“I don’t come to Second Life for politics” I’ve read that a lot over the last 2 years on Facebook or other social media forums. I agree! To a point! For those of us that spend a lot of hours here though I think it has to be about more than shopping, adjusting our cheekbones or eyebrows on our bento heads and dancing at half empty clubs and venues. Sometimes, just occasionally, when something really matters there is a place for politics or political movements in Second Life. To use the #BecauseOfSecondLife meme #BecauseOfSecondLife I have friends all over the world affected by women’s political issues.
For the last few years I have been gradually become more and more involved in the One Billion Rising event in Second Life. One Billion Rising is a global event which aims to raise awareness of issues mainly surrounding violence against women and I think this year of all years this movement is even more important. While the event is primarily about standing, or rising, up against violence to women, including those that identify as female, it has a wider remit in these days and times. With issues like Female Genital Mutilation still being prevalent in countries around the world, with Russia well on it’s way to decriminalising domestic violence and with a misogynist as leader of the free world there has never been a more important time to take just one day out of your regular SL to rise and be ‘political’.
A friend of mine said, quite rightly, last year, that violence against men is just as an important subject and it is but the simple fact is it’s just not as prevalent. Another friend of mine asked me a few weeks ago during a very deep conversation about sexual assault if I had ever had that type of experience. My answer, which came quite glibly at the time but does put the subject into perspective was “You’ll be hard pushed to find any woman who hasn’t experience some kind of sexual assault or ‘near miss’ during her lifetime’. The fact is nearly every woman reading this will have and 1-3 of those will have included extreme violence.
So what is One Billion Rising in Second Life? It’s actually an extremely fun and thought provoking day full of music, literature and art on 4 sims for 24 solid hours. It’s open to all, women and men who support women in the fight for equality and women’s issues. There are though provoking art installations, touching musical dance performances, inspiring poetry and literature readings and live music and DJ’s urging us to get up off our feet, rise and dance.
You can get involved too! This year I am taking on the role of Press and PR Manager for OBR and I’m looking for bloggers and writers to cover the event. This isn’t a sales event, you won’t get free stuffs but you will get early access to the sims to take pictures of the art installations and stages to help share the message and promote the event. We also need volunteers on the day to help out as stage leads, security and greeters across all timezones. You can register your interest here. Alternatively you can follow OBR in Second Life on Facebook and just come along and show your support on the day! If you were unable to make one of the women’s marches in real life recently, or even if you were able to we’d love to see you there!
About the Stuff:
So much to talk about with lots of new items featuring in today’s picture. I’m going to come back to the Real Evil set from The Epiphany in a full post as it’s only the exclusive choker that I’m using in the picture for today. I’m wearing a brand new release from United Colors from Kinky Event which just opened. The Riley top is made to work perfectly with previous ‘Riley’ releases from United Colors and comes in fits for Belleza Freya and Isis, Slink Hourglass and Original and Maitreya Lara (worn). The back of the top has a corset style look to it with the front, as you can see, featuring straps with metal studs that can be changed via a hud.
My ears are from Eclipse Art Studio and can be purchased in world or on the Marketplace. The Nepthune ears feature a trident accessory and a subtle fishscale tattoo pattern on the tip of the ear. They come in three styles, changeable by HUD between the ones I am wearing, human and Elf and with options to change the texture and colour of the tattoo, accessories and studs.
Last but not least my pose is a new Bento pose from GingerFish poses which is part of a very special collection called Eclectic for Spotlight Magazine. There are 5 poses all together which come with mirrors in a copy/mod pack which is completely free of charge to member of the Spotlight Magazine in world group. A link to the Spotlight office where you can join the group and pick up the poses is listed below in the credits.
Credits:
Head – Catwa – Destiny
Skin – The Skinnery Maitreya applier and Grace Head applier
Hands – Vista – Bento Prohands
Rings – Vista– Absolut Vendetta – Hydra Rings
Piercings – Swallow – Bollywood
*RealEvil – Juliett Choker **NEW** at The Epiphany
*Ears – E.A. Studio – Nepthune Ears
*Top – United Colors – Riley 3 Top **NEW** at Kinky Event
Shorts – SPIRIT – Lita Shorts
Hair – KoKoLoReS – Yuki
Pose – GingerFish Poses – Eclectic set **NEW** Group Gift for Spotlight Magazine
the glamour sauce 