SL= good PR for Non-profits

A greatly informative video on how Second Life is being used by non-profit organizations as a means to make a real-world difference through virtual world work. As it seems donations in the game can be transferred into real money in your first life. It may simply be good public relations work but hey it is interesting none the less.

“Help us change the world, one avatar at a time.”


The second video is actual reporting on this up and coming means for non-profit organization to get their names out as well as the disinterest in SL for investment money by most companies due to the fact that they do not understand it and are not able to chart out money making strategies within the game. It is far less Public Relations based and is actually what one might consider news. If you still have no idea what Second Life is at this point or how it works, you may want to check out this second video. John Stewart of the Daily Show makes an appearance as a dolphin avatar.

Ku Klux Klan meetings, Strippers, and prostitution!

Now that I have your attention I would like to direct you towards a very interesting article written by Joseph Brean of the National Post. The article, titled “Tales from the hate crime underworld,” appeared in the National Post Friday, February 05, 2010.

The article circles around “a legal conference on hate crimes this week in Toronto, attended by senior judges, Crowns and defense lawyers, chiefs of police and politicians.”

The article starts:

“The Island of the White Supremacists is not, as it might sound, a Survivor-style reality show in extraordinarily poor taste.

It is more like a private video game, set in an imaginary tropical paradise in the online virtual world of Second Life, where "Internet neo-Nazis" gather around a digital tiki bar "for planning and plotting recruitment efforts and gatherings," according to an Ontario government hate crime expert.”

As it stands these “Internet neo-Nazis,” like many others, have found a fairly secretive place to carry out hate mongering, within the imaginary world of a video game that is. But what can be done about it?

Seeing as the internet, and Second Life in particular, are not technically under the jurisdiction of a single country or government for that matter, is there anything the government can and should be doing as a means to stop it?

A large part of that issue could lay within the fact that many government officials have no idea what Second Life is, or how to use it, however it is not the only form of social media that such hate mongering has been taking place.

What do you think the government should be doing to stop hate mongering within social media or if they should be doing anything at all?

As it appears I am not the only female blogging about politics in Second Life, well, that was something I knew a while ago; however I just came across something interesting.

Gloria Feldt is a best selling author and self proclaimed leading women’s activist. She is a keynote speaker and commentator on politics, women, leadership, and media among other things.

On February 4th, Gloria made the debut of her Second Life avatar under the name GloriaFeldt Tungsten. I am by no means a feminist myself but can support and acknowledge the fact that she is branching out into the Second Life community with her message and opinions.

“I believe passionately in the power of your voice and mine to make a difference. Let’s speak up together about Heartfeldt Politics, Courageous Leadership and Powered Woman on my blogs.” – Gloria Feldt

Gloria also offers audio recordings of her podcasts about politics if you’re interested in hearing what she has to say check them out here.

Yesterday in Second Life, the members of the group "The Grand Old Party" met at the GOP Cafe at 6pm. The group meets on a weekly basis to discuss matters of a political nature. The subject of discussion yesterday was not really a discussion, but the opportunity to listen to Ronald Reagan's first State of the Union Address.

The address itself is just over 5,100 words and ends with a powerful message:

"One hundred and twenty years ago, the greatest of all our Presidents delivered his second State of the Union message in this chamber:

'We cannot escape history,' Abraham Lincoln warned. 'We of this Congress and this administration will be remembered in spite of ourselves.' The 'trial through which we pass will light us down in honor or dishonor to the latest generation.'

That president and that Congress did not fail the American people. Together, they weathered the storm and preserved the union.

Let it be said of us that we, too, did not fail. That we, too, worked together to bring America through difficult times. Let us so conduct ourselves that two centuries from now, another Congress and another President, meeting in this Chamber as we are meeting, will speak of us with pride, saying that we met the test and preserved for them in their day the sacred flame of liberty--this last, best hope of man on Earth."
-Ronald Reagan

According a January 28,2010 article by Aaron Zelinsky, Articles Editor, at the Yale Law Journal, current American president Barack Obama's State of the Union speech was inspired by Reagan. For those who are not aware Ronald Reagan is often referred to as the Gipper.

"The three major themes of Obama's State of the Union were straight out of the Gipper's playbook: First, resolve in the face of adversity. Second, a folksy demeanor laced with jokes. Third, a persistent reminder that he took office amidst a sea of trouble.

President Obama's glance toward Reagan for inspiration is unsurprising. During the 2008 campaign, candidate Obama stated that he "admired" Reagan for changing the "trajectory" of American politics. "

An adventure of sorts

Ever have a sudden urge to go on a random historically relavant and interesting adventure? No?

Okay so maybe that's just me. I often find myself bored in my current life... well when i'm not busy beyond all beleif that is, I feel the urge to pack my dog and boyfriend into my cramped car and drive across Canada or the US to scope out some interesting and historically packed landmarks.

However, the fact that I am slightly lacking in time and the funds to do so are a constant raincloud over my adventure parade. As such I have searched out and found a more time and cost efficient means to take these adventures... Or at least thanks to a website and my second life I am.

It's purpose: A registry of historic places that have been replicated in the Second Life community. Some of the highlights include The statue of Liberty, the Empire State building, and even the 911 memorial sight. So if you're looking for a nice escape from reality, and you have a second life account or are interested in creating one, check out the site.