisis. Video footage circulating social media shows Nevada rangers driving through the activists barricade before an officer begins wielding a gun and making arrests. Youre trespassing on tribal land, another ranger informs a woman. In one video before Nevada rangers arrived, a man wearing a cowboy hat printed with an American flag can be heard telling the activists that they are on public property as he tries to remove their barricade. Sorry, weve gotta f***ing move this f***ing mess, he adds. You cant block a road! Were chained down! one woman points out, while others in the group tell the man hes going to hurt someone. I dont care. Theres people with medical problems here, and they shouldnt be in the f***ing hot sun, the man responds, pointing to the line of cars. In a statement to The New York Post , Thomas Diocano, co-founder of Rave Revolution, a group that brings together environmental organisations and dance music communities to manifest peaceful, yet disruptive protest raves, said: We do not have a climate problem, the climate is behaving exactly in line with the laws of physics. We have an economic system problem, and that economic system is capitalism, Diocano continued. History shows that capitalism cannot be reformed. It cannot be changed from the inside. Are we really ready to sacrifice everything for an outdated, unequal economic system? The time to evolve has come. Last week, Burning Man guests were distressed after Tropical Storm Hilary caused flooding on the site. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Burning Man worker details what it is like to clean bathrooms at event AFP via Getty Images Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today. Log in New to The Independent? Or if you would prefer: Want an ad-free experience? Hi {{indy.fullName}}