Can virtual art stimulate real-world political action? Find out on Friday, October 24, as digital media artists Peggy Weil (Ping Rau in SL) and Nonny de la Peña (Nonny Writer) discuss how they are using 3D artwork as a form of political expression and civic engagement. In Second Life at the International Justice Center (click…
Category: Politics
Amazing swing dance fundraiser for Obama tonight at Union Pool in Brooklyn!
Just got home from an inspired, amazing night of dancing and music to support Barack Obama. Local lindy hopper Ramona Staffield got together an all-star cast of musicians, singers, lindy hoppers and hoofers to throw on a fundraiser dance concert at Union Pool tonight in Williamsburg. The event was officially in support of the non-profit…
Five Digital Media & Telecom policy challenges for the next US President
In just a few short weeks, Americans are going to the polls to select the next President of the United States. At Global Kids we’re pretty obsessed with following the elections, staff members shouting out news, debating, joking, and sharing links all during the work day. It’s to be expected from an organization that is…
Barack FTW 11/4! — Why Gamers Should Back Obama
I think it’s high time that people get past this notion of gamers as passive couch potatoes divorced from the world around them. I’ve seen gamers raise thousands of dollars for worthwhile causes like Penny Arcade’s "Child’s Play" charity and games for US troops overseas. Gamers can be ardent defenders of Net Freedom or even…
Why I’m voting Obama (a somewhat random list)
I should begin by saying that I have a good measure of respect for both presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama. I think they are both much better leaders of our nation than the current president. That said, I am voting Obama come November 4th. Here’s a somewhat random list of the reasons why:…
Global Kids’ teens registering New Yorkers on last day before Election 2008!
This just inspires the heck out of me. Here’s a group of 40-some Global Kids’ teens busting their butts to get New Yorkers registered to vote this afternoon in Union Square park. Today was the last day New Yorkers could register to vote in this critically important election year. Mad props to our Global Kids’…
Teens in Second Life debate the 2nd Obama/McCain debate
Tonight I organized, with the help of my colleagues Rafi and Joyce, a presidential debate watching party in Teen Second Life. We had a very good turnout of about 28 teens, several of whom stayed for the entire 90 minutes — which is asking a lot of a teenager on a school night. Pretty much…
State Department hosting Second Life event on education in virtual worlds this Thursday
This Thursday, October 9, I am honored to be participating in a panel discussion on "Education without Borders" sponsored by the United States Department of State. The panel will address how virtual worlds can be used to reach out to people "conquering issues of physical distance, nationality, and culture." The panelists for this event include:…
See what people are tweeting about the US Presidential candidates in Second Life
Kei Moana sent out news that the Capitol Hill sim in Second Life has installed a cool Twitter visualization tool that lets you see what different people are saying about the two US Presidential and Vice-Presidential candidates. (For those who don’t know, Twitter is a micro-blogging tool that many Second Life residents are enamoured with.)…
$2000 prize for best multimedia piece on a global issue
My friends at Citizens for Global Solutions tell me that they are launching another cool multimedia contest for the best artsy piece on a global issue. Submissions can be flash animation, spoken word,or digital video, so virtually any kind of activist / artist can submit something: It’s that time again! Calling all aspiring flash animation…