Second Life Left Unity

Serco - the company running the world?

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sat, 21 Apr 2012 08:50:00 +0000

From Nukes, , detention centres, prisons to schools...

Occupy Nuclear Bases!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 20:38:00 +0000

Plot Tracer's 6 minute video of the worlds longest occupation/protest - "Occupy Faslane Nuclear Submarine Base" in Scotland

more talks and discussions coming at SLLU

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:35:00 +0000

So, last night Wilhelm Palmira did a talk and discussion on "Who are the 1%?". It went really well with good turn out. Definitely a good start to a continuing set of talks. Wilhelm is offering up these topics next:

1) Capitalism as Sabotage: How wealth makes poverty. Linking Corporate profits to global hunger and poverty. What are the alternatives?
2) Destroying the war machine from within - Making your country, your society and even your head free of the military psychosis.

I'm looking forward to some great discussions at the SLLU Stage. Wilhelm wants to do two talks a month. We haven't set the date yet but it will be in two or three weeks.

.....Anybody interested in leading a talk themselves? I'd like to see us hosting more discussions. Or, how about some video showings and discussions? Ideas?

"Who are the 1% percent?" talk and discussion, Sunday, April 1st, 8am slt

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Sun, 25 Mar 2012 14:18:00 +0000

SLLU will be hosting a bi-weekly talk and discussion by Wilhelm Palmira beginning this coming Sunday, April 1st 8am slt. The opening talk will be: "Who are the 1% percent?"

Wilhelm is promising to do talks around current and evolving political movements and events and to explain and understand these from a left perspective and analysis, and then to see how we can make political action more effective.

future topics maybe include: Global Debt / Global Hunger / Maoist rebellion in India / Africa and Mining / Bolivarian Revolution

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Flagg/227/65/94

Take 10 minutes...

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sat, 24 Mar 2012 20:22:00 +0000

...and show your want for a fair world. Join us next Friday...

Come with placards/ teeshirts and noise - a photo op demo to spread the word across SL groups - the 1% have pulled our chain too long! Come take photos of the demo and use your twitter account to let people know, WE ARE THE 99% and we won't let you lie and cheat our resources from us anymore!

NEXT FRIDAY AT 4am SLT and onwards!

RL demonstration at the Scottish Tory Party Conference earlier today. The Scottish Socialist Party show the way! Let's get together for ten minutes every Friday, and voice our opposition to the right wing parties of the world who are making the poor pay

SLURL: HERE

Kony, Bono and Dangerous Slactivism...

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 17:09:00 +0000

By Plot Tracer

Until recently I didn’t fully understand the term nor the danger suggested by the term "slactivism."
What is slactivism? The “Sl” doesn’t refer to Second Life – but some SL activists COULD be accused of slactivism, and I fear there are some in SLLU and other SL activist groups who are dangerous slactivists. Because slactivism is dangerous, and reactionary.

Slactivism seems to be a term meaning someone who jumps from cause to cause- each cause being as worthy as the next, giving little thought to the cause beyond, “it looks worthy.” The term could, at its least dangerous, be given to people who loosely link causes together and change focus regularly. Each cause is, at least on the surface, one that can be supported by activists, each cause bringing with it a new meme or a new trendy logo and visuals. The more links on the internet, and the more trendy Youtube videos attached or witty banners etc, the more attractive the cause will be to the slactivist.

But its seeming worthiness is its inherent danger as Governments take advantage of this lack of focus and critical thinking.

Back in 2005, we were told that clicking our fingers would “Make Poverty History.” Bob Geldoff, a huge tax dodger, said that sharing some money and wearing a white teeshirt would force Governments to drop 2/3’s World Debt. Of course this altruism does not extend to the poor in his own adopted home – welfare projects and education and health benefit lightly from his taxes as he has found out how to hide money in properties purchased abroad. Bono etc are the same – Ireland is in huge crises – poverty in his own country is increasing hugely, but to him, his tax millions are better in his own offshore accounts. Slactivist after slactivist clicked and wore out white shirts.

I remember while giving out leaflets at a “G8” Make Poverty history demo in Edinburgh that said, “Make Capitalism History – poverty will follow,” a slactivist dressed in white with stickers and mobile phone in hand to text his Make Poverty History message to the big concert screen came up to me and berated me for “politicising poverty.” Poverty, to the slactivist, would disappear if we paraded around Edinburgh, sang along with Annie Lennox and clicked our fingers. Polite cheering on Bush Blair et al would induce massive change; pull the 2/3 world from poverty and not really effect us other than be out of pocket on a white rubberwrist band and a sore arm from waving a placard sponsored by the Daily Mail.

Make Poverty History Pants

I can be sure the bloke who attacked me for thinking economics and debt and the now failing capitalist system were political was a slactivist, but what about Bono and Bob Geldoff? They are two characters who are stranger than strange – both from rock bands that in some way de-politicised music in the pretence of politicising it (the subject of another article methinks) and both very much friends with those they were asking to make change – ie Blair, Brown and Bush et al. The point here is that poverty was not made history, and in fact the continuance and depoliticizing of the message to the G8 that year actually allowed the powers that be to make more protections of the system that ultimately failed in 2008 and created even more poverty. Geldoff and Bono are guilty of at least the worst slactivism in history.

A slactivist has three massively detrimental personality disorders – these disorders can have a huge negative impact on real issues. One, a sense of righteousness; two, a laziness and three short-termism. They have an ideological deficit- they see only black and white in all situations and have no "hook" - no measure of how right a cause is.

The slactivist will label him/herself with something that will sound liberal, yet in some way make the pretence of challenging the status quo. The most recent “slactivist” I have been talking to has labelled herself, an anti-imperialist, atheist red capitalist. I told her she was not an activist then. She was supporting the inequalities that the present economic system needs.

Occupy and UK/USUncut, are disintegrating, Julian Assange is slowly being forgotten and Anon masks will be last weeks thing in the coming weeks - slactivists are moving on to the next big thing. Iran nor Palestine aren’t trendy enough (they have too many of those arab looking people) - and the Tory wrecking of the world renowned and admired UK NHS is a bit boring, but this Kony guy has a name like Sony and the video created by these IC (JC?) people is like far out man. It has everything. Disfigured children, raped women fantastic visuals and a charismatic leader holding guns in the Jungle – almost Che/Jesus-like, but without the reference to that old fashioned socialism stuff.

Recently in SL, a slactivist has been punting the Kony cause across SL groups. This slactivist has no qualms in supporting “No Attack on Iran” (he was part of the infamous "Dont Iraq Iran- Lag for Peace" movement back in 2007) but cant seem to see that calling for US troops to help a repressive African regime is in any way similar. There are the resources out there for critical analysis, if only the slactivist would go beyond the charismatic leadership of IC and well produced videos. Resources that not always come from the old fashioned, cynical left (this resource is a good one – but will not convince the slactivist as, ‘didn’t socialism become as bad as Hitler in the era of Stalin and stuff..?’

http://stopwar.org.uk/index.php/usa-war-on-terror/1257-ten-ways-to-tell-kony-2012-is-a-warmongering-hoax )

But even the mainstream British media has become more than cynical about this “movement” -

Other useful links: http://therealnews.com/t2/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=31&Itemid=74&jumival=8075

http://socialistworker.org/2012/03/12/left-out-of-the-kony-2012-video

http://keepittrill.com/online/2012/03/kony-2012-scam-stop-supporting-invisible-children/

Of course, the IC crowd and slactivists who “don’t like to be wrong” are on the attack, saying this cynicism is going to allow Kony off the hook (which he definitely shouldn’t be), but what they are calling for – ie. US intervention supporting a despotic regime that uses child soldiers openly is way short of what Uganda deserves. It was way short of what Afghanistan and Iraq deserved – the peoples of those two countries were butchered and continue to be because of US strategic interest (as most will accept, the involvement of the US in Afghanistan and Iraq has helped destroy these countries rather than help to build). What is the common denominator in these countries? The supply of oil to the US. The profit bottom line.

May I suggest to anyone who calls themselves an activist – cast your eye over our Charter and Aims and Principles. It was hammered out by a group of people back in 2006 – it is a document that SLLU should be proud of, because if those who are part of our group have any doubt over whether something is a good cause or not – test it with our principles. Using the document as an activism “hook” would ensure that no-one who really calls themselves an anti-imperialist activist could be supporting any military intervention.
The first principle of a Doctor is, “Do no harm.” The USA decision to be the “healers” of the world should be treated with the cynicism it deserves – because the ill patients it seems to try to cure are harmed beyond healing at least within the next few generations – and the healing will not really take place until these exploited lands run out of oil – nor are strategically important by way of geography. Kony is something that the US government loves. A bad person who may take years to find, but in the meantime they can slowly build bases within Uganda and prop up the Government that is every bit as bad as the dreadful Kony. The US has no qualms in propping up despotic Governments that ensure profits keep rising and in doing so, many thousands of innocent people have died. Slactivists should stop propping up the despotic US military machine and perhaps tighten up their critical thinking.

UK NHS under threat from greedy Capitalists...

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sun, 11 Mar 2012 14:13:00 +0000

Please, where ever you are, use the gadget on Left Labour to help save the fairest, most efficient medical service in the world.

This is a wonderful gadget created by "Labour Left" - and on Dr Éoin Clarke's Web page.

Please go to it and use it to email Liberal Democrat MP's who are in coalition with the Tories. There is also a "Tweet" button.

The text of the email is reproduced below if you prefer to copy and paste to the MP's, whose email addresses I have reproduced here, separated by commas and in three sections for Hotmail/yahoo/google/gmail emailers -

alan.beith.mp@parliament.uk,teathers@parliament.uk,david@davidward.org.uk,office@simonwright.org.uk,tessa.munt.mp@parliament.uk,menzies.campbell.mp@parliament.uk,danny.alexander.mp@parliament.uk,chris.huhne.mp@parliament.uk,jo.swinson.mp@parliament.uk,nick.clegg.mp@parliament.uk,lynne.featherstone.mp@parliament.uk,norman@normanlamb.org.uk,steve@stevewebb.org.uk,cablev@parliament.uk,braket@parliament.uk

info@malcolmbruce.org.uk,burstowp@parliament.uk,john.leech.mp@parliament.uk,donfoster@parliament.uk,edward@edwarddavey.co.uk,tim@timfarron.co.uk,Sandersa@parliament.uk,martin.horwood.mp@parliament.uk,williamsmf@parliament.uk.kennedyc@parliament.uk,ian.swales.mp@parliament.uk,julian.huppert.mp@parliament.uk,stephen@stephengilbert.org.uk,duncan.hames.mp@parliament.uk,greg.mulholland.mp@parliament.uk,hemmingj@parliament.uk,

willottj@parliament.uk,carmichaela@parliament.uk,mark.hunter.mp@parliament.uk,gordon.birtwistle.mp@parliament.uk

Dear ,

As you know, the passage of this NHS Bill is nearing its completion. The bill was not in either governing party's manifesto, and it goes against the PM's pledge to have no top down re-organisation of the NHS.

According to YouGov, only 14% of voters want this Bill to succeed and 66% of medical professionals think the bill will make the NHS worse. Despite the Information Commissioner and Information Tribunal ordering Andrew Lansley to publish the NHS Transition Risk Register, he has so far refused. To top it all off, more than 170,000+ voters have signed the 'Drop the Bill' petition. Specifically, the allowance contained within the bill that up to 49% of NHS bed space and theatre time can be utilised by the private sector is nothing short of terrifying. These are some of the very many reasons I am begging one small favour of you.

Please vote in an ethical manner on the 13/03/12; do the right thing, whatever you deem that to be. It is my firm belief that if you are motivated to do what is right, then Lansley's botched bill will be dropped.

Yours faithfully

Occupy!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 04:20:00 +0000

Fuse "Enlightenment"

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Fri, 24 Feb 2012 01:12:00 +0000

Open publication - Free publishing - More junk sculpture

Absolute scandal...

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 20:36:00 +0000

...and where is the outcry? Scandal - Left Charities targetted in million dollar theft BY THE COMPANY WHO WAS SUPPOSED TO LOOK AFTER THEIR FUNDS! From Non-Profits Quarterly...

Vanishing Act: Activist Groups Say Donations Disappeared with Fiscal Sponsor From the Afghan Women's Mission - Our Donations Were Stolen. Please Help Us Recover!

SLLU Newsletter

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 11:39:00 +0000

September "Event"

We are going to plan a huge event for September - It is the 6th birthday of Left Unity in SL. This event will raise money for Amnesty and RAWA and also celebrate all of the organisations in SL who challenge the current Capitalist inversion of socialism - ie socialism for the rich - and further impoverishment of the working and poor. Please contact me Plot Tracer if you want to get involved!

FUNDS

Our funds are at L$50,000 We have donated L$6974 to RAWA We pay L$150 per week for listing the Red Star Bar, L$50 per week for listing the Feminist Movement, L$50 per week for listing our book depository, L$50 per week for listing the SLLU Village, L$50 per week for listing Unity station and L$50 a week for listing the Wall Against Homophobia. = L$400 per week. You can donate at donation prims scattered throughout SLLU village.

Land and Tier

Comrades- it is clear that a lot of SLLU land is going unused. If you are a group or activist individual who could use the land to educate agitate and organise, please contact Plot Tracer with a proposal! IM or email (email more likely to reach me - plottracer@googlemail.com )

Comrades - if you are paying for SL, could you add any of your unused tier to our group land and money tab? This is free for you to do - you are only adding tier you are paying for that you are not using. This allows us to maintain our village and offer it to comrades to use for education/ activism for free.

SL Left Unity - We can see the future!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Thu, 16 Feb 2012 22:27:00 +0000

...and it is bright, comrades. ... and it is contained within the SLLU Charter and Aims and Principles.

One of my favourites among an orchard of cherries, is the first of the Aims and Principles.

"1.1 The group offers the means of a left environment, the term Unity does not claim anything since there is no monopoly. It is a proposition."

We are a MEANS OF A LEFT ENVIRONMENT. There is no monopoly. We are a space and a forum for the left to plan, meet, have fun, discuss, build and educate each other. If you are an activist and need space to do any of these things, contact me inworld or email plottracer@googlemail.com

Have a socialist one..!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Tue, 20 Dec 2011 00:43:00 +0000

see you soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 09:35:00 +0000

Comrades

As many of my friends in SL know, I have not been able to come in to work with you on SL Left Unity projects over the past few months. I have not forgotten you, and I am still very much in support of the Left Unity project we began way back in 2006.

I have documented my part in SLLU from 2006 on this blog and also on http://plotsplot.blogspot.com, so won’t go over all of the superb campaigns and events that have made me proud to be part of. The comrades and real friendships I have made when helping in different left projects have been beautiful and inspiring and I know many of them are going to continue working in SL on projects that educate and inspire.

I am glad to see SLLU and SLLU members at the heart of the Occupy SL movement. This is an important movement and the left need to be a loud voice within it (as well as without – real change will always need critical friends to help steer it towards fair change).

I will be coming and going from SL when I can, but my real life is becoming much too busy at the moment to let me immerse in our work in SL as I would like to. SL is extremely time consuming, and this is doubly so when planning events and bringing comrades together through agitation and conversation. This, of course, can change, so I am not bowing out of SL completely. My activity from December to January of this year was intense because I was at home with broken bones, and coming into SL in the first place back in 2006 was because of an illness – so I imagine there will be times will be able to come in and help out in the coming years.

Please – if you see me inworld, contact me and let me know how SLLU and other social justice projects in SL are going.

Thanks for all the fish.

Plot Tracer/Neil Scott

Occupy SL website: http://occupysl.org/

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:50:00 +0000

I have set up a website for Occupy SL this weekend: http://occupysl.org/

That link will take you to the blog. Look there for a link to the Forums. In the Forums I have created categories for each of the working groups to talk and coordinate. This should be where the working groups can discuss and come to agreement on important issues, ideas, and actions.

I still need to add a lot of introductory content to the blog and the forums. And everyone needs to add content too. If you are a good writer and want to contribute, please let me know. Everybody, let me know what you think needs to be added to the site. Thanks! ~Merriam~

OCCUPY SL WEBSITE/ forum!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 15:05:00 +0000

New Occupy SL site HERE

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 19:10:00 +0000

The 4th General Assembly for Occupy SL (OSL) happened last night. It was a bit chaotic, but we got some important things started.

Three working groups (or "committees") were created.
1. Direct Action working group
2. Media Communications working group
3. Facilitation working group

These working groups, or committees, are open groups of ppl who are talking together to generate ideas, discuss and work out the details and feasibility, and then to present and make proposals in GA meetings. A working group is simply a collection of ppl who are focused on one issue or aspect of OSL. Anybody can be a part of a working group by just "showing up" i.e. presenting yourself to the group, listening to what is being said, and offering input. You may be involved in as many working groups as you care to keep up with.

Working groups are not new SL groups. They won't be posting their own groups notices. Though they can use the OSL sl group to make Notices for meetups and solicit for ideas. I'm looking into setting up online forums the working groups can use for asynchonous discussions.

The Direct Action working group's focus is to work on the overall Occupy SL campaign and specific protest actions or other kinds of direct action. Contact any1 Gynoid to get involved with that group.

The Media working group is tasked with developing a media policy and discussing how we should talk and interact with the media in sl. Primarily, this was in regard to non-OSL bloggers. There were concerns about how OSL might get represented if we weren't careful. Contact Flashing Merlin to get involved with that group

The Facilitation working group is to review and refine how we do meetings and how we communicate to work together in OSL. This group would talk with other working groups and develope the agenda for the next GA. Contact Merriam Galaxy to get involved with that group.

*these working group contacts are not meant to be leaders, but are just points of contact for now to get ppl connected.

There is still room for other working groups around the meat-and-potatos of what OSL can/should be doing: specfic issues (unemployment, banking reform, electorial reform, foreclosures, student debt, public welfare and cuts to services, war, poverty, etc), how to do education in sl on these issues, teaching ppl in sl about what OWS is about, how to get involved in rl, activism in general, direct democracy and other models of political organization ...and whatever else ppl want to focus on. People are encouraged to start working groups on their own and..Get Involved!

At the 4th GA meeting we also had announcements from ppl. Miso Susanova told us about OccupyLEA (Linden Endowment for the Arts) and how they are protesting Linden Lab policies that are hurting the artist community in sl. She said that A LOT of artists got onboard with that and also joined OSL. OccupyLEA is losing its space at the LEA sandbox but has been offered and encouraged to setup on Caerleon Arts Collective sims, a big name in SL. Caerleon is about to lose their sims because they can't meet the new tier (rent) schedule that LL has established.

From the letter Miso received from Caerleon Arts Collective:

OCCUPY SL! Hi everyone. As you know, after building SL from the unpaid collective labor of thousands of artists and educators, LL is unceremoniously evicting us by doubling our tier. In the handful of months we have left, we invite you to OCCUPY SL by establishing a tent city of artists and others on the three Caerleon sims.

We want artworks, meetings, discussions, a General Assembly and, in general, joyous mayhem. Press are invited.

Having the arts community onboard with us in OSL is HUGE and great resource. Many artists are already coming to us wanting to do projects.

Flashing Merlin contacted Rodrick Linden this last week asking him to donate space for a virtual Zucotti Park. Rodvik has yet to receive a response. Flashing also contacted Hamlet Au, of New World Notes Blog. Hamlet Au wants to write about OSL, but there was hesitation voiced from members at the meeting on whether Hamlet would present us well in his blog. This in part lead to the formation of the Media working group.

Wara Ysabel from Bolivia shared this about what is happening in her country:

[2011-10-26 19:39:36] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): thanks .. Well, I am from Bolivia, last 9 weeks we have supporting an indigenous machs from low lands to La Paz, 600 Km long.
[2011-10-26 19:40:09] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): the reason for that, was the president, pretended to build a higwayt trhoug the National Park and Indigenous terrytry (TIPNIS)
[2011-10-26 19:40:28] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): well, what happend from the march start (1200 person aprox)
[2011-10-26 19:40:45] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): we was warking very hard in many aspects
[2011-10-26 19:41:15] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): 1) Sharing, educating and publishing news (when media stop informing, so walls start talking)
[2011-10-26 19:41:42] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): 2) Humanitty support to the marchers And we have aprooblem ehere
[2011-10-26 19:42:00] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): at day 35, police and ppl is close to Evo Morales (coca growers)
[2011-10-26 19:42:28] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): bloked the march, and close the ways to give them even water
[2011-10-26 19:42:42] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): note the march include 102 childs, womens, and olds
[2011-10-26 19:43:11] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): on september 25, police violente breake the march, it was very very sad
[2011-10-26 19:43:15] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): i will share with you some videos later
[2011-10-26 19:43:42] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): but that event, makes all the country join. Several ocuppys was made in cityes
[2011-10-26 19:44:12] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): and the ppol start supporting the march with everything. from water to clowns to make childs be better
[2011-10-26 19:44:23] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): ok, after 66 days and 600km
[2011-10-26 19:44:32] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): march reach La PAz

[2011-10-26 19:44:45] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): and finally, the goverment off the 480USD millons porject
[2011-10-26 19:44:59] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): so, for now, we won, and most important, we learned
[2011-10-26 19:45:30] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): the riught way to the union, is the difference betwean every one
[2011-10-26 19:45:44] Wara Ysabel (vampi.zapatero): thanks, and congrast for ocuppySL

So, very cool... :)

a summary update...

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 15:51:00 +0000

Occupy SL is really taking off. We're running our meetings on the same direct democracy, consensus driven method that OWS and other rl occupation groups are using. One member has done training in rl and prepared a teach-in in sl presenting how the rl ows general assemblies work. He's giving his presentation every Sunday at 6:30am from now on. This is a really valuable contribution to sl and it's great that Occupy SL is able to host it.
We're having our 4th GA meeting this week on Wednesday at 6:30pm slt. Meetings are going great. People have many ideas, a lot of energy, and want to contribute. I've talked to several artists this weekend and our very own, Trill Zapatero is wanting to pull more artists in to do a lot of art supporting Occupy SL. People have ideas for doing sculpture and machinima and I don't know what else. Along with this we are working on having an entertainment event every weekend in order to draw more people in and to bolster any demos, art, or other events happening that weekend. And of course, just to have fun ourselves. We had the Virtual Live Band performing last weekend and we're having a corporate zombie and blood-sucking capitalist vampire Halloween party this coming weekend.
We did a demonstration on a sim this weekend. It was the SL Stock Exchange. It was really just a good iconic image to demo at. The owner didn't see it that way though and ejected and banded us from the sim in the first 10 minutes! It was fast, but fun, and just what we expected. We then followed Miso Susanova over to the LEA Self-Curated Gallery sandbox where she is setting up an ows occupation of tents and media booth modeled after rl occupations. Here we all laughed and talked about what had just happened at the stock exchange place and about what to do next. Miso blogged more about it here: http://gomiso.blogspot.com/2011/10/occupysl-occupylea.html
More ppl are blogging about us and we had a sl talk show host stop by looking for a story for a show. I'm hoping at our Wednesday meeting we can focus on how to get the word out more deliberately and broadly about us...in sl and rl.
I can feel a synergy building in the group......

Fast and fun and just what we expected

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Sun, 23 Oct 2011 13:29:00 +0000

The demonstration at CapEx went great today. Maybe a few more minutes to take more pictures would have been nice, but that's okay. The sim owner came (or was already there) when we arrived. We were very nice to him and tried hard to explain what we were about, but I'm afraid he took our presence there very personally and was upset from the very start. He kicked us all off within 10 minutes. :-)
As planned we all followed Miso over to the LEA Self-Curated Gallery (http://slurl.com/secondlife/LEA5/86/14/23) where she is setting up an OccupyLEA tent camp and info board. This is something I'm hoping we can duplicate and setup up at sandboxes and anywhere we can rezz it all over SL. :)
At OccupyLEA we all laughed and talked about what had just happened at CapEx. How do we make the message clearer and spread it farther next time. What more fun can we plan for SL? Things look exciting ahead.

JOIN SLLU ON FACEBOOK!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 15:08:00 +0000

Click HERE

Let's get this occupation going down, comrades!

noreply@blogger.com (Plot Tracer) — Thu, 20 Oct 2011 00:35:00 +0000

from Merriam Galaxy

Can we do one a demonstration/occupatioin this weekend? ppl have been talking about where and how to do it. Let's get together and make definite plans. 

And after that, let's talk about whatever else comes up.

Let's meet at 7PM slt
http://slurl.com/secondlife/Flagg/221/64/94

If you can't come to a meeting, can you make your ideas and feelings known? either by dropping a notecard to the group or posting on our facebook page

Occupy SL on Flickr

noreply@blogger.com (Agnes S.) — Sun, 16 Oct 2011 17:14:00 +0000

Dil Spitz have set up a flickr group to share images and dropped some snappies of the supporting VLB concert
If some like to (co-)moderate please give him a sign.

http://www.flickr.com/groups/occupysl/

Occupy SL Featured in New World Notes

noreply@blogger.com (Scylla Rhiadra) — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 18:25:00 +0000

The Occupy SL in Solidarity movement is the subject of a post in New World Notes:

http://nwn.blogs.com/nwn/2011/10/occupy-wall-street-second-life.html#comments

This is a terrific opportunity to get the word out to a more general audience! Drop by and add your comments in support of anti-corporate activism in Second Life!

Occupy SL has a Facebook page

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Sat, 08 Oct 2011 08:11:00 +0000

Things are moving along...fast!
We had a great evening Friday night. Many ppl came and hung out and talked...and argued (thanks Lev for keeping the convo going with your simpleminded opinions :)

We had a good talk in IM chat, and many ppl are coming forth volunteering time and skills and making things happen. Thanks Calliope, mandy, Dax, Kel, any1, Tansy, caitlyn, and Trill...

Dax created a Facebook page for us. Check it out!

https://www.facebook.com/OccupySL

A Love Letter to the SLLU and SLLUFN

noreply@blogger.com (Scylla Rhiadra) — Fri, 07 Oct 2011 20:03:00 +0000

It has been nearly three years since I first became involved with the SLLU and, soon after, the SLLUFN. At the time, I was still relatively new to Second Life, enjoying it for its social aspects, and still somewhat lost and amazed by the sheer novelty and magic of it all. It was a revelation to me that something that I probably still largely thought of as a “game” and as escapism might also serve as a platform for social justice, and political and social change. And indeed, as I became more intimately involved, the SLLU and SLLUFN came to seem much more even than that: they were my introductions to an extended community of the some of the brightest, most caring, and most passionately committed people it has ever been my privilege and pleasure to know.

Over time, my SL activist horizons expanded, with increasing involvement in Amnesty International-E, Four Bridges, and Stop Violence against Women; the latter in particular, founded by the astonishing Paty Amiot, supplemented my increasingly personal engagement with activism in-world and without. Always, however, the SLLU and SLLUFN felt most like “home.” It was here that my SLeducation in social justice, feminism, and activism received its greatest impetus. I don’t know that I’ve experienced, even in RL, an environment that was more intellectually stimulating, supportive, and positive. I don’t know where I’ve ever met such a group of caring and dynamic individuals. And I don’t know where I’ve ever learned so much as I have just talking and interacting with you all.

What have I learned from the SLLU and SLLUFN?

Well, I’ve learned that hope and a positive attitude towards change can make even the most indomitable challenges seem conquerable. I know this because I have watched you overcome such challenges.

I’ve learned that, as powerful a motivator as anger and outrage can be, the most powerful weapon in the arsenal of social change is love. I know this because I’ve experienced first-hand the compassion and love that motivate you all.

I’ve learned that one needn’t feel solitary in a world that sometimes seems overwhelmed by hate and injustice, and that there are others who do not merely care, but who are willing to step forward and make a difference. I know this because I was welcomed by you all from my first day in the SLLU.

I’ve learned that consensus is possible, and that no disagreements are ever so deeply rooted that civil discussion and mutual respect cannot bring about a resolution that acknowledges the views, aspirations, and concerns of all involved. I know this because the SLLU is “Left UNITY,” a place where all shades and degrees of progressive thought are welcomed and respected.

I’ve learned that one needn’t be a woman to care about what happens to women, gay to be appalled by homophobia, or an immigrant to be outraged at the injustices meted out to immigrants. One can step outside of oneself, and bring a passionate intensity to bear upon the injustices heaped upon others who are different than ourselves. And I know this because, more even than ideology, what motivates you all is empathy, compassion, and caring.

And most of all, I’ve learned from you all that Hope is not merely a glittering promise somewhere just out of reach, but rather a destination worth the journey.

I have come to understand over the last several months that my own time in Second Life is coming to an end. Commitments in that semi-mythical place, “real life,” have been increasingly taking their toll, and it has become more and more difficult to put the kind of commitment into my work with the SLLU and SLLUFN that I once did. I have felt, frankly, both guilty and depressed about this, but I have also come to realize that I can take what I have learned here, and apply it in new and, I think, exciting ways elsewhere. The SLLU and SLLUFN have been for me a kind a training ground, a university, and a caring family: you have equipped me to move on.

And for that, I owe you all more than I can say.

With much love,
Scylla Rhiadra