Consent at MicroBurn

If you wish to report a consent incident before, during or after MicroBurn, please email consent@microburn.org or use this online form (http://tinyurl.com/ConsentReportForm). You can find more info about reporting and contacting the Consent Team below [can we link directly to the reporting section?].

What is Consent?

Consent is key in all our interactions at MicroBurn. Physical interactions, conversations, jokes, activities, photography or filming, borrowing equipment and more.

Consent is about what everyone involved wants to do together. “Is this ok?” is not enough. Consent isn’t about what the person will put up with, it’s about what they want.

At UK Burns, we say Consent is hot as FIRES:

Freely given – consent is not assumed or coerced, or reliant on specific conditions. Able to consent, not intoxicated or unconscious. Consider power imbalance and pressure.

Informed – consent requires knowing all relevant information and risks about the people and actions involved.

Reversible – consent can be withdrawn or downgraded at any time, without needing justification.

Enthusiastic – consent should be a definite yes, not a maybe. People can consent for different reasons, including because they want to try something new. If you’re not sure, consider checking, and offering further discussion.

Specific – consent to one thing does not mean consent to another.

Helpful 3min Consent and Tea video: (https://youtu.be/oQbei5JGiT8?feature=shared).

Harassment

The MicroBurn Consent Team wants to end harassment at Burns in the UK.

Harassment includes things like:

Disrespectful and inconsiderate behaviour towards others
Demeaning, discriminatory, or harassing behaviour
Sexist, racist, homophobic, transphobic, ableism or otherwise discriminatory jokes, language, or insults
Physical contact without consent
Deliberate intimidation, stalking, following, repeatedly showing up when you’re getting changed, washing or when you’re on shift and can’t leave
Repeated unwanted advances or “compliments”
Leering/uncomfortable looks
Invading your personal space
Jokes that make you uncomfortable
Encouraging others to do any of the above

Be an active bystander

Be aware of what is happening around you. Recognise inappropriate behaviour, and do something about it!

Some things you can do:

Confront the person (ideally with a buddy). Don’t make it about the person targeted by the behaviour – tell them why their behaviour makes you uncomfortable
Distract and deescalate – one person talks to each party and separates them
Check in with the person being targeted by the behaviour
Report!

Reporting

The MicroBurn Consent Team encourages you to report anything that is serious enough to change your behaviour, even if you don’t need help dealing with it. This includes anything that makes you put on more clothing to cover up because you feel uncomfortable, avoid someone, take a chaperone to a certain place, ask your friends to keep an eye on someone when they’re around you, or confront the person about their behaviour.

You can report inappropriate behaviour you have witnessed, even if it didn’t affect you directly.

Reporting consent breaches and harassment helps us educate people whose behaviour is inappropriate, and keep everyone safe from more serious issues. We can only address it if we know about it. And if someone is making you uncomfortable, there is a decent chance they’ve made others uncomfortable too.

How to report:

The fastest way to report onsite is to talk to a Rainbow Ranger, Welfairy or Site Lead.
Talk to the Consent team during their operating hours.
Drop a form in the Consent Drop Box, which will be checked daily.
Report online via the online report form http://tinyurl.com/ConsentReportForm consent@microburn.org

Nudity and Sexual Expression

Nudity is a form of self expression, is not considered inherently sexual, and is allowed onsite. Respect that people’s personal space needs may be different while you or they are naked. Some people may not want a hug, or may want to stand further away, while one of you is naked.

Sexual, intimate and many sensual activities should be kept to adult spaces (if available) or private tents/live-in vehicles. Make sure everyone in the space is comfortable with what is happening.

Photos and video

Be mindful taking someone’s photo or even the act of pointing a camera in someone’s direction may negatively impact their day.

You must get explicit consent from all individuals who may be in the frame of the camera before you take a photo or video. Try to avoid spontaneous photos or videos that include people you don’t know

You must confirm permission of everyone, including those in the background, to use the photo/video publicly, whether it’s online, print or social media.

No photos or videos taken at the event may be used for commercial purposes.

Child Safeguarding

The Consent Team does not deal with child safeguarding issues, these should be directed to the event organisation (Site Lead or Rainbow Rangers during the event, Board of Directors outside of event time).