What took us so long? The MOOP assessment on site has been much more extensive in 2023 when compared to previous years. This has raised a number of challenges, as at first glance, this year’s map might look like a step back because of the volume of red and orange sites in Tankwa Town.
Under the guidance of our MOOP-Master, Kevin Rack, AfrikaBurn is being proactive with regards to how we leave no trace on Quaggafontein by bringing our MOOP standards in line with AGF international standards, with the aim for AfrikaBurn to become the benchmark in Africa for sustainable and regenerative large-scale events.
Assessments for the 2023 MOOP map were not conducted by AfrikaBurn crew as in previous years but with independent, participant-sourced assessors who gifted their time after AfrikaBurn had finished and conducted the MOOP assessments free of the constraints of friendship and long-standing relationships, giving us a more honest account of the MOOP left behind in Tankwa Town.
For the first time, we’re giving you access to the source MOOP data so you know exactly what went down on the ground (all personal data and information has been redacted) and can draw your own conclusions about how MOOPy we were this year. We’ve also greyed out all the artworks in the Binnekring because we felt that it was important that the MOOP noted in this map focused on participants (not artists). There is a concern that if MOOP was found at the Tree of Stories (for example), then the community would think that the Tree of Stories crew were the source of the MOOP. This is unlikely to be the case … The problem is often that participants looking at the artwork leave cigarette ends, bottles, cans etc., at the artwork, which is not MOOP created by the artist. So, we wanted to note MOOP found at artworks without pointing any fingers at the artists themselves.
LINK TO HIGH RESOLUTION MOOP MAP
LINK TO SOURCE DATA
What’s the strangest MOOP from this year?
Celery sticks, Leonotis leonurus flowers, lots of plastic flowers and strings of fake ivy
What’s the most found MOOP this year?
Cigarette butts and roaches by far.
Wood Pallets and sawdust.
Cable Ties
Bling MOOP (glitter sequins, feathers, accessories)
Beer Cans
Dumping of general waste in bin bags.
Ash dumping from braai drums.
Organic matter like vegetable peels
Lollipop sticks and bubble gum
Bits of wire
Paint Flakes
Plastic Shot glasses.
Human waste (poo and condoms)
Coffee grinds
Rebar
Fuel spill
What’s the most difficult MOOP to deal with?
Cigarette butts
Glitter and sequins
Cable ties
Rebar
2 Responses
Our camp was signed off by one of the moop assesors as Green at ~10am on the Monday morning, and yet has been labelled red. I believe this happened last year, too – several camps were upset that they had been labelled incorrectly.
Despite us raising this complaint immediately following the newsletter email last week, you have posted the map to your 40k+ followers on IG.
Perhaps next time it would be an idea to share with camp leads for their comments before posting more widely. While the most important thing is that we left our area spotless, and we know we did, we can’t help but care about the perception of others :(. No one likes to be shamed publicly, especially when it is not deserved!
“this map focused on participants (not artists)”. Please could you explain what the difference between an artist and a participant is?