members, is now executive director and has become the project’s official spokesperson. Famous for his grey cowboy hat, which he wears in memory of his father, he has become a familiar figure in the media, featuring on television news reports and in newspaper and magazine articles that appear as regularly as the Burning Man festival itself. The success and the scale of the Burning Man owe a great deal to Larry Harvey’s imagination and sense of vision. 4. Burning Man is often called a phenomenon of the ‘Internet Generation’ and, like social networking sites such as Facebook and Twitter, the festival encourages the notions of community participation and self-expression. The event is governed by ten principles which emphasise the key beliefs of self-reliance and communal responsibility. People are encouraged to take part in the events and - by working with and helping each other - to discover something about themselves. 5. Although the event takes place in a harsh desert environment, all participants – called ‘burners’ – are expected to be able to fend for themselves over the seven day period. The organisers do not provide meals or accommodation and there are no conventional shops to buy food at or hotels to sleep in. In fact, Burning Man has its own distinct economy based on the concept of gift-giving, and the use of money is forbidden. 6. Burners are encouraged