Second Life Demonstrations and Cre-8 Tribute Garden

Demonstrations against the G8 have been going on in the "Game" Second Life. People who cqannot make the real life demonstrations in Rostock have been demonstrating outside the Reuters office in the on-line world, and there is another large demonstration of solidarity with the Rostock demonstrators scheduled for tonight (Thursday 8pm GMT) outside the "Linden Mansion" - the "home" of the owners of the life simulator, Linden Labs.

SLLU, Second Life Left Unity, has created a Tribute Garden for people who are in the game to leave a candle, flower or other tribute in memory of the victims of capitalism/globalisation.

Second Life Left Unity PRESS RELEASE

Over the past few days, groups on SL opposed to Globalisation have organised demonstrations against the G8, whom are at the present meeting in Rostock, Germany. There have been G8 demonstrations outside Reuters and other places. Tonight there will be a mass demo at the Linden Mansion.

SLLU have set up a "Tribute Garden" for people to go place either a flower, a candle - or a tribute of their own choosing on the site in memory of the millions of victims of globalisation
Isla Montevideo (41, 185, 32)

SLLU commend all of those who have organised and have taken part in these demonstrations against a cabal of self elected owners and distributers of the worlds assets. This cabal have tried to "sell" off some of the poorest countries water resources to the highest bidder. This is shameful and has led to demonstrations across the world.

A concerted effort by British campaigners has meant that Nepal's water system is safe, for now, from the profiteers.

Vicky Cann, the World Development Movement’s water campaigner said:
“Time and again water privatisation has failed to connect the poor in the developing world to affordable drinking water. That’s why the WDM joined campaigners from Nepal in calling for Severn Trent to withdraw from this contract.
“It is shocking to now learn, from media reports, that the Asian Development Bank (ADB) is threatening to terminate its multi-million dollar loan if the privatisation element of the project is not fulfilled. It is yet another blatant example of a donor trying to bully a poor country into doing what it wants. It is good to see that the minister in charge will not be railroaded by the ADB into privatising Kathmandu’s water supply before reviewing more options.”
Gopal Chintan, coordinator of the Water and Energy Users' Federation-Nepal said:
"People in Nepal are against multinational companies taking over Nepal's drinking water supply and we are pleased that Severn Trent has withdrawn its bid. What Kathmandu needs is public investment in its water supply and management - to cut the 40 per cent plus leakage rate and upgrade the water supply network served by the many small local rivers, springs and ponds,"

ENDS.

PLOT TRACER
Second Life Left Unity

Plot Tracer
e-mail: theteacher@elmacdezign.co.uk
Homepage: http://slleftunity.blogspot.com/

Additions

Virtual protest, real people :) Stop the G8!

07.06.2007 22:20

Blocking the road

First the virtual capitol, then the real one!

Pictures from today's G8 protest in Second Life.

sparkle magic

photos from G8 protest (website)

08.06.2007 01:43

http://www.flickr.com/photos/venicevandal/

sparkle magic

Comments

Hide the following 5 comments

Virtual protest

07.06.2007 20:03

Get a life

Cretinwatch

sillyness watch

07.06.2007 20:45

sorry - some of us cant make rostock, but want to do something. this is a way to engage with others who have the same goals as those who made it over there, but who cannot afford/ have children/ live on the other side of the world.

Get with it mr cretin! Second Life is an open forum. It has an unfortunate name, but it is a good place to get the message across to people who otherwise do not engage.

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Homepage: http://slleftunity.blogspot.com/

to mr. cretin

07.06.2007 22:07

1. some of us can't afford to leave our jobs and families to fly to G8.
2. we're presently occuping capitol hill in second life :)
3. what are you doing to smash capitalism and make a better world?

first the virtual, then the real,

sparkle magic

sparkle magic

Marx on Second Life

13.06.2007 14:48

Second life is the sigh of the oppressed creature, the heart of a heartless world, and the soul of soulless conditions. It is the opium of the geeky people. (Introduction to A Contribution to the Critique of Hegel’s Philosophy of Right)

Neon Black
Homepage: http://dreaming-neon-black.blogspot.com

Marx on SL

25.06.2007 10:19

Second life is a forum - a place online where people of the world CAN unite. Second life is not a solution to the worlds problems, just a forum and a place to communicate, like indymedia. Some people treat it as a game, some people treat it as a place where they can be creative, some use it as an educational tool, some people take it altogether too seriously.

Second Life has become a forum where people from all around the world CAN INTERACT,who for whatever reason cannot do that well in real life. It has become popular, for example, with people with Aspbergers and people for whatever reasons are house bound.

It is also becoming a place corporations are using to conference with others across the world.

Personally, I think Marx would have seen the possibilities this kind of interactivity could bring to the struggle - sharing experiences and sharing art and means of protest - and as people are able to manipulate the envioronment - seeing ways this can be used to educate and train.

And lets not forget it can be used to have some fun as well.

Dialogue is the encounter between men, mediated by the world, in order to name the world. (Paulo Freire, 1988)

Plot Tracer
mail e-mail: theteacher@elmacdezign.co.uk
Homepage: http://slleftunity.blogspot.com/