No Word On One Billion Rising Event

 

For several years, February 14 in Second Life not only had numerous Valentine's Day events, but also had the One Billion Rising event, part of a worldwide demonstration in support of women's rights across the globe. There were numerous music events, and many displays by artists. 

Last year however, the event was called off due to a number of the people being "overwhelmed by real life and other commitments." Checking the blog and the group, there was no information about any event for 2024. 

It's likely the event will revive some time in the future. But it seems for now One Billion Rising is closed. 

Bixyl Shuftan

No "One Billion Rising" Event In Second Life This Year

 

For the past several years, there has been a "One Billion Rising" event here in Second Life, part of a worldwide demonstration in support of women's rights around the planet. This year however, the virtual world won't be part of it, at least not to the extent it's been. Checking the blog, Saffia Widdershins announced she was cancelling for 2023.

Although some of the team are very willing and able to stage the event this year, others of us have been overwhelmed by real life and other commitments. In view of this, it seemed best to cancel OBR 2023, and instead look ahead to a magnificent return in 2024.

I apologise to people who may have started preparations – the delay in informing people about this news is entirely my fault, and not anyone else’s.

For me personally, after ten years, the time has come to step back from an organisational role – although I do hope I will be able to attend and enjoy the event in 2024 and beyond.

 

It's possible someone is planning a much smaller event in support of OBR, but if so the Newser doesn't know about it yet. In the meantime,

 

Bixyl Shuftan 

One Billion Rising

Today, the One Billion Rising in Second Life takes place. This isn't just an inworld event, but part of a global demonstration in support of the rights of women. Gemma Cleanslate took a look at the exhibits of the sims, and talked to some of the women involved.

Read Gemma's article in Events.

One Billion Rising, Hug A Linden, Today

Today is Valentines Day, and the day two events take place in Second Life. The bigger one is the One Billion Rising demonstration inworld in support of women's rights worldwide. The event takes place until Midnight tonight at four sims, OBR Dance, OBR Rise, OBR Resist, and OBR Unite.



(Click here if the video fails to play)


On February 14th, men and women in Second Life will join people across the world to Rise to protest violence against women, as a show of unity, individual strength, and the need for change. The Second Life event will feature a four-region stage where 200 people can come together to dance, surrounded by an area of art installations, an arena for poetry, a stage for dance performances, informational exhibits and free gifts. For more information, visit onebillionrisingsl.wordpress.com.

Strawberry Linden will be doing her "Lab Gab" show from the four sims of the event, touring them with Kess Crystal.

Join our host, Strawberry Linden, as she tours One Billion Rising with Kess Crystal. On February 14th, men and women in Second Life will join people across the world and Rise to protest violence against women, as a show of unity, individual strength, and the need for change. The Second Life event will feature a four-region stage where 200 people can come together to dance, surrounded by an area of art installations, an arena for poetry, a stage for dance performances, informational exhibits and free gifts. Kess Crystal will be giving Strawberry a tour of the four regions. 

The show starts at 8AM SL time, and can be viewed on Youtube.

https://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/OBR%20Dance/77/176/24/

Also going on is the "Hug a Linden" Linden event at the Isle of View

Party with us at the Isle of View on February 14th from 12pm to 2pm (Pacific). Meet your Valentine, enjoy music, and don’t miss the Dunk-a-Linden and Hug-a-Linden booths! 

Head to the Isle of View via Portal Park or head to http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Isle%20of%20View%202/84/79/107

Update: the event with the Lindens takes place from 12 to 2 PM SL time

Bixyl Shuftan

One Billion Rising

By Gemma Cleanslate

Heads up to the returning One Billion Rising in second life  that will make its reappearance on February 14 . Read about the history and plans for this year on the website. Get involved if you can or plan on attending activities .

https://onebillionrisingsl.wordpress.com/2018/01/19/join-us-for-one-billion-rising-in-second-life-2018/


I went over to view the sims where preparations are going on .

I found one of the leads of the event, Judi Newell , fixing up the Poetry Stage site . “The events will be at 2pm, 3pm and 4pm SLT and will include booked performers followed by open mic, so people are invited to come along and join in. All forms of writing are welcome with a limit of 5 or 10 minutes depending on the number of people participating each hour. The event is in voice ."

Stevie Basevi, another lead , was working on one of the four gardens that grace the four outer corners of the four sims. She did not take the easy way of creating one garden and dropping it in each corner ... each one is very different so make your way around the outer roadway not only to visit the gardens but to enjoy the works of art the creators have dropped there . The exhibits are always in keeping with the theme of the day but lovely each in its own way. Every one of the leads has been working very hard to prepare for this event that has so much meaning to survivors and deserve a big thanks.

I have been involved since the first year as a greeter and a dancer in the videos and enjoy it very much and always learn from the activity. There is a rose hunt this year on the sims. This is a 24 hour event with djs on the center stage at varied hours and live  performances planned during the day and night . Keep an eye on the website for more information on artists appearing and when. There is a lot going on all over the grid this day but make time to get there!

The four sims have names that suit the day so well, Rise, Dance, Unite, Resist!


OBR - One Billion Rising in Second Life 2016.


https://vimeo.com/155103784  2016's video!!

Gemma Cleanslate

One Billion Rising

One Billion are rising again and I am thrilled to be part of it. This is the third year that sl women and men have  joined the men and women around the globe who rise to “Bring in the New Revolutionary World of Equality, Dignity and Freedom for all Women and Girls.”

The Second Life support event will take place on February 14 , Saturday , Valentines Day in SL. Attend the event! Show your personal support for all women and girls  across the globe who are suffering indignity. There will be continuous dancing beginning at 12AM on the 14th so you can fit a visit into your time schedule. Artists will have places to visit around the massive stages. The first year a wonderful machinima was created. Take a look at it.  It still gives me chills when I see it . I took part in the filming of several scenes. 

(Click here if you have trouble seeing the video)

To learn more about the global event visit the webite for the real-life event  http://www.onebillionrising.org/about/campaign/  and to read about the Second Life event  https://onebillionrisingsl2014.wordpress.com/ 

 See  you at the sims!!!  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/OBR%20Dance/188/68/24

Gemma Cleanslate

Serious Request

Wesley Regenbogen came across an event in a Dutch club that got his attention, "Serious Request." In real life, the event has taken place every year since 2003, raising money for the Red Cross. This year, it's also taking place at the Glass House club. The objective of the event is to bring attention to the issue of women and girls being sexually assaulted in certain war zones, such as Boko Haram's kidnappings for sex slaves in Nigeria. Wesley gives  his review of the Second Life event.

Read Wesley's story in Events.

Scenes from One Billion Rising 2014

Besides Valentines Day, Friday February 14 was also the day of the One Billion Rising event. Across the planet, men and women demonstrated in support of the rights of women against abuse. Second Life was also the scene of demonstrations in form of artistic exhibits, music, and readings in the four sim OBR region. Gemma Cleanslate was there as a greeter, and took a number of pictures while she was there, along with a few from Bixyl Shuftan when he dropped by briefly.

See the pictures in Events.

Scenes From One Billion Rising

For 24 hours starting at 11PM, February 13th, the One Billion Rising event will take place in Second Life. The event is actually one of a number events across the planet as part of a demonstration in support of womens' rights. On Thursday, Feb 13th, The OBR staff invited members of the press to the four sims people will be gathering at, and there were a number of artistic exhibitions up.

 The sims the event will take place at are:

OBR Rise (186/186/24)

OBR Release (68/68/24)

OBR Dance (168/68/24)

OBR Justice (68/186/24)

For more information, check the following links:

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Billion-Rising/493344827375934
Second Life Group: One Billion Rising
Twitter Stream: https://twitter.com/OBRinSL
Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/2169739@N23/
Main One Billion Rising for Justice page: http://www.onebillionrising.org/

Pictures from Gemma Cleanslate

Press Release: One Billion Rising For Justice

One Billion Rising for Justice in Second Life ill be held this Friday - ALL DAY FRIDAY 14th FEBRUARY

On February 14, 2013, for 24 hours starting at midnight Pacific Standard Time, Second Life residents will join with activists around the world in a spectacular 24-hour event for ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE, a very special day of action in the history of V-Day, the global activist movement to end violence against women and girls.

The Second Life event will feature a four-region stage where 200 people can dance together, surrounded by an area of art installations, poetry events and informational exhibits. A variety of performers will play and perform over the 24-hour period, enabling people all over the world to attend this virtual event no matter their timezone. The regions will have a General maturity rating to allow all residents an opportunity to participate. Pictures are welcome on the event's Flickr group.

ONE BILLION RISING began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On February 14, 2014, men and women in Second Life will join activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities, and people across the world to Rise, Dance, and Release as a show of unity, individual strength, and the need for change.

The objective of the event is to raise awareness, not to raise funds; however, information about real-world organisations will be available for those wishing to donate.

One Billion Rising in Second Life is sponsored by: Cheeky Pea; The Domineaux Effect; Dutchie; Gos Boutique; Heart Garden Centre; Maven Homes; MESHWORX; Prime; and Spargel and Shine.

In-kind sponsors are: CaLLie CLine; Fruit Islands; KittyCatS!; Liv-Glam; Style by Kira; Sway’s;and Prim Perfect Publications.

The four regions have been named for the four core elements chosen as the focus of this years global event, One Billion Rising.

OBR Rise

OBR Dance

OBR Release

OBR Justice

For more information:

Our blog: http://onebillionrisingsl2014.wordpress.com/

Our webpage at One Billion Rising: http://onebillionrising.org/page/event/detail/startarising/wd8

Our Second Life Group: One Billion Rising: www.onebillionrising.org/events/one-billion-rising-in-second-life/

Our Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Billion-Rising/493344827375934?ref=hl

Our Twitter Stream: https://twitter.com/OBRinSL

Our Flickr Group: http://www.flickr.com/groups/2169739@N23/

2nd Annual "One Billion Rising" Event on Feb 14th

It was announced that there will be a "One Billion Rising" event in Second Life this year. The event will take place on February 14th, and last 24 hours. There will be a four sim area set up just for the event where 200 avatars can participate at once.

ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE is a global call to women survivors of violence and those who love them to gather safely in community outside places where they are entitled to justice – courthouses, police stations, government offices, school administration buildings, work places, sites of environmental injustice, military courts, embassies, places of worship, homes, or simply public gathering places where women deserve to feel safe but too often do not.  It is a call to survivors to break the silence and release their stories – politically, spiritually, outrageously – through art, dance, marches, ritual, song, spoken word, testimonies and whatever way feels right.

In Second Life, we will be marking the occasion (as we did last year) with a twenty-four hour one day event that will allow women and men to gather. There will be music, there will be art installations and exhibitions, there will be poetry sessions,there will be dancing – and there will be information kiosks that will share information about organisations devoted to promoting justice for women across the globe, and stories of events that will be happening around the world.

For further details, check out the OBR 2014 website at: http://onebillionrisingsl2014.wordpress.com/ .

Scenes from "One Billion Rising"

 On Thursday Feb 14th, the "One Billion Rising" took place in Second Life. A demonstration for womens rights across the world, the event took place in four sims, OBR Rise, OBR Strike, OBR Dance, and OBR Walk. The Second Life event was part of a larger global event with demonstrations across the planet.  At this exhibit sponsored by Madpea, there were numerous images of avatars with protest signs, such as "In Guatemala, there are two women murdered each day. Stop the violence!!"

 There was a walkway around the four sims with various exhibitions. At the intersection was a stage where large numbers of people could dance. Among the musicians performing there was DJ Quark Allen, who played from 12 Noon SL time to 1PM.

The event was quite packed at times. At the time I dropped by, there were about a total of a hundred and forty residents attending. The lag made for some slow going at times, as well as some crashing. But morale at the "Rising" was very high, and those demonstrating were determined to get their point across.

*Update (Feb 18)* Check out more pictures of "One Billion Rising" on Daniel Voyager's "Flickr" page.

Bixyl Shuftan

Check Out "One Billion Rising" Today

Part of a global demonstration for womens rights,  the Second Life Rising "will feature a four-region stage where 200 people can dance together, surrounded by an area of art installations and informational exhibits. A variety of performers will play over the 24-hour period, enabling people all over the world to attend this virtual event no matter their timezone."




The event takes place all day until 11:59 SL time tonight.

OBR Walk (180, 180, 25)

Preview of "One Billion Rising"

By Gemma Cleanslate

Today I got a chance to go check out the four sims that will give you lots of room to roam and dance and rise at One Billion Rising.Their names are OBR Walk, OBR Strike, OBR Rise and OBR Dance.  Since the huge Dance floor is in the center on the corner of four sims it will help with lag and allow more people to enjoy the event. Remember this is a 24 hour event beginning at midnight on Valentines Day so you have plenty of time to get there and enjoy. There is an information kiosk on each sim to guide you .

The art installations circle along the edge of the sims, so you can just start in one corner and move all along the outer area to see them. At each exhibit there is a post containing the bio of the artist. Each exhibit in its way acknowledges the theme of the event. Some are celebratory, some define the reason for protest against aggression toward women. Some of the pieces are so subtle and thoughtful.  I recognized several of the artists as soon as I approached the piece. There were many that are new to me and I will be looking into their works. You can read all about these artists on the blog pages. 

There are still preparations going on as final touches are being There are a couple of installations that are disturbing in their content but that is the whole point of the event: to recognize the extent of severe treatment of women all over the world. I hope you saw the SL version of the "Break the Chain" video as well if as the original in real life. Here is the event list and you will find both videos on this page . http://onebillionrisingsl.wordpress.com/event-schedule/ Watch the One Billion Rising blog to get the entry points for Thursday or use the map with the names above. Join the Rising.

All those who did so much preparation for this event are to be congratulated as well as the  many sponsors who helped make it all possible. You will recognize them as you see the posters on the sims.  

It is going to be great!     

Gemma Cleanslate

SL Video: One Billion Rising in Second Life

"Tena Clark & Tim Heintz have given us the incredibly powerful song, "Break the Chain," that we hear in this video. As women from around the world in Second Life, we wanted to do our part too. Gorgeous settings, amazing women-behind the avatars, and a bit of fantasy make our video a beautiful addition to the tide of support that's sweeping the globe. Visit our blog, "One Billion Rising in Second Life" to find out more!"

http://www.onebillionrising.org/ 

Preparing for "One Billion Rising"

From Gemma Cleanslate

 Preparations are well under way for the 1 Billion Rising in Second Life as part of the real life Rising. The four sims are arriving. The djs and performers are ready. Customer Relations Officers are training. Greeters are getting ready to meet you at the gates. Both groups will be able to help you move across the sims to reach your destinations. Saffia Widdershins is creating the official machimima based on the real life one that you can view on you tube :

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=fL5N8rSy4CU#!

"'Break the Chain' aims to raise awareness around the world about V-Day's fastest escalating global campaign to date, ONE BILLION RISING. The ONE BILLION RISING campaign began as a call to action based on the staggering statistic that 1 in 3 women on the planet will be beaten or raped during her lifetime. With the world population at 7 billion, this adds up to more than ONE BILLION WOMEN AND GIRLS. On 14 February 2013, V-Day's 15th anniversary, activists, writers, thinkers, celebrities and women and men across the world will come together to express their outrage, strike, dance, and RISE in defiance of the injustices women suffer, demanding an end at last to violence against women.”

That is a quote from the youtube page.

You might like to read some quotes from the page Why I am Rising at the SL blog and perhaps add your own: http://onebillionrisingsl.wordpress.com/why-im-rising/

Yes! Men are involved in this and are invited!

You can also view the words of the song on the youtube site and will directed where to download it if you like. I am privileged to be a participant in the dances that will be in the sl machinima that Saffia  is filming and I can’t wait to see it . If you want to learn more about the One Billion Rising in SL and in real-life you can  hear Honour Mcmillan at the Sojourner Auditorium at Noon, 12:00 slt on Friday the 8th of February.  http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Virtual%20Ability/67/175/23

I feel as if I am giving you lots of reading homework! It is worth it. Find out more at www.onebillionrising.org.

Gemma Cleanslate 

16 Day Womens' Rights Festival in Second Life

Any1 Gynoid takes on a dual role of reporter and activist for a womens' rights event in Second Life. For 16 days, there will be a number of happenings from lectures to music, a few which will be headed by Any1 herself.

Read the schedule in Events.

The Afghanistan Museum

Today, Gemma reports on a place in Second Life devoted to a country in real life we read about regularly in the news, but often know little about: Afghanistan. Here, Gemma learns some about the geography and culture of this diverse country, and about the organization there devoted to improving the lives of the women there.

Read Gemma's article in Places.