Greenpeace’s Second Life International News / News Posted by rycroft on Oct 21, 2008 - 10:33 PM |
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Greenpeace’s Second Life
Is the Media Giant Missing the Virtual Boat? Alan Rycroft - Sunshine Communications - There’s a new, slowly growing media out there – virtual reality – and while Greenpeace has a beachhead, could they be missing the boat? Or, as in ages past, is Greenpeace hot on the scene, scouting out a new, virtual media opportunity to get out critical messages to save the real planet Earth? 
www.SunshineCommunications.ca [1]
September 28, 2008 - Greenpeace volunteer AniseDollopof Mayo (avatar seated on the left) tells Alan Innis (aka Alan Rycroft, standing) and Commonwealth Islands activist Widget Whiteberry (right) about a “new” Greenpeace ship in Second Life, a virtual world created by its “residents” – including a merry band of volunteer Greenpeace activists. Greenpeace has traditionally been a leader in using the mass media to advance ecological and peaceful causes. Greenpeace established itself in 1971, by boldly sailing from Vancouver into the Amchitka Island nuclear test area off Alaska, aboard its first protest vessel, the MV Phyllis Cormack, exposing the US nuclear test program to the world through the mass media. Nuclear testing at Amchitka was cancelled five months after this first mission and the Greenpeace leviathan was born. Today Greenpeace has grown into 44 national organizations with an international coordinating office in Amsterdam. Second Life is a commercial venture of Linden Labs based in San Francisco that opened its virtual world doors to the public in 2003. It boasts millions of “residents” (people who have ventured into this digital world) and in my experience has between 40,000 and 75,000 people (represented as avatars) online at a time. People enter Second Life from all over the world and it is not unusual to find oneself conversing at a virtual event or gathering place with others from different countries and regions – I usually run into people from Europe, the United States and occasionally other Canadians. Nor is it that unusual to be part of a multi-lingual conversation that you can’t fully understand. Second Life has attracted governments, large businesses, enterpreneurs, religious organizations, political campaigns and non-profit societies; all hoping to engage a significant, global, virtual audience. The Greenpeace presence, while quietly sanctioned by Greenpeace UK, is volunteer led by a handful of individuals who are committed to reaching a global, virtual audience and making a difference in the “first world” (more commonly known as the “real world” by virtual afficionados). Greenpeace leaders in Second Life interviewed for this article were HippyJim Starbrook, a geeky, Greenpeace volunteer based in Manchester, UK; and AniseDollopof Mayo, a mysterious journalist and longtime Greenpeace volunteer now residing in London, UK. Greenpeace volunteers decided to establish the first Second Life site on the “Commonwealth Islands”, a beautiful, Eden-like environment where many progressive organizations have established a virtual home. Commonwealth was founded by longtime, environmental communications visionary Hayduke Ebisu (Josh Knauer in first life). “On Commonwealth, people from non-profit organizations build community and further their goals of positive social change, environmental sustainability, social and economic justice, peace and harmony with the earth.” To date, Greenpeace’s virtual presence has consisted of:
A Greenpeace supporter participates by having his avatar’s photo taken as part of a campaign that stopped Dove from destroying the rainforests of Indonesia. The Dove campaign was successful, with the virtual world pictures joining “first world” photographs showing real people upset at Dove policies. “Dove got around the table with us and changed their palm oil usage,” said HippyJim. “Second Life avatars added to the ‘numbers pressure’ that made Dove take the issue seriously.” 
March 29, 2008 - Supporters of Greenpeace, including two UK staffers, meet near the organization’s Second Life Commonwealth hut to discuss how to advance Greenpeace causes in virtual reality. Convener HippyJim Starbrook sits on the far left (long, black hair); reporter Alan Innis is wearing an Obama t-shirt. What makes the virtual reality medium uniquely appealing to the Greenpeace information activists is its power to reach people in a different way, as expressed in this conversation: Alan Innis: So what drew you both to Second Life? 
April 19, 2008 – A small group of Greenpeace supporters meet to discuss strategy at a mountain-top meeting place in Commonwealth (left to right, AniseDollopof Mayo, HippyJim Starbrook and Commonwealth Islands visionary philanthropist Hayduke Ebisu, with reporter Alan Innis in the foreground). Using virtual worlds to communicate vital, real world messages, is still in the learning stage. Early scouts like HippyJim and Anise are learning their way, along with everyone else in this new, virtual age. Where will they take it in the future? “We're in the process of expanding our displays on Commonwealth. We have some building plans in the pipeline, and one of the Greenpeace web guys is about to set out on tour with the Esperanza - so he'll be sending back reports for us to use here.,” HippyJim said. But it may be some time before all the activists’ dreams are realized because so far this virtual, volunteer Greenpeace crew is mostly sailing undetected by the sophisticated, global multinational that Greenpeace has become in the last 37 years. A “couple of web guys” with the Greenpeace UK office are monitoring developments and staying in touch with HippyJim. The head office in Amsterdam has been lobbied but so far they “don’t really get it.” Every new medium reflects and represents the world in a wholly new way. Virtual worlds like Second Life, where the residents walk, fly and “teleport” around, and interact in real time with real people all over the world, is quite unlike anything else in the real or Internet world. It has a dreamy quality with a life-like overlay. It is a surreal, idealized environment created by and inhabited by real people having real conversations about real issues. It is often joked that people with “second lives” need to get “real lives” and stop playing games. But perhaps the growing virtual world can bring people on our small planet closer than ever, making Marshall McLuhan’s “global village” a reality for more people, every day, at any time. 
September 28, 2008 - Greenpeace volunteer AniseDollopof Mayo (left), reporter Alan Innis (middle) and Commonwealth activist Widget Whiteberry (right) chat about Greenpeace at its future virtual home. People like HippyJim and Anise are creative, optimistic, forward-thinking dreamers exploring new ways to get out age-old messages of hope and change for a better world. Perhaps Greenpeace International will follow them into this new world and charter a “virtual national office” to connect people engaged in the growing, international cybersphere who want to help save our small planet together, globally. - END -
About the Author and the Virtual Communications SeriesThis is the first in a series of articles by Alan Rycroft on virtual, non-profit communications in Second Life.In the mid-1980s, Alan Rycroft had the pleasure of hosting MV Rainbow Warrior II in Victoria, Canada as part of a campaign to ban nuclear warships from Canadian waters. In 2007, he published his Master of Arts thesis, “Young Adults and Virtual Public Spheres: Building A New Political Culture.” He works with Victoria Cool Aid Society to end homelessness in the Capital Region. He is a consultant with www.SunshineCommunications.ca. 
July 16, 2008 - Self-portrait of avatar Alan Innis in the Sunshine Communications virtual, Second Life office.Visit Sunshine’s virtual office in Second Life at tinyurl.com/6l8532 [2]. Principle Sourcesflickr.com/photos/hippyjim_starbrook/2446364787/, October 13, 2008.Various pages on Greenpeace.org, October 13, 2008. “Young Adults and Virtual Public Spheres: Building A New Political Culture”, Alan Rycroft, 2007, SunshineCommunications.ca/articles/virtual_public_spheres.pdf. Various web pages on SecondLife.com and information resources found in the Second Life virtual world, October 13, 2008. Several Second Life interviews conducted by Alan Rycroft (aka Alan Innis) in 2008. Copyright © 2008, Alan Rycroft – including story and all images Full Transcript of the Main InterviewSeptember 28, 2008Participants in this interview met virtually in Second Life but were located in Manchester and London, UK (HippyJim and Anise) and the west coast of Canada (Alan). [12:28] Alan Innis: Hey HippyJim - are you around for a while? [12:28] Alan Innis: Do you know if Charles is joining us? [12:28] Hippyjim Starbrook: yup - i#m all yours :) [12:28] Hippyjim Starbrook: and I didn't get an answer, so im afraid I can't say [12:29] Alan Innis: I'm going to tp [teleport] Anise who i think also wants to be here. [12:29] Hippyjim Starbrook: cool [12:29] Alan Innis: Widget can't make it. [12:29] Hippyjim Starbrook: ah well, we'll have to manage with who we get [12:29] Hippyjim Starbrook: such is the nature of sl [Second Life] [12:29] Alan Innis: Hey Anise! [12:30] Alan Innis: Everyone ready to get started? [12:30] Hippyjim Starbrook: hi anise :) [12:30] Hippyjim Starbrook: yup [12:30] AniseDollopof Mayo: Love the cloud, thank you [12:30] Alan Innis: o Tell us about yourself. Where are you today? (In real life how old are you and what is your gender?) [12:30] AniseDollopof Mayo: Took me half an hour to get to being a Dollop [12:30] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [12:30] Alan Innis: What's a dollop? [12:31] AniseDollopof Mayo: gggggggggggg [12:31] AniseDollopof Mayo: Let's take a seat! [12:31] Hippyjim Starbrook: lead on anise! [12:31] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ah, feck [12:31] Alan Innis: so - tell me about yourselves. a quick, little overview of who you are. [12:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok, yes, let's just get on with it here... [12:32] AniseDollopof Mayo: OK [12:32] Alan Innis: I am recording the transcript - I hope that's ok with everyone. [12:32] AniseDollopof Mayo: Yup [12:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: "you're live on Channel 4...no swearing please" [12:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [12:32] Alan Innis: lol [12:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok, anise first? [12:32] Alan Innis: both at once! [12:33] AniseDollopof Mayo: I used to work for Channel 4 UK - I don't swear on camera [12:33] Hippyjim Starbrook: lol [12:33] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok [12:33] Alan Innis: (I'm also taking photos.) [12:34] AniseDollopof Mayo: Photos only above the waist please! [12:34] Hippyjim Starbrook: well, my RL name is Jim Evans, i'm an "Active Supporter" of greenpeace. i work full time in a bank (I write code) so all my Greenpeace work is voluntary [12:34] Alan Innis: have either of you ever worked for gp in an official capacity? [12:35] Hippyjim Starbrook: I've never worked for pay for them = but the UK network is mostly made up of volunteers - and a few paid staff [12:35] AniseDollopof Mayo: I have worked with GP in RL [12:35] AniseDollopof Mayo: As a journalist [12:35] Alan Innis: tell us a little about that Anise [12:35] Alan Innis: when - campaigns - country - etc [12:36] AniseDollopof Mayo: Hmm, OK, RL and SL don't mix but I've worked a lot with GP RL around the globe [12:36] Alan Innis: cool [12:36] AniseDollopof Mayo: Never been able to join simply because I'm a journalist [12:36] Alan Innis: I'm in Canada - but you're both in the UK today, is that right? Homebase for you? [12:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: anise prefers to keep her rl identity private - and some of the things she's done would make it pretty obvious who she is...isn't that the case? [12:37] AniseDollopof Mayo: Fecking hope not, Jim [12:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [12:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: channel 4..... ;) [12:37] Alan Innis: np - i won't snoop further. just curious to understand a bit about how you came to be here... [12:37] Alan Innis: How long have each of you been involved in issues? Volunteering/working with gp? [12:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: and yes, i'm in the UK [12:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: it's about 7 years for me [12:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: blame my wife :) [12:38] AniseDollopof Mayo: OK, GP goes way back to post-Soviet nuclear stuff [12:38] Alan Innis: another arden gper? [12:38] Alan Innis: wow. you've been in the biz a long time. (me too) [12:38] Alan Innis: o What organization(s) do you work with in Second Life and what have you done for them outside of Second Life? [12:38] Hippyjim Starbrook is a baby [12:38] Alan Innis: like! [12:38] AniseDollopof Mayo cradles Jim [12:38] AniseDollopof Mayo sings to Jim [12:38] AniseDollopof Mayo: Jim csreams [12:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: screams!!! [12:39] Alan Innis: Let's try that again - What organization(s) do you work with in Second Life and what have you done for them outside of Second Life? [12:39] Alan Innis: generally speaking! [12:39] Hippyjim Starbrook moves back to the point before this gets awkward: well, I started up the Greenpeace Supporters group here, tring to get Greenpeace in RL interested in usng SL for campaigning [12:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: OK, only GP in SL [12:40] Alan Innis: both very focussed then. [12:40] Hippyjim Starbrook: in Rl i've worked on various campaigns - getting public supprot on the street, or in the background of the more... colourful actions as legal support [12:40] Alan Innis: o Have you been very involved in communications and causes before? If so, tell me about it. [12:40] Hippyjim Starbrook: and my wife ran the network for my home city [12:40] Alan Innis: (my take of it is that we are doing communications campaigns in sl) [12:40] Alan Innis: which network, Jim? [12:40] Hippyjim Starbrook: Greenpeace is about all I've done, apart from a local anti-road campaign (a sucess) [12:41] Alan Innis: congratz [12:41] Hippyjim Starbrook: the greenpeace volunteer network in Manchester, Uk [12:41] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ah, and City lost to Wigan [12:41] Hippyjim Starbrook: she also works as a trainer, training people in non-violent direct action [12:41] AniseDollopof Mayo is depressed [12:41] Alan Innis: You're a journalist, Anise - have you done issue communications as a volunteer previously? Can you describe it in general terms? [12:41] Hippyjim Starbrook doesn't follow football [12:42] AniseDollopof Mayo: Oh, sorry [12:42] Alan Innis: lol [12:42] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [12:42] AniseDollopof Mayo: OK, yes, for the last couple of years I've been doing a lot of community stuff [12:42] AniseDollopof Mayo: in London [12:42] Alan Innis: media advice? writing things? etc? [12:42] Alan Innis: (trying to get a sense of communications experience here) [12:43] AniseDollopof Mayo: No, neighbourhood regeration - I'm too expensive to do media stuff for free! [12:43] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [12:43] Alan Innis: so what drew you both to sl? [12:43] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ahhhhhh [12:43] AniseDollopof Mayo: Felings, emotions, my own private stuff [12:44] AniseDollopof Mayo: I can be me here [12:44] AniseDollopof Mayo: I am me here [12:44] AniseDollopof Mayo: That's very importyant to me [12:44] Alan Innis: so i'm looking at the real you right now? [12:44] AniseDollopof Mayo: *chuckles* minus the bum! [12:44] Hippyjim Starbrook: for me..... I'm a geek and loved the idea of new tech. once I got into how SL works I could see the potential for reaching a new audience with the Greenpeace message [12:44] Alan Innis: so it sounds like sl offers you both something you can't find elsewhere? [12:45] AniseDollopof Mayo: You're talking to the psychologically real me [12:45] Hippyjim Starbrook: exactly so, it's a superb platform for development and communication - with the added advantage of being able to express yourself far more effectively than a simple chatroom [12:45] Alan Innis: what new audiences do you feel are uniquely in Second Life Jim? [12:46] Hippyjim Starbrook: the kind who spend most of their time in front of a pc....rather than the people i would normally be able to approach on the street [12:46] Hippyjim Starbrook: they tend to be the ideal age range and intellectual level to get our message [12:46] Alan Innis: oh. people like me! my i ask how old you folks are in rl? [12:46] Alan Innis: may i ask? [12:46] Hippyjim Starbrook: you can ask... : [12:46] Hippyjim Starbrook: i'm 35 [12:46] AniseDollopof Mayo: Goodness, how I agree with you. Jim [12:47] Alan Innis: 48 over here by the way [12:47] AniseDollopof Mayo: Age? North of 40, then I lie [12:47] Alan Innis: post-Soviet and all. [12:47] Hippyjim Starbrook: 35 - married, 4 kids, 2 cats...and a dayjob in a bank..and yes, i really have hair like my avatar :) [12:47] AniseDollopof Mayo: Bit of a give-away that [12:47] Alan Innis: What do you like about Commonwealth Islands? Why have you set up shop here? [12:47] Hippyjim Starbrook is avoiding the subject of the lady's age ;) [12:48] Alan Innis: that's a lot of kids for a Hippy, Jim! [12:48] AniseDollopof Mayo: Thank you Jim [12:48] AniseDollopof Mayo: Not a lot of kids for a Manc hippy - it's brilliant [12:48] Alan Innis: love the hair, by the way [12:48] AniseDollopof Mayo: Just hope they all grow up to support City [12:48] Hippyjim Starbrook: commonwealth is a lovely setting, and we've been with them for quite some time now....back when it was one sim [12:49] Hippyjim Starbrook: the owner - Hayduke - is a very cool guy who understands what groups like ours need [12:49] Alan Innis: how long has the Greenpeace hut been in existence on Commonwealth, then? [12:49] AniseDollopof Mayo: Commonwealth is superb - I would love to meet hayduke [12:49] Hippyjim Starbrook: plus the like-minded traffic helps :) [12:49] Hippyjim Starbrook: ummm... [12:49] Hippyjim Starbrook: let me work that out... [12:49] Alan Innis: Got to agree - Hayduke is one cool dude. [12:50] Alan Innis: grabbing one of your virtual brochures? [12:50] Hippyjim Starbrook: the leaflets on the table there - were made in Jan 2007 [12:50] Hippyjim Starbrook: so from about then :) [12:50] Hippyjim Starbrook: possibly a bit earlier actually [12:50] Alan Innis: almost two years then [12:51] Alan Innis: PEJ News has been here, I would guess, about a year. [12:51] Hippyjim Starbrook: the display changed a lot in the first few months [12:51] Alan Innis: well - how about your show me around your hut and tell me what you are trying to do with the various elements? [12:51] Hippyjim Starbrook cringes: it's a bit out of date...but... [12:52] Hippyjim Starbrook: donation box!! [12:52] Hippyjim Starbrook: to pay for uploads mostly [12:52] Alan Innis: i like your groupie sign by the way. could i get one of those for modification for PEJ News? [12:52] Alan Innis: i'll make a donation to gp if you like for it! [12:52] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes, let's talk about that later [12:52] Hippyjim Starbrook: no charge for commonwealth neighbours :) [12:52] Alan Innis: sweet [12:53] Alan Innis: so you made copies of a lot of rl brochures or? [12:53] Hippyjim Starbrook: a mixture of that, and simple images grabbed from the web [12:53] Hippyjim Starbrook: most of this reflects web content tbh [12:53] greenpeace supporters collection tin: Thanks for the L$250, Alan Innis [12:53] Hippyjim Starbrook: and our main backers in GP rl [Greenpeace real life] are the UK web guys, so that makes sense [12:53] Alan Innis: just gave you a $250L donation anyways. you guys/gals are great! [12:53] Hippyjim Starbrook: aww shucks :) [12:54] Alan Innis: well - can you tell me about that... [12:54] Alan Innis: It seems as if the gp bureaucracy maybe hasn't quite embraced sl yet? [12:54] Hippyjim Starbrook: there is ome hesitation - the GP international guys had a look, but I don't think they quite "got" sl [12:55] AniseDollopof Mayo grins [12:55] Hippyjim Starbrook: they're very campaign focussed though - it's all about the big hitting stuff for them, this is a little more...low key [12:55] Alan Innis: it's a wierd, new space. i think it might be hard for non-geeks to get? [12:55] Alan Innis: and maybe they don't have time for long conversations... [12:55] AniseDollopof Mayo: Absolutely right Jim [12:55] Hippyjim Starbrook: the uk guys have a few ideas...some I can't discuss, but they got us doing some campaigning here [12:55] Hippyjim Starbrook: like getting people to add their avatars to a photowall [see Dove campaign image] [12:55] Alan Innis: that's exciting. [12:55] Hippyjim Starbrook: and there's more to come [12:55] Hippyjim Starbrook: one of the great things about SL is the speed you can develop stuff [12:56] Alan Innis: does your inworld campaigning tie in with campaigning in the "real world" UK? [12:56] Hippyjim Starbrook: but it has to be things that people want to do...which is the trick GP in rl have to an art [12:56] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes - the photo campaign was also done on the streets too [real life] [12:56] Hippyjim Starbrook: and we've got more tie-ins coming up i believe [12:56] Alan Innis: and how were the second life photos used? [12:56] Alan Innis: Did real life media reproduce any of them? [12:57] Alan Innis: Channel 4 for example! [12:57] Hippyjim Starbrook: they were added to a flickr grop - along with ones taken on the street [12:57] Hippyjim Starbrook: all used to put pressure on the makers of "dove" soap in the uk, to change their methods [12:57] Alan Innis: is gp using a lot of the various other online media: flickr, web, Facebook, mySpace, etc. etc.? [12:58] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes, the'yve embraced it heavily in the last few years - it's a handy way to get a lot of people behind something quickly [12:58] Alan Innis: how many folks in the UK/Int'l/around the world focus on online communications? [12:58] Alan Innis: i.e. employees [12:58] Alan Innis: I have an idea about your brochures here. [12:58] Hippyjim Starbrook: tbh i don't know the numbers [12:59] Alan Innis: I think they are hard to read lying flat. How about tilting the table or hanging them on the wall? [12:59] Alan Innis: how did you build this very cool Globe over here that shows the various gp locations around the world and connections you with the various national gp web sites? [12:59] Alan Innis: Anise - you are being very quiet! [13:00] Hippyjim Starbrook: hmm..perhaps...tbh I was thnking about a complete rebuild...but things have been busy rl for me recently, and all the other guys have had other commitments too, so we slowed down a bit [13:00] AniseDollopof Mayo: I'm quiet by nature! [13:00] Hippyjim Starbrook: hh - the globe....was a long slow manual task :) [13:00] Alan Innis: care to outline it for us? [13:01] Hippyjim Starbrook: i bought the globe itself tbh.... then just added in all the pins, one by one, picking up the urls for each country [13:01] Hippyjim Starbrook: and using my dodgy geography knowledge to place 'em :) [13:01] Alan Innis: well it's an amazing tool and very compact for what it does. i'd encourage our readers to come to the Greenpeace hut to have a look. [13:01] Alan Innis: What's the official SLURL for this place? [13:02] Hippyjim Starbrook: thanks. i was aiming to show how international GP is [13:02] Alan Innis: Where can folks buy a Greenpeace virtual t-shirt? [13:02] Hippyjim Starbrook: there's a store on Etopia Prime that has the shirts...I think i may have not transferred the landmark to here during the move though! [13:02] Hippyjim Starbrook: I can pass you both of those slurls [13:03] Hippyjim Starbrook: once i make 'em! :) [13:03] Alan Innis: thanks [13:03] Alan Innis: should we go to the store? [13:03] Alan Innis: your build, right Anise? [13:03] Hippyjim Starbrook: if you like, yes....it's pretty similar to here [13:03] Hippyjim Starbrook: ah, i wasn't meaning that store..... [13:03] Alan Innis: i'm game. different photo angles. [13:03] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ah, not my build - my shop was demolished when the sim was destroyed! [13:04] Hippyjim Starbrook: this one is on etopia - a sustainable model community - we hosted a mock whale hunt there on earth day 2007 [13:04] Alan Innis: should we stay, or should we go? I have more questions... [13:04] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok, i'll go & tp you guys [13:04] Alan Innis: thanks [13:04] Alan Innis: i thought you were a talkative person! [13:05] Alan Innis: you fooled me [13:05] Alan Innis: waist up! [13:05] AniseDollopof Mayo: Oh, I don't interefer with GP stuff [13:05] Alan Innis: but you help a lot [13:05] AniseDollopof Mayo: Interfere [13:05] Alan Innis: you have insights [13:05] Alan Innis: here goes to etopia... [13:05] AniseDollopof Mayo: Yes, in SL [13:06] Teleport completed from http://slurl.com/secondlife/Commonwealth%203/46/220/32 [13:06] Connecting to in-world Voice Chat... [13:06] Connected [13:06] Hippyjim Starbrook: these two sims are my "home" in SL :) [13:06] Alan Innis: nice to have a home [13:07] AniseDollopof Mayo: And to watch football!@!@@<br />[13:07] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [13:07] AniseDollopof Mayo: Unless it's Cty playing Wigan [13:07] Hippyjim Starbrook: we maintain this store basically because sales aren't allowed on Commonwealth [13:07] Hippyjim Starbrook: but the donations more than pay the rent [13:07] Alan Innis: so this is a shopping mall that is eco-oriented? [13:07] AniseDollopof Mayo: Oh! [13:07] Hippyjim Starbrook: pretty much yes - the sim is set up to be a residential / commercial mix [13:07] AniseDollopof Mayo: So if rez a galleon ther we can't sell [13:07] Alan Innis: I didn't realize you couldn't make sales on Commonwealth. I'll have to change a few things in the PEJ News hut! [13:08] Hippyjim Starbrook: they encourage "community" here - most business owners also ahve a home here [13:08] Alan Innis: is that an Obama shop over there? [13:08] Hippyjim Starbrook: tht may have changed now....it was that way when we first set up :) [13:08] Hippyjim Starbrook: and possibly yes... :) [13:08] Alan Innis: do either of you have virtual world experiences prior to sl? [13:08] Hippyjim Starbrook: there's quite a mix here - and a few Rl companies trying to get a foothold [13:08] Hippyjim Starbrook: not me [13:09] Alan Innis: and you Anise? [13:09] Hippyjim Starbrook: i tried kaneva about a year ago - it's awful :) [13:09] Alan Innis: never heard of it. [13:09] Alan Innis: does gp have any other official, or unofficial, locations in Second Life our readers should know about? [13:09] AniseDollopof Mayo: No, this is my first virtual existence [13:10] AniseDollopof Mayo: And goodness, Jim, we could build more attractive models than that!!!!!! [13:10] Hippyjim Starbrook: ?? [13:10] AniseDollopof Mayo: She's not the prettiest! [13:10] Hippyjim Starbrook: don't let erika hear you say that [13:11] Alan Innis: can you tell me how sl is different from other media you have used to communicate cause-related messages? [13:11] Hippyjim Starbrook: she was the one who first approached Hayduke about Commonwealth...be nice ;) [13:11] AniseDollopof Mayo: I'm sure Erika is gorgeous in RL - but in SL!!!!! [13:11] Alan Innis: beauty is in the eye of the beholder... [13:11] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ah, whoops, Dollop does it again. I apologise [13:11] Hippyjim Starbrook: :) [13:11] Alan Innis: Hey - who's that model?! [13:12] Hippyjim Starbrook: some long haired hippy [13:12] Hippyjim Starbrook: :) [13:12] Alan Innis: :) [13:12] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok....other media doesn't have the personal feelign you get with sl [13:12] Hippyjim Starbrook: it's "interactive" meaning you can directly act on the stuff you see...and talk to the creators [13:12] Alan Innis: can you tell me how sl is different from other media you have used to communicate cause-related messages? [13:13] AniseDollopof Mayo: SL works on emotions [13:13] AniseDollopof Mayo: That's the difference [13:13] Alan Innis: yes - it does have that "life-like" quality. [13:13] Alan Innis: can you explain that more Anise - works on emotions. [13:13] Hippyjim Starbrook: for me - it's far more "fun" too - an example is the whale hunt we set up [13:13] Hippyjim Starbrook: we had the etopia whale - miguel penned in the bay here with a rusty old whaler [13:13] Hippyjim Starbrook: and people could ride a greenpeace inflatable blocking the harpoons [13:14] Alan Innis: (is the whale hunt still available?) [13:14] Alan Innis: Emotions? [13:14] Hippyjim Starbrook: it was very powerful to be in the boat looking up at that sharp weapon [13:14] Hippyjim Starbrook: and no...most of the pieces are gone now I suspect...I'll try to dig up what pics and stuff I ahve [13:14] Alan Innis: do you feel this interactivity, this "realness" is better at getting across the gp message? [13:14] Alan Innis: I'd love it if you could send me some pics. [13:14] Hippyjim Starbrook: :) [13:15] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes, as anise says - the issues are often emotional, so to make it more real compels people to action far more effectively [13:15] Alan Innis: what about you Anise - the unique ability to shape identity in this world - is that helpful in communicating about causes? [13:15] Hippyjim Starbrook: plus gp likes to get people involved [13:16] Alan Innis: can you give me any examples of how people leave second life and get more activated as a result of their experiences here? [13:16] Hippyjim Starbrook: i can't give names...but there are a fw people who have contacted GP in rl after working with us here [13:17] Hippyjim Starbrook: an american springs to mind - he got into the RL work over there [13:17] Alan Innis: do you feel that organizing and communications efforts here are succeeding? [13:17] Alan Innis: is it worth the effort - yet? [13:17] Hippyjim Starbrook: tbh - not as I'd hoped - but tat's partly down to the usual problems of getting volunteers to spend all their waking hours doing stuff here! [13:18] Hippyjim Starbrook: it's always worth the effort - if I only change one mind...do one good thing...I've succeeded [13:18] Alan Innis: so if you had more volunteer power you believe your efforts would have more payoff? [13:18] Hippyjim Starbrook: the dove campaign was a success, so I'm happy :) [13:18] Alan Innis: What's your take on this matter Anise? [13:18] Alan Innis: tell me how the dove campaign succeeded. [13:18] Hippyjim Starbrook: not necessarily more "numbers"...but people who want to get involved..actually get their hands dirty :) [13:18] Alan Innis: and what the sl contribution did for it. [13:19] Alan Innis: how many volunteers are you working with? [13:19] Hippyjim Starbrook: dove got around the table with us and changed their palm oil usage. sl avatars added to the "numbers pressure" that made dove take the issue seriously [13:19] Alan Innis: cool [13:19] Alan Innis: I hope your other volunteers are doing more for gp than i have been! (?) [13:19] Hippyjim Starbrook: we have around 300 in the group - but *active* i'd say we have a hard core of about 5 [13:20] Alan Innis: that sounds like a typical real life organization too [13:20] Hippyjim Starbrook: exactly [13:20] Hippyjim Starbrook: it's working a lot like a RL volunteer network - which is no big surprise [13:20] Alan Innis: my own experience is that it is much harder to coordinate virtual volunteers than "real life" ones [13:20] Alan Innis: can you speak to that. [13:20] Hippyjim Starbrook: just like our problems organising this meeting!! [13:20] Alan Innis: well - that's another interesting twist. [13:20] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes - rl priorities always take precedence [13:21] Alan Innis: We are 8 time zones apart right now and i often speak with people from other countries (I'm in Canada)... [13:21] Hippyjim Starbrook: for example, making dinner for the kids mattered more than doing stuff in SL, but if i had a RL gp meeting, i'd probably have worked things around it [13:21] Alan Innis: Can second life someone coordinate activists better from around the world do you think? [13:21] Alan Innis: somehow coordinate [13:21] Hippyjim Starbrook: and yes...getting people on at the same time is challenging :) [13:21] Alan Innis: indeed [13:22] AniseDollopof Mayo: SL should work very well across timezones [13:22] Alan Innis: i have a cool clock in my own sl home for that that shows timezones around the world [13:22] Hippyjim Starbrook: does it have a big map on it too? [13:22] Hippyjim Starbrook: with lights/ [13:22] Hippyjim Starbrook accepted your inventory offer. [13:22] Alan Innis: you can go see for yourself! [13:22] Hippyjim Starbrook: :) [13:22] Hippyjim Starbrook: just wondering if it's one of Erika's :) [13:23] Alan Innis: sorry - no map - just times [13:23] Alan Innis: not sure [13:23] Hippyjim Starbrook: ah well [13:23] AniseDollopof Mayo: Ah, boys ansd toys [13:23] Alan Innis: have you had any luck organizing events here? political events? [13:23] Hippyjim Starbrook: ok, time is pressing on for me....any more before we wrap up? [13:23] Alan Innis: guilty as accused! [13:23] AniseDollopof Mayo accepted your inventory offer. [13:23] Alan Innis: except Jim here actually makes them and i just buy, buy, buy [13:23] Hippyjim Starbrook: events - yes - we did Earth day 2007 (i was too busy for this years in RL) [13:23] Hippyjim Starbrook: :D [13:24] Alan Innis: tell me about it - maybe you can send me a few photos too [13:24] Hippyjim Starbrook: events are hard - agian with the timezones etc [13:24] Hippyjim Starbrook: and yes, I will do - that was when we did the whale hunt [13:24] Alan Innis: why are events "hard" [13:24] AniseDollopof Mayo: We (GP) could benefit enormously if we could get our people to gather together to chat, discuss, emote ....whatever [13:24] Hippyjim Starbrook: gp only really contributed that - but personally i did a bit more organising of the whole thing - including a gadget to send out event reminders [13:25] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes - but the timezone thing makes it tricky [13:25] Alan Innis: so you think this world could benefit the "real world" gp if they used it more. [13:25] Hippyjim Starbrook: definitely [13:25] Alan Innis: is anyone pushing that angle? [13:25] Hippyjim Starbrook: both as a communication and meeting tool, but also to help deliver campaigns [13:25] Hippyjim Starbrook: umm....me! :) [13:25] Alan Innis: and while we're on the subject, how is the official gp reacting to sl gp initiatives? [13:26] Alan Innis: still pretty much under the radar? [13:26] Hippyjim Starbrook: i'm in touch with the uk web guys, they're supportive...the rest of gp has been interested and not exactly opposing us... [13:26] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes, pretty much [13:26] Hippyjim Starbrook: the odd blog post by the uk guys is about all [13:26] Alan Innis: not opposing is good - a good start, anyways [13:26] Alan Innis: that's cool [13:27] Hippyjim Starbrook: yup - one of the things about gp structure, is it a collection of local groups really [13:27] Alan Innis: are you engaging people already in sl - and/or are you bringing new people in as a result of your virtual activism? [13:27] Hippyjim Starbrook: thy ahve a common set of core values...the rest...is done locally [13:27] Alan Innis: i live really close to the original gp by the way - in Victoria, BC - across the water from Vancouver, Canada [13:27] Hippyjim Starbrook: tbh i'm not sure there - i think we're mostly stumbled on by existing SLers [13:28] Hippyjim Starbrook: we don't actively bring people to sl [13:28] Alan Innis: so you are catering to the sl audience [13:28] Hippyjim Starbrook: so far i guess, yes [13:28] Alan Innis: where you going to take this in the future? [13:28] Hippyjim Starbrook: we're going to take over the planet ;) [13:28] Alan Innis: what else do you think could work? [13:28] Alan Innis: lol ! [13:29] Hippyjim Starbrook: we're in the process of expanding our displays on commonwealth. We have some building plans in the pipeline, and one of the GPUK web guys is about to set out on tour with the Esperanza - so he'll be sending back reports for us to use here. [13:30] Alan Innis: i have a few more questions if you will indulge me another 10-20 minutes [13:30] Hippyjim Starbrook: not so far...we have lots of ideas all the time...but it's all about applying to the cause :) [13:31] Alan Innis: what have you learned about virtual organizing and virtual world communications? (that you haven't already told me!) [13:31] Hippyjim Starbrook: 1 group notice....followed by lots of group IMS! :) [13:31] Alan Innis: say it, say it again, say it again [13:31] Hippyjim Starbrook: kep it short...simple and snappy [13:31] Alan Innis: sounds like TV, eh Anise? [13:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: it's all about the attention span i guess [13:32] Alan Innis: what about the conversation aspect - that seems fairly unique to me... [13:32] Hippyjim Starbrook: not following u [13:32] Alan Innis: well - people don't really talk on the web for example [13:33] Alan Innis: but here it's mostly the experience - at least where 2 or more are gathered [13:33] Alan Innis: on my web site we have hundreds of people there at any given moment. quietly reading to themselves! [13:33] Alan Innis: here we are just 3 - talking furiously! [13:33] Alan Innis: at least some of us Anise! [13:33] Alan Innis said proddingly [13:34] Hippyjim Starbrook: tru enough - but hitting a larger audience is sometimes more useful - especially if you're collecting names for petitions, or to lend weight to an argument [13:34] Alan Innis: can the mass audience be "worked" here? [13:34] AniseDollopof Mayo is listening [13:34] Alan Innis: or only using sl as a lever to the Channel 4s of this world? [13:34] Hippyjim Starbrook: that's the idea with the "builds" i guess....to hit as many people as possible [13:34] Hippyjim Starbrook: the other way is to use marketing techniques...virals and the like [13:34] Alan Innis: can you explain? [13:35] Hippyjim Starbrook: well, a clever idea - like the shoulder pet or the flight feather [13:35] Hippyjim Starbrook: can take off in sl [13:35] Hippyjim Starbrook: and spread on its own [13:35] Alan Innis: much like on youtube? [13:35] Alan Innis: (for example) [13:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: indeed [13:36] Alan Innis: is word of mouth the strongest communicator around here? [13:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: but other than that, Sl itself draws media attention from the "old style" media too [13:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes, by far [13:36] Alan Innis: small networks, networked by individuals... [13:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes [13:36] Alan Innis: anything else? [13:36] Hippyjim Starbrook: but the Gp credo is all about small groups of people making a big difference [13:36] Alan Innis: so it's a perfect fit? [13:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: thing about Sl is that it's "trendy" and "odd" - so quirky works here like nowhere else...and if it's odd enough, it gets into mainstream media too [13:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: yes [13:37] Alan Innis: the media around sl has been amazing - at least while i was studying it about a year ago [13:37] Hippyjim Starbrook: both good and bad, unfortunately [13:37] Alan Innis: of course [13:38] Hippyjim Starbrook: one tech webmag i read calls it "sadville" :S [13:38] Alan Innis: i am finished with the formal questions ... so i'm open to anything else either of you has to add - mostly i am interested in sl as a media and how we use it to change the world [13:38] Hippyjim Starbrook: ummmm.... :) [13:39] Hippyjim Starbrook looks at anise [13:39] Alan Innis looks too [13:39] Hippyjim Starbrook: i think I've covered all I want to say tbh [13:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: Oh! You guys have stopped talking! [13:39] AniseDollopof Mayo yawnzas [13:39] Alan Innis: Anything else gp you want to show me inworld? [13:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: yamns [13:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: feck [13:39] AniseDollopof Mayo: yawns [13:40] Hippyjim Starbrook: so...you're yawning? :D [13:40] Alan Innis: trying to give folks an idea of how a conversation goes here [13:40] Alan Innis: if you have anything else you want to add please email me. [13:41] Hippyjim Starbrook: i find that video works better for that btw [13:41] Hippyjim Starbrook: and will do [13:41] Alan Innis: if there are video URLs that should be connected to the story just let me know [13:41] AniseDollopof Mayo: Night Alan [13:41] Hippyjim Starbrook: sure...and gnite :) [13:41] Alan Innis: Night. Thanks so much for your time today. A real pleasure to get to know you a bit. [13:41] Alan Innis: tonight (for you) [13:42] Alan Innis: i best get back to my family Jim. Sunday here. Thanks for everything and especially for your leading work for Greenpeace here in Second Life. [13:42] Alan Innis: i'm going to pop over to the Obama store for a moment first. [13:42] Hippyjim Starbrook: ty - for your time. enjoy :) |
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This article comes from Newsdaily Canada - Daily News Stories, Features, Analysis and Opinion - Newsdaily.ca http://newsdaily.ca/ The URL for this story is: http://newsdaily.ca/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=5498 Links in this article [1] http://www.SunshineCommunications.ca [2] http://slurl.com/secondlife/Waring/116/10/152/?img=http%3A//sunshinecommunications.ca/html/images/logo.gif&title=Sunshine%20Communications%20Associates |
