Save the Man

This year Save-the-Man Camp, part of Camp-I-Am, will be at about (not yet set). Come by the day of the burn to make a protest sign.

One of the most fun things I've done at Burning Man was to organize a satirical "Save the Man" protest. We marched around the Man chanting with our signs. It was great getting into mock arguments with the rest of the crowd who of course all shout "No!! Burn him! Burn him!" It makes everybody feel like more of a participant.

Here's an image of K. and I with our signs. She's dressed in an elwire suit in the neon pattern of the man. (Doesn't look like much in a flash photo of course.)

You can see other images from that year here.

To participate, just find us -- it should be easy with our signs -- at the burn. We'll protest a little after the burn, too, and finally admit defeat and throw our signs on the pyre.

I'm working to see if we can get permission to march inside the circle a bit, too.

Make a sign of your own. Just get a board, and attach one or two pieces of bristol board to it with a staplegun etc.

Slogans include

• Save the Man (of course)
• The Man Loves You
• Burn Him, Burn Yourself
• (Drawing of 10 men in desert, as though each year he was not burned.)
• What's the man done to you?
• Society for Preservation of the Man

Of course, think up your own. Consider taping a tiny light to it, but something you can remove before burning your sign.