The filmmakers behind "The Reckoning," the new documentary about the International Criminal Court, have launched an associated online clearinghouse to support education and outreach about ICC. Called "IJ Central," it promises to : integrate a multi-platform citizen engagement strategy using online mapping technology to visualize the global justice network through SMS text messaging, aggregating blogs,…
Category: United Nations
ICC issues arrest warrant against Sudanese President for murder, rape & torture
In a historic development, the International Criminal Court in the Hague has issued a formal arrest warrant against Omar Hassan Ahmad Al Bashir, President of Sudan, for war crimes and crimes against humanity. Specifically he is charged with "intentionally directing attacks against an important part of the civilian population of Darfur, Sudan, murdering, exterminating, raping,…
My address at UN General Assembly civil society hearings in 2005 (video)
Here's an oldie but a goodie that I dug up when thinking about some notable work highlights from the past. In 2005, I had the honor of speaking briefly at the first UN General Assembly hearings with civil society organizations (CSOs). This was a historic occasion, where the UN General Assembly for the first time…
The first trial at the International Criminal Court begins!
Yesterday, January 26, 2009, the long-delayed trial of Thomas Lubanga finally began at the International Criminal Court in The Hague. The first trial of the ICC, Lubanga is accused of having committed war crimes consisting of conscripting child soldiers into his militia, the "Forces patriotiques pour la libération du Congo" in the Democratic Republic of…
Real World Places in Second Life #27: The Estonia Embassy
I don't know why I never visited here, but a colleague alerted me to the Estonian government's Second Life island (click here to teleport.) Given the level of e-government innovation that happens in Estonia, I guess I shouldn't be surprised that they have been in the virtual world since December 2007. I've heard that Estonia…
OneClimate.net broadcasting live coverage of UN Climate Change Conference into Second Life
The environmental group OneClimate.net have been broadcasting in Second Life live coverage from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change in Poznan, Poland. I dropped in on a videochat with Jamie Henn from the activist group 350.org, Daniel Vokins from the UK Youth delegation in Poznan, and then Yvo de Boer, the executive secretary of…
Second Life Human Rights Festival starts tomorrow: celebrate freedom!
Here's the latest news on the enormous human rights festival starting tomorrow in Second Life: The 60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Universal Rights is being celebrated by a huge festival in Second Life. More than 60 concerts mark the 60 years and the talents of 100 artists and musicians are part of the…
United Nations Climate Change sim opens in Second Life tomorrow (November 29)
Starting tomorrow, November 29, the Ministry of Media officially opens in Second Life, a sim dedicated to the UN Climate Change Conference happening in Poznań, Poland from December 1-12. The Poznań meeting, which is expected to draw 8,000 participants from around the world, is intended to "advance international cooperation on a future climate change regime…
Speaking about the UN, civic engagement, new media, and virtual worlds
I had the pleasure of speaking to my friend Josephine Dorado's class on "Collaboration in Networked Environments" that she is teaching at the New School this semester. The course apparently this week is exploring virtual worlds and MMOs, after delving into a range of other social media, from social networks to micro-blogging to mashup technologies. …
Metaplace has the awesome-est EULA of any virtual world
I have heard rumors that some educators have been invited to be part of the Metaplace beta testers group for this new virtual world environment created by Raph Koster. According to one of those rumored educator beta-testers, Metaplace is "one of the most powerful, user-friendly web-based / flash-driven virtual platforms out there." But of course,…