FAQsCRY joins social activism in SL, opens a virtual office - Times of India
Publication: Sunday Times (Times of India)
Author: Raunak Roy
Title: CRY joins social activism in SL, opens a virtual office
In a rather intriguing example of technology working towards the . benefit of society, CRY (Child rights and You, www.cry.org), India's leading NGO for child rights, has opened its virtual office in Second Life: the internet-based virtual 3D world where millions of people are leading an alternate existence. Now this is interesting for two reasons: one, it's the first Indian NGO to get on SL—we are generally quite sceptical about such things. And two, it is quite rare that an organisation does something online without some financial motive.
So what is CRY'S objective? Well, basically to reach out to more individuals and spread awareness about their cause in the global online community SL provides them the perfect medium for that. SL avatars can learn about under-privileged children in India through displays, videos, community development stories and photo essays. Partnering with CRY-USA and CRY-UK, in-world, they can engage with volunteers from across the world to discuss issues, organise brainstorming sessions, exchange ideas and experiences and get involved. Ingrid Srinath, CEO, CRY, believes that this move win surely get CRY a whole new bunch of benefactors who are seriously interested in the cause. The CRY sim in SL also has a store where residents can purchase CRY products such as greeting cards, gift articles, stationery products and more, the proceeds of which go to the children aid fund.
Incidentally, social activism is quite popular in SL. We are still to jump the bandwagon in India though. But across the western world, several social benefit institutions are starting to have a presence in SL. Take the American Cancer Society (www.cancer.org) for example. These guys raised over $40,000 last year by organizing a virtual walkathon in SL. Called the Relay for Life, ACS has been doing it for the past three years in SL and today it is held in more than 4,600 communities in the US and in 23 countries across the globe. During the relay, there were activities like live musical performances, luminaria lighting, camping, and of course walking around our 2.5 mile virtual track, all designed, programmed, performed and organized by SL volunteers! The track ran through 17 regions designed to represent specific world cultures in an attempt to illustrate SL's cultural diversity and send the message that while the ACS is primarily an American institution, cancer affects us all. In October 2006, the United Nations along with the Aimee Weber Studio (www.aimeeweber.com) brought the UN Millenium Development Goal to eradicate poverty to SL. In a historic endeavour, SL residents had to locate any of the several 100 "Stand Up" kiosks spread across SL and obtain a free wrist band. On October 15-16, a click on the wrist band allowed them to assume the "stand up" pose and register themselves as a supporter of the Millennium Development Goals. Participation was recorded and included in the final count for the Guinness World Record.
Activists recently built a virtual world information site on a private island called Better World, to raise awareness of the ongoing ethnic cleansing in Sudan. It is estimated that in this genocide 400,000 people lost their lives, and that more then 2.5 million people are displaced and in danger of more violence and starvation. Called 'Camp Darfur', it features the recreation of a refugee tent city with a tiny campfire, and large display photos of the real thing, where the tents seem to go on for miles. Camp Darfur in SL gives avatars a chance to walk through a ghosttown of a refugee camp, victimized by years of torture and genocide. Residents can take a look at the slideshow, photogallery and videos, and subscribe to the petitions.
Several individuals are doing their bit for the society in SL. Some prominent ones include Dave Pentecost (also known as avatar Usu Ventura), Barry Joseph (Globalkids Bixby), and Evonne Heyning (In Kenzo), all of whom work with children's organizations in SL. These nonprofit professionals have all used basic technological know-how and some imagination to raise funds, generate awareness, and increase participation in their causes through SL
