activism in second life - commonwealth islands

Commonwealth IslandsAn experiment with

activism in virtual worlds

Josh Knauer (aka: Hayduke Ebisu in Second Life)

A Project of the EnviroLink Network

(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)

TWO ROADS DIVERGED IN A WOODAND I TOOK THE ONE LESS TRAVELED BY

AND THAT HAS MADE ALL THE DIFFERENCE.

- ROBERT FROST

EnviroLink Network

• Founded in 1991

• Mission: Help progressive organizations adopt emerging technology

• One of the first .org websites

• Has helped thousands of organizations around the world

• Joined Second Life in Aug 2006

• Established Commonwealth Islands by Oct 2006

Big Question: Can virtual worlds become an effective

platform for actvism?

Community + Education + Fun + Action

Community - Create a place people want to be

(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)

Community - Content becomes part of the landscape


Community - The user becomes immersed


Education - Users learn by experiencing

Users can learn about sustainability, green design and new technologies through an immersive experience... every object holds the potential for discovering something new



Immersive virtual educational experiences allow the user to imagine how the experience could relate to their own “real” lives. Most common reaction, “I didn’t know

it was this easy to have an energy efficient water heating system.”



Both negative and positive messages are communicated through the experience.



No one ever wants to be this close to a nuclear reactor core, but by exploring a model of one in Second Life, users can learn about the dangers associated with this form of power generation.



Users can experience the various outcomes of decisions they make and see the impact on the planet


Community - Even avatars have meetings

Several dozen avatars self-organized to create strategies for opposing the Bush administration’s policies regarding war, torture and other related issues.

(photo credit: Venace Vandal)

Action - Virtual organizing leads to action

Several thousand avatars have participated in virtual protests against US war policies

(photo credit: Ruby Glitter)


ACLU protest



Free Burma Human Chain Event - ~3000 known participants in SL



Because of news coverage and word of mouth within Second Life, users throughout the virtual world spontaneously created their own human chains... people found a way to

show solidarity with the people or Burma and generated a lot of media attention/awareness


Virtual action... real world results

IBM Strike in SL:Almost 2000 avatars converge

on IBM’s presence in Second Lifein support of IBM Italy’s

unionized workers(photo credits: Wagner James Au)

IBM Strike in SL:Leads to a real award

from the French Senate


IBM Strike in SL:- Thousands of participants in Second Life

- Hundreds of news articles around the world- IBM caves to all of workers’ demands, cites SL protest


... and this is “just a game” ?!?

Fun - We have to stop taking ourselves so seriously

There are many activities spread out throughout the Commonwealth Islands that exist solely to allow users to have fun. Our surf beach is a popular destination and now hosts the Surfrider Foundation.


Fun Helps Build Community

Live musical performances happen regularly at the Commonwealth Lounge. This picture shows a classical music performance by a student at Juiliard


Fun helps build community... and sometimes people even learn!

Tai Chi classes run by the Peacemaker Institute happen twice daily


Fun helps build community... and sometimes people even learn!

Tai Chi classes run by the Peacemaker Institute happen twice daily... Average attendance: 30 avatars


Pushing the boundaries... Google Earth in Second Life

Commonwealth has been supporting information activists who are exploring new ways for users to interact with information in a virtual environment

Video Demo: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8lo8Nvv78

(photo credit: Hayduke Ebisu)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8lo8Nvv78

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-8lo8Nvv78

Where is this all going? What’s the impact?

For more information:www.commonwealthisland.org

Organizations hosted on the Commonwealth Islands:

American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU)Climate Change Information CenterCode Pink for PeaceEarth First!Fielding Graduate InstituteFree Burma CoalitionFree TibetGreen Islands TrustGreenpeace UK & InternationalHabitat Trust

Homeless Link InternationalNational Coalition Against CensorshipNorthwest Solar CenterPeace, Earth & Justice NewsPeacekeeper InstitutePreferred Family Health CareSL Avatars for CharitySurfrider FoundationUNI Global UnionWitness

activism in second life - commonwealth islands

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