This year, however, climate activists temporarily halted the influx of eager festivalgoers, blocking the road with a 28-foot caravan and causing a traffic jam for over an hour. They clashed with outraged Burning Man attenders and Nevada rangers.
In recent years, Burning Man has drifted from its hippy roots and become better known for luxury RVs, wild orgies, and Silicon Valley tech bros. Protesters from the Seven Circles - a coalition of activists representing the climate groups Extinction Rebellion, Rave Revolution and Scientist Rebellion - demanded Burning Man ban private jets and single-use plastics, as well as unlimited generator and propane use. Signs painted with the slogans "Burners of the world, unite!", "Mother Earth needs our help" and "System change" were erected around Sunday's blockade, while four activists chained themselves to the caravan and locked arms through PVC pipes.
The activists had driven to the site in separate vehicles, stopping on the road while the driver of a trailer pulled ahead and turned to block both lanes.
People in the cars stuck behind them initially believed there had been an accident, and they emerged from their vehicles asking if everyone was OK. The protesters scrambled to erect their signs and flags, and when onlookers realised it was a climate protest, many became incensed, huffing back to their cars in frustration. "They're delusional, it's idiocy," fumed Molly, a festivalgoer. "They think they're going to fix climate change by blocking Burning Man? I don't care what their argument is, they can go fuck themselves."
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