Burning Man Goes Commerical

It's not an April (or June) fools joke. It is the inevitable at the front door. From CNN Money's website:

Burning Man Goes Commercial

Excerpt:

Each Burning Man has a different theme, chosen by Harvey. This year's theme is "The Green Man." Burning Man, an extravaganza characterized by the consumption of huge quantities of fossil fuel, has discovered environmentalism. It is attempting to offset the 28,000 tons of carbon it estimates the event generates (counting all those flights and long drives for its far-flung attendees), and the organization is belatedly switching to biodiesel generators to provide most of the event's electricity.

Most controversially, the organization wants to bring as many green-energy companies as possible into what Harvey calls a world's fair of clean tech. Google (Charts, Fortune 500) is going to help produce an online 3-D search service called Burning Man Earth.

A venture capitalist is bringing a vast solar-power array. Four wind-power companies will be placing turbines around the Man. PR maven Melody Haller of the Antenna Group will be bringing a campful of her clean-tech CEOs. "We're inviting the Greeks into the heart of Troy," says Tom Price, Burning Man's new environmental director. "Burning Man may have to destroy itself to save the planet."

My initial reaction? OK. The planet is more important, go for it. If Burning Man had to lose it's purity, at least it was for a good cause. I won't be upset unless they start pimping Johnnie Walker, Nike, Jet Blue and the like.

Comments

[Jamison]

I don't think this can be looked at as any kind of turning point where Burning Man starts loosing it's purity. For a lot of people that was true when they started selling tickets, or started permitting vehicles, or whatever.
You got me to remember something most burners don't know, but I see as a demonstration of how the most commercial of the commercial are already involved in the event. Marion told me a few years ago Walmart contacts them to make sure they have up to date hours and locations. And you will find directions to the local Nevada Walmart and K-Mart stores right there are burningman.com. They don't go without some disparaging remarks, but I see it as a successful example of balancing free market capitalism while still keeping the playa commercial free.
From the sound of it, this is more about getting energy company execs to experience Burning Man. I hope this means they will bring what they learn back to the default world, not make the playa more like the default world.