The Burning Man Organization's "MOOP Map" — a map showing litter left behind by camps at the "leave no trace" event (MOOP stands for Matter Out Of Place) — this year takes the unprecedented step of documenting large abandoned items.
The filthiest camp? Gypsy Flower Power camp — over 200 people, many of them first timers from overseas, who were apparently scammed by a serial ripoff artist called "Jonny Moonshine" with a history of doing this at multiple events, including other Burning Mans and a Rainbow Gathering in Hawai'i. The comments are full of furious people who gave Moonshine money on the understanding that he'd arrange tickets, food, water, and other necessities, and who had to beg at other camps to keep from starving.
We don’t know why or how this situation got so out of control. So, we’re asking: What happened? Why did Gypsy Flower Power abandon its moop on this scale?
We do know that some camp members reached out to the community, to the 4:30 neighborhood, and to DPW for help. What we don’t understand is why their plans failed so completely. How did they wind up abandoned in Black Rock City with more moop than they could possibly pack out?
Gypsy Flower Power: the Playa Restoration crew respects every Burner’s efforts to Leave No Trace on the playa, and that includes your efforts. Nobody in the Burning Man community likes to see something like this happen, and we certainly don’t want to see it happen again. If you’re out there, please enlighten the people of Black Rock City. What’s your story, and what can we all learn from your experience?
MOOP MAP 2014: The Map You’ve Never Seen [The Hun/Burning Man Blog]
(Thanks, Cap'n Jack)
