Second Life Left Unity

SLLU... Second Life's Conscience

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Fri, 25 Jun 2021 19:11:00 +0000

By Plot Tracer

Back in 2006, as a member of a left unity party that had until that time had worked well since 1999, after a conversation with another member of the party (Scottish Socialist Party), I took a dive into Second Life and took a look around. After a group search using various political terms, I saw that quite a few small left groups existed inworld. One small Socialist Group had a small, unused, meeting room, and from there, I sent messages out to hundreds of individual avatars, and group messages asking if anyone would like to meet and talk about creating a left unity group. I can't remember how many replies I had… but they ranged from supportive, but not interested, to outright opposition as 'this sort of left unity would water down' whatever 'one true analysis' the person was affiliated to.

{SLLU hit real world headlines, when it organised and facilitated the mass protests against the Front National}

But, two people agreed to meet and discuss a way forward. Higgledipiggle Snoats (Higs) and Dick Marellan… and so SLLU was born.

I can't stress enough how incredible Higs contribution was, both politically and creatively. Higs and I worked almost tirelessly through the night on projects and on building SLLU for nearly three years. And others then became involved, taking the group in many, many directions.

{Unity Station... Our HQ}

I've always thought of SLLU partly as a training platform. I mean, some people whose first act of activism is sticking a pixel sign to an avie, have gone on to protest and stand up for rights in rl. All of what we tried to do in sl had rl application /effect. One of the first things we did in 2006 was open up a piece of land for people to create a "peace camp" tent where they could create links to rl issues. Even our Front National protests were about ensuring the media knew about what was happening. We spent long hours during those few months writing press releases, being interviewed, contacting new press and digital media press and magazines, about the protest, and our concerns, demands (at one stage i was just getting four hours sleep a night, working on that and working in my rl profession during the day!)

Subsequent stuff, like the Italian IBM strike (an invasion of an IBM Italy organised Global CEO meeting by hundreds of protesting Union avies that led to IBM's italian CEO resigning) and the fund raising for RAWA were all rl based, but mobilising inworld activists and people who until those points, had no idea they were activists!

We did other inworld stuff that had no outside implications... Eg,. Protesting LL TOS, in order to teach activists about real world implications , history (history of enclosures, capitalism, privacy issues, etc)

I also thought of SLLU as being a bridge to activism for people who might not be able to be active in rl for whatever reason (disability, isolation, mobility, mental health amongst other reasons) . A group from which people could be active from their desktop, laptop. SLLU came along before a lot of the online petition sites etc, and we offered people a place where they could, in solidarity with others, shout truth to power. That's also true of another project I founded, Leftungagged.org, some of those podcasting and/or writing do so from their bedrooms, wheelchairs etc and some are autistic, anxious, time poor... Helping to draft letters of protest for folk, and asking for the power of many voices to sign those letters, can make a real difference to people's lives. The power of numbers... Real Solidarity.

And moreso, we allowed activists to take the lead using skills they had or wanted to cultivate, after group discussions, rather than taking a top down approach (many of the inworld political groups mirrored rl political group structures... Which in my opinion are at times questionable, and in the anarchic world of sl, just hamper creativity)...

Is SLLU worth revitalising? I think so. Activist groups exist in SL, but they are reliant on one or two people funding them… or at least being involved in order for others to feel confident enough to give money to keep them in expensive sims and parcels. SLLU is a place for all brands of left activists to come together in common cause.

The fact that a number of people have come together to re-envisage and reboot SLLU after a message from a Linden saying our parcels were about to be seized speak volumes about SLLU's power and durability after all of these years when so many of the groups started in SL in the naughties have dissipated. A group were people with left political principles across the left spectrum can never truly disappear. A group with a conscience.

We may not at present have the numbers we once had, but like the time when Higs, Dick Marellan and I came together in 2006, it just takes a small, determined group of people to work together to morph a Second Life into RL revolution!

The future of SLLU

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Wed, 23 Jun 2021 15:13:00 +0000

Im not sure how many people read this any longer. Probably none. SLLU was a huge hug of a thing. Something that, in a cold, sometimes angry digital world, brought people together who wanted the world to be different. A world no longer based on Romano /Wall Street /Imperialist injustices.

And we made a difference on many occasions, from giving fascists a pasting, through to organising a real life strike and superb feminist actions.

And now we are at a real crossroads. Do we let the organisation die, or do we look at building SLLU 2.0...

Please contact me via email if you are interested in taking part in the discussion.

SL: Plot Tracer

RL: Neil Scott neilwscott@hotmail.com

SLLU minutes of meeting 28 Nov 2013

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Sun, 01 Dec 2013 20:01:00 +0000

A small and short meeting of SLLU volunteers took place on 28^th November.

Tasks to be carried out were volunteered for and a date and time were decided for the next meeting.

Below is a summary and edited highlights of what was spoken about and decided.

Disappointment was expressed at the recent seeming lack of interest in Femnet, which at one stage was the most active aspect of SLLU.

The SL OWS, not unlike the rudderless rl occupy movements, has disintegrated. It had been popular and meetings had been lively, though because of the politically naive, at times had fallen apart into ridiculous conspiracy theory.

All present felt that SLLU should continue, though Plot expressed that he would not be able to organise in the way he has in the past as it took up a lot of time and his RL political and personal life is busy. He explained he is an organiser of the SSP and heavily involved in the Scottish Independence movement which is working towards a Yes vote in next September’s referendum.

Plot said that if SLLU were to continue in a smaller capacity - we need to discuss (in the coming weeks) its form, and how much of this land is needed etc

Agnes suggested we could probably sell some land.

[13:08] Plot Tracer: i have had offers over the month to sell it - but held off until i could get some time in here

[13:08] Plot Tracer: and it is also the use of the remaining land we should think of

[13:08] Corwen Foulsbane: I could move my gallery and theatre here if that helps generate more activity

[13:09] Plot Tracer: but we need more "donated tier"

[13:09] Wilma Mankiller: I say we sell some of the land and keep this area here and the stage area

[13:09] Wilma Mankiller: we have donated tier for that?

[13:09] Corwen Foulsbane: Ok. Honestly I have never quite understood how SLLU finances work ;-P

[13:10] Plot Tracer: well - i'll tell you how they work. :D

- Plot Tracer: people donate money. we use it to buy land - and keep at least £30000 in reserve for emergencies such as when we fought the french front national and managed to buy land beside them in order to lag them etc

- Plot Tracer: land is group owned. the Unity hub group is the land group

- people donate tier - extra tier not used by their paid accounts

- one member is donating a huge amount of what we have here

- and some, like me, is donating 500 sq mtres

[13:12] Corwen Foulsbane: So as activity goes down, inevitably the donations fall

[13:12] Plot Tracer: money doesnt matter regarding land

- we keep what we have so long as people donate their tier

- the beauty of sllu land is that it truly is group owned. it is not "owned" or controlled by a landlord etc

[13:14] Corwen Foulsbane: And spare tier comes with having a premium account, yes?

[13:14] Wilma Mankiller: yes

[13:14] Plot Tracer: what really slows stuff down (and this is me speaking as a founder and someone who since 2006 has been doing this) is when we do not recruit new members

- though we run the land in a way that even those without premium accounts can build and make homes here etc

[13:15] Wilma Mankiller: I tried to make people come here by DJ`ing but [few] showed up

[13:16] Plot Tracer: well - events need advertising. that is what i spendt a huge amount of my sl time doing. advertising/ spamming other activist groups/ putting events up on the sl events board etc

[13:15] Plot Tracer: so Corwen - - regardless of you having a premium acc, you could have your theatre here free

[13:15] Corwen Foulsbane: Well as I immediately see things, I think there's two things we have to do in the short term

- Firstly, we probably should sell some land and we can always buy again as we build up once more

- Secondly, maybe some kind of interim committee to get recruitment on the go, etc

- And give the group some direction again

[13:17] Wilma Mankiller: there is one issue though, the land, especially around the stage area is causing a lot of troubles for people, lag etc due to too many running scripts

[13:18] Plot Tracer: that problem is one that seems to dog us here. is there anyway you could look into that agnes - and get it fixed?

[13:18] Wilma Mankiller: I looked into it, contacted LL, they said it was because of too many scripts running

- idk if anyone removed their scripts

[13:19] josjoha: maybe it's needed to return a lot of objects and rebuild

[13:19] josjoha: the stage area

[13:19] Wilma Mankiller: might be an idea

[13:20] josjoha: or create a parcel and set it no-scripts

[13:18] Plot Tracer: re: 2 recruitment

- we need to think about why we are recruiting

- I sent out a few notices about it

[13:19] Corwen Foulsbane: Yeah. I thought about putting an article on the Left Unity website (the English LU, that is) about what this group does, or could do

[13:19] Plot Tracer: ok - before we do that - how is this...

- we organise a meeting once a fortnight. now the meeting may be slow to begin with - perhaps just us talking about what we need to do

- but then it can develop into perhaps, political chats, like we used to have - and start to make links to newer left groups etc - and perhaps any of the strays from the older ones again

[13:21] Corwen Foulsbane: That sounds like a plan

[13:21] josjoha: fine with me

[13:21] Plot Tracer: ok

[13:22] Plot Tracer: for the next meeting, why dont we in our own time, take a look around here and come back with ideas of what parts of the land here we no longer need - and what we should conserve

[13:22] josjoha: maybe we can create some kind of political map, where various left directions have their positions on various issues mapped out (?)

[13:22] Plot Tracer: explain jos?

[13:23] josjoha: we have for example the marxists & the anarchists, and then have their positions on govermnent, trade, capitalism ? just thinking on this -- maybe it's not a good idea because it stresses the divisions

- but i thought we need to find common ground so, a map seems handy then to find where all agree and then act on that

[13:22] Corwen Foulsbane: Like most people (I guess) my issue is going to be with finding a spare evening for an online meeting but at least if we know when it is then it's maybe easier to try and schedule for it

[13:25] Plot Tracer: ok - we also need to identify key activists in sl nowadays as well

[13:25] Corwen FoulsbaneCorwen Foulsbane nods

[13:25] Plot Tracer: - not the "heroes" - but people -like Trill - who actually do stuff that is positive

- if we make contacts, and offer help, and perhaps let them use these meetings as a sounding board for their ideasd- sllu will have purpose

[13:26] Wilma Mankiller: I suppose I could have my good friend Nadya put up some of her freebies here as a shop

[13:26] Plot Tracer: excellent! :D

[13:27] Wilma Mankiller: I think a bit of rebuilding would be good too

- not too much, but a little

- like moving the stage area away from the library

- that one has a lot of scripts

[13:28] Plot Tracer: Agnes - can we give that to you to look at?

[13:28] Wilma Mankiller: ok

[13:28] josjoha: i'm wondering how we can have SL activity impact RL, maybe we could discuss various ruling class attacks that may be the same accross nations and see what we can do against those in RL politics/unions wherever ppl are

[13:28] Corwen Foulsbane: Good idea

[13:29] Plot Tracer: i agree jos - sllu has always had *some* rl implication/impact.

[13:29] josjoha: ultimately we need to impact RL

- or even directly - networking, ideas, what's going on, it's all the same banks we fight i suppose

- and the enemy has their councils and confabs ... they sure seem to make headway

[13:29] Plot Tracer: I think we need to rebuild first, before we can have this forum making a proper impact.

[13:29] Wilma Mankiller: I always thought it was RL impacting SL

[13:30] Plot Tracer: maybe agnes - but things like the front national - when we embarrassed them in the rl press etc; the rl ibm strike we held here that meant the sacking of the italian ceo and more recently, the rawa fundraiser... all impacted in rl

[13:31] josjoha: you are in a RL party, right plot ?

[13:31] Plot Tracer: I am an organiser for the scottish socialist party

[13:31] josjoha: i'm in the labor union (FNV, committee for local politics city Groningen)

[13:32] josjoha: we see that the ruling class wants to put ppl on unemployment benefits to work, without labor contract, 32 hours ... this is something we can discuss across borders using SL

- SL should be a great cross-border platform for information sharing & ideas

- lot of analysts expect some big economic crash or war or whatever, i think in case they're right we need SLLU to already be here

[13:33] Plot Tracer: agnes - you can look into the stage area?

[13:33] Wilma Mankiller: yes

[13:34] Plot Tracer: Jos - could you do a bit of sl research to see if there are any active left groups/ activists?

[13:34] josjoha: ok

[13:35] Plot Tracer: Corwen can you look around the area and let us know at the next meeting where is the best place for your theatre?

[13:35] Plot Tracer: and agnes - perhaps you can ask your friend about placing a freebie shop

[13:36] Wilma Mankiller: I can

[13:36] Corwen Foulsbane: Oh and are we all in the Facebook group if we need to talk outside SL?

Next Meeting

[13:38] Plot Tracer: would the 9th dec be ok for everyone?

[13:41] josjoha: 9 dec 12 pm SLT

[13:41] Plot Tracer: ok - as Corwen says, we can be in touch on the facebook page - or via email - is that ok?

[13:44] Plot Tracer: oh - as well as the sl tasks - lets bring one item each from rl we are working on/ been following - all perhaps explain in a few paragraphs to each other?

[13:45] josjoha: maybe if we can mesh RL into here more, some RL ppl will find SL meetings more interesting too

Reconvening SL Left Unity

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 19:09:00 +0000

I propose we reconvene SL Left Unity for two reasons.

1 to share any real life / online activity we have been organising or taking part in to fight back against corporative austerity.

2 to organise coordinated worldwide SL / RL activity to inspire, acknowledge or spark a fightback against corporate austerity.

Comrades- in the West, the owner/corporate class are winning the class war. We need to fight smart and crack their system wide open.

If you are interested in getting together inworld, email me at plottracer@googlemail.com

Elvin Revolution

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Sun, 23 Dec 2012 07:13:00 +0000

From our RL sisters and brothers in the Scottish Socialist Party... A little Christmas story... HERE

Podcast drama...

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — Sat, 15 Dec 2012 02:47:00 +0000

...from Plot Tracer and Acting Strange Theatre Company...

Follow their blog HERE

They've been enacting some of Plot's short stories and scripts... this is one.

The Bridge

Is a life defined by football colours? The Erskine Bridge, outside Glasgow, Scotland, is the starting point for this drama about two people who fall in love despite the difficulties inner city life throw at them. Starring Andi Rossetter and Beth Frieden. Edited by Neil Anderson. Written by Neil Scott.

Podcast Powered By Podbean

MOBILE SITE CLICK HERE

noreply@blogger.com (Merriam Galaxy) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 02:23:00 +0000

SLLU artist, Trill Zapatero, has created an excellent future vision of the world through a half-sim sized art installation. A post-apocalypse, post-everything vision that shows that after humans mess everything up, they can still build a beautiful world for themselves. Her message is an optimistic one. We can make a better world. It's why we keep up the struggle.

find it here: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Beleza/38/219/1501

THE APOCALYPSE WILL NOT BE TELEVISED…it will be immersive and interactive.

This is my take on what could be within the next couple of hundred years. It is post oil, post economic collapse, post money, post everything almost. Global warming has come and gone and the environment is repairing herself.

You land in a blighted urban ruin inside of what used to be Dante’s Pizza. In the parking lot outside a ghost runs by leading the way, hopefully to help you escape from this dangerous and crumbling place. All around you are graffiti paintings giving clues as to what happened here. You notice the crumbling roman façade of the Stock Exchange building. You wonder why established institutions always used to style their architecture on that of fallen empires of the past. Even the Ritz hotel has totally lost it’s posh. You notice the ghost climbing the ladder so you follow her up and down the other side of the Imperial Theatre. You make your way through and abandoned, fallen-down house and out to the street. As you step on the road, it collapses beneath you and you land in a subway at Wall Street Stop. From here you make your way through the subway and after some collapsing walls and rising water you find yourself exiting through a sewer pipe that lets you out at the sea. You arrive at the End of the World, which is a really just a park at the edge of the sea, and there’s more ahead. At the end of the world, salvation is a salvage company that redeems old junk from the city. Redemption for you comes in the form of a solar barge, The Redemptress, that takes you to and abandoned oilrig that has been converted into a community garden and living space.

My take on the apocalypse is not meant to be fear mongery but bravery mongery. What’s there to be brave about if you’re not first of all afraid of something?

“Let me not pray to be sheltered from dangers, but to be fearless in facing them. Let me not beg for the stilling of my pain, but for the heart to conquer it.”
~ Rabindranath Tagore (famous Indian poet)

About Me:
I’m interested in painting, illustration (especially making political cartoons for Huffingpost online), the Occupy movement, culture jamming, peace for Afghanistan, the environment, doing my part to do something about the state of the world today.
I like building in virtual worlds and reading and riding my bike and hanging with my dog and boyfriend in the other world. My favorite band is the Tragically Hip from Canada. At the moment I’m rereading Brave New World by Aldous Huxley.

(spoilers)
Slideshow by PJ Trenton: http://www.flickr.com/photos/pj_trenton/sets/72157630025965139/show/
http://quanlavender.blogspot.ca/2012/06/apocalypse-not-televised-but-in-second.html

Serco - the company running the world?

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

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

Occupy Nuclear Bases!

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

Fuse "Enlightenment"

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

Open publication - Free publishing - More junk sculpture

Absolute scandal...

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

see you soon...

noreply@blogger.com (Neil) — 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 (Neil) — 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......