activism in second life - commonwealth islands
DESCRIPTION
This is a presentation by Josh Knauer given at the NTC 08 Conference.TRANSCRIPT
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 - Create a place people want to be
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Create a place people want to be
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Create a place people want to be
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Create a place people want to be
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Create a place people want to be
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Content becomes part of the landscape
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - Content becomes part of the landscape
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Community - The user becomes immersed
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
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
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Education - Users learn by experiencing
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.”
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Education - Users learn by experiencing
Both negative and positive messages are communicated through the experience.
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Education - Users learn by experiencing
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.
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
Education - Users learn by experiencing
Users can experience the various outcomes of decisions they make and see the impact on the planet
(photo credit: Bjerkel Eerie)
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)
Action - Virtual organizing leads to action
ACLU protest
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Action - Virtual organizing leads to action
ACLU protest
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Action - Virtual organizing leads to action
Free Burma Human Chain Event - ~3000 known participants in SL
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Action - Virtual organizing leads to action
Free Burma Human Chain Event - ~3000 known participants in SL
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Action - Virtual organizing leads to action
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
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
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
Virtual action... real world results
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
Virtual action... real world results
... 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.
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
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
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Fun helps build community... and sometimes people even learn!
Tai Chi classes run by the Peacemaker Institute happen twice daily
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
Fun helps build community... and sometimes people even learn!
Tai Chi classes run by the Peacemaker Institute happen twice daily... Average attendance: 30 avatars
(photo credit: Vivienne Cassavetes)
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)
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