Thursday 28 April 2011

Slacktivist Calendar, April 29 - May 2

Club Graffiti Grand Opening
Event: Launch Party
Topic: Clubs
Description: Modeled after Greenwich Village, NYC of the 1970s "Club Graffiti" is inspired by clubs in Greenwich Village and the area where the whole punk movement of the 1970's began. The launch will be opened by the popular band The Follow at 1pm slt and will continue at 2pm slt with a performance by Mankind Tracer. The sim will open at 12:30PM SLT to allow time for guests to arrive.
Date: Friday, April 29
Time: 1 PM SLT
Sponsor: The Village
Contact: Kalli Birman
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Good%20Day%20Sunshine/138/73/21/


Women's History Tour at Oklahoma State
Event: Walking tour
Topic: Women's History
Description: Professor Mary Larson will speak on the development of the Oklahoma Women’s Hall of Fame Oral History Project, then lead us on a tour of Oklahoma State's new space in Second Life.
Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 12 PM SLT
Sponsor: Oklahoma State
Contact: Dr. Sharon Collingwood
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva%20Pier/63/227/27/

Marxism and the State
Event: Debate
Topic: Marxism
Date: Saturday, April 30
Time: 2 PM SLT
Description: A debate between Mercurius Jacobus and Czarny Zsun
Sponsor: SL Marxists
Contact: Lisabeth Nikolaidis
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Babbage/41/251/116/

Marxist-Leninism: Reform or Revolution
Event: Lecture + Discussion
Topic: Marxism
Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 8 AM SLT
Description: A May Day lecture and discussion led by Wilhelm Palmira regarding the question of reform or revolution.
Sponsor: SL Marxists
Contact: Lisabeth Nikolaidis
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Babbage/41/251/116/

May Day Celebration
Event: Discussion Group
Topic: Live Music + Art Exhibit
Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 11 AM SLT
Description: Join TalkwithMarie's May Day Celebration featuring Shannon Oherlihy and DJ Jassy at the Zinn Center Stage Four Bridges Sim.
Sponsor: Four Bridges Project
Contact: TalkwithMarie Resident
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Four%20Bridges%20North/117/2/27

Second Life Left Unity Feminists
Event: Discussion Group
Topic: Feminism
Date: Sunday, May 1
Time: 2 PM SLT
Description: The Second Life Left Unity Feminsts Discussion group meets every Sunday at 2 pm Pacific (5 pm Eastern) Time. This is an open discussion:  bring your own questions, topics, suggestions. They are an informal group, everyone is welcome.
Sponsor: Second Life Left Unity
Contact: SLLU Feminists Group
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Flagg/239/23/107/

 
Happy May Day to all!

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Wednesday 27 April 2011

Radically Queer!

The only disco with political conversation thrown in....

In Red Star Bar Every Wednesday at Noon!





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Tuesday 26 April 2011

Net Neutrality Discussion, today 7am Red Star Bar

see notices inworld for slurl

This is a piece I did for Red Pepper Magazine that covers SOME of the issues.

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Monday 25 April 2011

"How workers of the third world are being exploited and are working their asses off for us western people to have our comfort"

CHAT LOG

Present: Plot Tracer; Agnes Sharples; Trill Zapatero; LolaRennt Blanco; Sioux Nikolaidis; Chelsea Louloudi; Celia Bedrosian; Agripina Bernheim; Sophiekittycat Resident; josjoha Resident; Eupalinos Ugajin; Kanomi Pikajuna

SLLU discussion:

"How workers of the third world are being exploited and are working their asses off for us western people to have our comfort"

in The Red Star Bar Thursday 21st April

[2011/04/21 07:05] Agnes Sharple: a good example is the flower industry
[2011/04/21 07:06] Agnes Sharple: 1 sec and ill get some links
[2011/04/21 07:08] Agnes Sharple: http://www.laborrights.org/rights-for-working-women/news/11365
[2011/04/21 07:08] Agnes Sharple: http://www.newsfromafrica.org/newsfromafrica/articles/art_882.html
[2011/04/21 07:09] Agnes Sharple: these are just examples, its not only the flower industry

[2011/04/21 07:09] Agnes Sharple: so...any thoughts on this?
[2011/04/21 07:10] Plot Tracer: Does anyone think that this kind of exploitation is exclusive to the 2/3rds world?
[2011/04/21 07:10] Sophiekittycat Resident: your links are mainly on women conditions which are already another big problem


[2011/04/21 07:10] Agnes Sharple: well, yes, women do 60% of the work in the world or more
[2011/04/21 07:11] Agnes Sharple: but those are just links as examples
[2011/04/21 07:11] Sophiekittycat Resident: i think this debat will glue in 30 years old clichés , now capitalism is global, chineses exploit africa and chises workers, biggest mining company is brazilian
[2011/04/21 07:11] Sophiekittycat Resident: indians not need us to exploit their own workers
[2011/04/21 07:11] Chelsea Louloudi: well, I don't think it's as much about our comfort as the bottom lines of the exploiters


[2011/04/21 07:11] Sophiekittycat Resident: situation of workers in occidental countries is worsening and not for workers confort but for corporations profits
[2011/04/21 07:12] Sophiekittycat Resident: the time that occident was getting confort from exploitation is behind now we are in a time that international capitalism exploit third world for profit only
[2011/04/21 07:12] Sophiekittycat Resident: us from occident are no more involved for our comfort
[2011/04/21 07:12] LolaRennt Blanco: right
[2011/04/21 07:13] Sophiekittycat Resident: third world exploit itself as good that we done and still do it


[2011/04/21 07:14] Plot Tracer: Here in the UK, low paid workers live in poverty. And it is a poverty without hope. (from a website) Ironically, most of the very lowest-paid workers are performing jobs which are absolutely vital to the smooth running of our society: carers, childminders, workers providing services such as cleaning and catering, and the retail workers who enable better-off workers to fuel our economy by spending disposable income.
[2011/04/21 07:14] Plot Tracer: http://www.cpag.org.uk/info/Povertyarticles/Poverty122/lowpaid.htm


[2011/04/21 07:14] Agripina Bernheim: Well,basically we are all facing many hours of hard work and low pay, not just tHIRD wORLD COUNTRIES


[2011/04/21 07:15] Agnes Sharple: let me give an example related to the flower industry and a discussion i had due to IWD, it seems like a lot of women are expecting their partners to give them flowers that day and other presents, this has become more and more common in my country and in Italy and Russia IWD has turned out to be a prty and present day for women, which is okey, sort of, but the ironic in this is that the roses these women expect their partners to buy them are cut by women and men in for expl Columbia and Nairobi
[2011/04/21 07:15] Agripina Bernheim: With the globalization, even stable economies are now suffering
[2011/04/21 07:15] Plot Tracer: But i feel the struggle in countries that have been stripped of their assets by Western corporations is a harder struggle against poverty. especially when you read that in some African nations, the option of prostitution is the best payer for young women.
[2011/04/21 07:16] Trill Zapatero: (
[2011/04/21 07:16] Plot Tracer: or that education is out of the question for people when they have to pay for this.
[2011/04/21 07:16] Agnes Sharple: also, in my country most production are sent out, to like eastern europe, china and other countries
[2011/04/21 07:16] Sophiekittycat Resident: africans rulers actually are the real problem for their countries
[2011/04/21 07:16] Agnes Sharple: to make it cheap for4 us to produce


[2011/04/21 07:17] Plot Tracer: we in the west have, i suppose, at least the option of education and some welfare. In many [places this is not an option
[2011/04/21 07:17] Trill Zapatero: the rulers that ally up with the west
[2011/04/21 07:17] Agnes Sharple: yes Plot
[2011/04/21 07:17] Agripina Bernheim: The rise in homeless jobless people is rising in the USA too
[2011/04/21 07:18] Chelsea Louloudi: yes trill, and easy for corps to buy
[2011/04/21 07:18] Sophiekittycat Resident: we should no more talk of the west , all is ruled by the corporations which are even from india from brazil from china, the power and problem is not western goverments it is the rule power of corporations what ever their country
[2011/04/21 07:18] Agnes Sharple: yes it is Agripina
[2011/04/21 07:18] Trill Zapatero: yeah, they're mulitnationals
[2011/04/21 07:18] Trill Zapatero: without country


[2011/04/21 07:18] Agripina Bernheim: not individual countries are so much the problem, it is the mega corporations that have the most control
[2011/04/21 07:18] Agnes Sharple: yep corporational power
[2011/04/21 07:19] Sophiekittycat Resident: at blaming always us people from teh west we give excuses to corporations, to african dictators, to chinese brazilians corporations
[2011/04/21 07:19] LolaRennt Blanco: right
[2011/04/21 07:19] Agnes Sharple: capitalism
[2011/04/21 07:19] LolaRennt Blanco: globalización
[2011/04/21 07:19] Plot Tracer: well - capital has the option of going anywhere. Money is free. Workers are not. People are restricted in movement in order to feed the corporations - in order to ensure they can be exploited.


[2011/04/21 07:19] Chelsea Louloudi: our governments are lobbied by these people...that's why we don't get listened to either.
[2011/04/21 07:19] Plot Tracer: yes chelsea
[2011/04/21 07:19] Trill Zapatero: as dissidents, in the west, though, we probably are in the best position to do something about it
[2011/04/21 07:19] Sioux Nikolaidis: the equation is easy, in my view: money=no equity
[2011/04/21 07:20] Trill Zapatero: we probably have more leisure time
[2011/04/21 07:20] Trill Zapatero: youthink?
[2011/04/21 07:20] Sophiekittycat Resident: money is a tool just a tool, the problem is not money
[2011/04/21 07:20] Sioux Nikolaidis: I understand Soph: still, can't see the use of such a tool
[2011/04/21 07:21] Sophiekittycat Resident: boycotts of bad products , promoting farms and products done in third world respecting nature and people, promoting women equality and denying children work is the solution
[2011/04/21 07:21] Sophiekittycat Resident: at still talking as the communist party 30 years ago we will continue to be useless: solution would be citizens lobbying but us we preffer to never be united


[2011/04/21 07:23] Sioux Nikolaidis: what we are facing now is over productio: we produce way more than what we are expected to absorbe... there can't be no equity in such system, in my view... we can improve, sure, but there will always be tragedies in this system, imho
[2011/04/21 07:23] Trill Zapatero: well, education is hugely important, people need to know exactly which products we buy are produced withunfair labour practices
[2011/04/21 07:23] Plot Tracer: yes Trill
[2011/04/21 07:23] Sioux Nikolaidis: I guess the problem is not in a "bad product" but in the reason why that product is produced
[2011/04/21 07:24] josjoha Resident: i disagree


[2011/04/21 07:24] LolaRennt Blanco: but is a fact, in Mexico no one wants to keep studying, they are like zombies working for the boss
[2011/04/21 07:25] Plot Tracer: Sioux- tho the system MUST change. When you read that for everyone on the earth to live as a middleclass person in the US we wold need 7 planets, you can see this cannot continue as it is anylonger. (for everyone in the world to live as a middle class scottish person we would need 4 planets - i am in scotland)
[2011/04/21 07:25] Agnes Sharple: right Plot


[2011/04/21 07:25] LolaRennt Blanco: middleclass person, it is over, at least here in Mexico
[2011/04/21 07:25] LolaRennt Blanco: is stinguissh
[2011/04/21 07:25] pixel Reanimator is Online
[2011/04/21 07:25] Sophiekittycat Resident: the system but too the way to product things, we can live as middle class on all planet but actually production is done in the dirtier and cheapest way


[2011/04/21 07:26] Sophiekittycat Resident: there is no need to come back to cave age
[2011/04/21 07:26] LolaRennt Blanco: right
[2011/04/21 07:26] Plot Tracer: social mobility has come to an end in the UK as well
[2011/04/21 07:27] josjoha Resident: the problem with a planeconomy is that it does not work for very large groups
[2011/04/21 07:27] Sioux Nikolaidis: my perception is that what's happening is a continous lowering of standards... I think soon most of the western world will settle for a job with no rights and very low income... that allows the system to never be worried about the level of resources used... it's like having nobles...
[2011/04/21 07:27] Sophiekittycat Resident: we dont need to elave an extrem for another, leaving capitalism for staline is not great
[2011/04/21 07:28] Sioux Nikolaidis: I actually think that the extreme is wanting the money, not wanting to get rid of it...
[2011/04/21 07:28] Agripina Bernheim: true but we need work together


[2011/04/21 07:28] Agripina Bernheim: Sioux is right
[2011/04/21 07:28] josjoha Resident: money is ok as a medium of exchange
[2011/04/21 07:28] Trill Zapatero: how to stop people from being greedy
[2011/04/21 07:28] Sophiekittycat Resident: the system cant continue as, workers in occident are paid less and less, work go to third world to produce cheap, but as unnemployemnt in west rise, one day the west wiill no more be able to buy what is produced
[2011/04/21 07:29] Agripina Bernheim: Money is necessary
[2011/04/21 07:29] Plot Tracer: Growth is the word the marketeers use. Sustainability is what we need to achieve... or we die.
[2011/04/21 07:29] Chelsea Louloudi: Sophie, that is just around the corner.....the way things are now isn't sustainable
[2011/04/21 07:29] Agnes Sharple: yes we need to unfuck it all pretty soon hehe
[2011/04/21 07:30] Sioux Nikolaidis: I can't see how money are necessary...
[2011/04/21 07:30] Sophiekittycat Resident: speculation, economical lobbying, politic power with less and less power are what allow market to rule and idiocy of people who think that economy is holly


[2011/04/21 07:30] Chelsea Louloudi: lol Agnes
[2011/04/21 07:30] Agripina Bernheim: Sustainability also of the environment, the food we produce, smart planning in every aspect of food growth and harvesting
[2011/04/21 07:30] josjoha Resident: sioux, when you have a swap system you rarely have exactly what the other wants
[2011/04/21 07:30] Plot Tracer: Growth (or as Dr Seuss called it, "Biggering and biggering and BIGGERING!") leads to all of the truffula trees and the eco system that relies on them, dying. this is what is happening.
[2011/04/21 07:30] Sioux Nikolaidis: I'm not considering swap
[2011/04/21 07:30] Trill Zapatero: it's some kind of hoarding mentality
[2011/04/21 07:30] josjoha Resident: money is not necessary in a small tribe of up to several hundred to thousand
[2011/04/21 07:30] Plot Tracer: lets all unfuckitup!


[2011/04/21 07:31] Trill Zapatero: some horrible fear of future lack
[2011/04/21 07:31] Trill Zapatero: unfuckitup
[2011/04/21 07:31] Agnes Sharple: :D
[2011/04/21 07:31] Plot Tracer: http://youtu.be/Sdn3O6aaMNc
[2011/04/21 07:31] Trill Zapatero: it's some huge paradign shift that we need
[2011/04/21 07:31] josjoha Resident: if anyone cares, i've worked very hard on a new system
[2011/04/21 07:32] Agnes Sharple: what kind of system Josj?
[2011/04/21 07:32] Trill Zapatero: but so many poor people and semipoor people, all believe that some day they too will be rich, so they side with the rich


[2011/04/21 07:32] Agnes Sharple: jeez
[2011/04/21 07:32] josjoha Resident: real democracy, in Government and economics
[2011/04/21 07:33] Takni Miklos is Offline
[2011/04/21 07:33] Agripina Bernheim: No I do not think that is the case
[2011/04/21 07:33] Agnes Sharple: oh interesting!
[2011/04/21 07:33] josjoha Resident: it has 4 basic points: 1. true national Government, 2. companies become democracy of labor that works there in a free market context, 3. finance is socialized (not a free market), 4. the land is distributed to each his share.
[2011/04/21 07:33] LolaRennt Blanco: if we have corruption we cannot have democracy
[2011/04/21 07:33] Agnes Sharple: hmm
[2011/04/21 07:33] Agripina Bernheim: Listen to me here, I come from germany, I was indoctinated after the war


[2011/04/21 07:33] josjoha Resident: i made a 239 laws counting Constitution for that, and made 9 roads of revolution to implement it - and i have it right here of course in a 58 page SL book
[2011/04/21 07:33] josjoha Resident: just saying, that's all
[2011/04/21 07:34] Sophiekittycat Resident: democracy works only if people are nort egoist and are educated, true democracy is perhaps the worst system if people are not educated,
[2011/04/21 07:34] Trill Zapatero: cool
[2011/04/21 07:34] Plot Tracer: cool. pass that on to me jos - perhaps we can use it as the basis for another discussion another time :)
[2011/04/21 07:34] Agripina Bernheim: If people have no jobs, no food to feed their family, they could not care less about governemnt, they will follow someone who promises them a living
[2011/04/21 07:34] Chelsea Louloudi: jos...free trade or fair trade?
[2011/04/21 07:34] josjoha Resident: ty trill
[2011/04/21 07:34] josjoha Resident: okay
[2011/04/21 07:34] Agripina Bernheim: that is all that matters at that moment
[2011/04/21 07:34] Agnes Sharple: yes Agripina
[2011/04/21 07:34] josjoha Resident: fair trade is the ideal but it can't be forced so in legal terms its free trade


[2011/04/21 07:35] josjoha Resident: BUT not in land, high finance, company ownership or land
[2011/04/21 07:35] Sophiekittycat Resident: democracy as defined by benjamin franklin it is two wolves and a lamb deciding what it will be at dinner
[2011/04/21 07:35] josjoha Resident: neither in slavery (but we largely have that already as a law)
[2011/04/21 07:35] Agripina Bernheim: when you have your child dying in your arms from lack of food or disease and no money
[2011/04/21 07:35] josjoha Resident: Benjamin was wrong
[2011/04/21 07:35] josjoha Resident: democracy is 2 sheep voting to lock up the wolve
[2011/04/21 07:35] Sophiekittycat Resident: he was right , people are not generous, most are not educated, most are egoists


[2011/04/21 07:35] Chelsea Louloudi: then, I don't see anything different. free trade is US dumping corn in Mexico as we speak
[2011/04/21 07:36] Sophiekittycat Resident: and a lot are racist
[2011/04/21 07:36] josjoha Resident: if tehy are egoists they'll live in badly run nations according to what they deserve
[2011/04/21 07:36] LolaRennt Blanco: right
[2011/04/21 07:36] Trill Zapatero: why are humans so horrible
[2011/04/21 07:36] Agripina Bernheim: look at us in SL what we learn here we need to take outside of here and live it
[2011/04/21 07:36] Agripina Bernheim: it can be done slowly
[2011/04/21 07:37] Sioux Nikolaidis: I don't think humans are horrible: I think what's horrible is the society produced by our system
[2011/04/21 07:37] josjoha Resident: humans are horrible because their instinct falsely tells them war is survival, because that's what monkeys have to do
[2011/04/21 07:37] LolaRennt Blanco: be right back, I need a meicine


[2011/04/21 07:37] Agripina Bernheim: War is not survival
[2011/04/21 07:37] LolaRennt Blanco: medicine*
[2011/04/21 07:37] Sophiekittycat Resident: because too smart greedy people lead too often uneducated egoist ones to war to misery
[2011/04/21 07:37] Chelsea Louloudi: jos, ordinary people have no say in wars
[2011/04/21 07:37] josjoha Resident: war is extinction
[2011/04/21 07:37] Agnes Sharple: i think humans are horrible because they consider themselfs masters of the world, the upper sivilized creatures
[2011/04/21 07:38] josjoha Resident: i also mean simple wars like backstabbing at teh office
[2011/04/21 07:38] josjoha Resident gave you Revolution and Reform.
[2011/04/21 07:38] Agripina Bernheim: I know, but that is a choice, an upbringing
[2011/04/21 07:38] Trill Zapatero: so how do we like get past the fear and fight mentality?


[2011/04/21 07:38] Agripina Bernheim: when parents raise their children right it makes a difference
[2011/04/21 07:39] Sioux Nikolaidis: again, I think wars and atrocities are produced by the system, not inherently built-into men...
[2011/04/21 07:39] Sophiekittycat Resident: education, and a state with rules to protect minority, rules to control economy but allow people freedom to do and think, republique is better than democracy
[2011/04/21 07:39] Agnes Sharple: noty only that, education is a key and so is the society
[2011/04/21 07:39] josjoha Resident: the system allows a ruling class to emerge
[2011/04/21 07:39] josjoha Resident: and that class then produces wars and moral degradation imho
[2011/04/21 07:39] Agripina Bernheim: but when parents are too worn out from work and daily drudge it becomes harder to do the right thing in raising kids and and setting the right example
[2011/04/21 07:40] Sophiekittycat Resident: there will be always a rulling class, the need is to prevent the ruling class to own all
[2011/04/21 07:40] josjoha Resident: i don't think education is key
[2011/04/21 07:40] Trill Zapatero: no?
[2011/04/21 07:40] Agnes Sharple: why not?
[2011/04/21 07:40] Agripina Bernheim: It all has to work together, education, parenting, gowernment
[2011/04/21 07:40] josjoha Resident: what do you want to educate them in ? i'd say a little knowledge about how things work is enough


[2011/04/21 07:41] Agnes Sharple: really?
[2011/04/21 07:41] Sioux Nikolaidis: I think that we still think in terms of "power structures": we know for CERTAIN that there is corruption wherever ther is power.. .simply, we have to get rid of those structures...
[2011/04/21 07:41] Agripina Bernheim: education without morals does not work
[2011/04/21 07:41] Trill Zapatero: yeah but they need to believe you
[2011/04/21 07:41] josjoha Resident: i think power-ditsribution is the key
[2011/04/21 07:41] Celia Bedrosian: education is step 2, and therefore not the 'key' imo
[2011/04/21 07:41] Trill Zapatero: motivation
[2011/04/21 07:41] Agnes Sharple: fuck power
[2011/04/21 07:41] josjoha Resident: i agree Sioux, we get rid of them by replacing them with something that works
[2011/04/21 07:42] Agripina Bernheim: motivation has to have a basis
[2011/04/21 07:42] Agnes Sharple: hi*


[2011/04/21 07:42] Agripina Bernheim: why work yourself to death for someone else
[2011/04/21 07:42] Plot Tracer: Agnes -I so agree about Education. But in the west, education is slowly being taken from the working class. the ruling class, I think, have feared the rise of the educated working class and they are in the process of attacking it. There is nothing more dangerous than an educated large working/underclass (i hate that word)
[2011/04/21 07:42] Sophiekittycat Resident: power distribution cant eb done without education
[2011/04/21 07:42] Agripina Bernheim: right
[2011/04/21 07:42] josjoha Resident: compared to 150 years ago, we're all highly educated now already, so we should now be able to use that and fix things
[2011/04/21 07:42] Plot Tracer: i dont agree jo
[2011/04/21 07:43] Sophiekittycat Resident: education is the most important thing, if you give power to idiots or give to smart people to rule idiots it change nothing
[2011/04/21 07:43] Celia Bedrosian: i agree, josjoha


[2011/04/21 07:43] josjoha Resident: and we have spare time & resources - past generations fought for that and now we have it it's now up to us to make it
[2011/04/21 07:43] Agnes Sharple: one can never be too educated
[2011/04/21 07:43] Chelsea Louloudi: we're also highly propagandised
[2011/04/21 07:43] Sophiekittycat Resident: most population education is to know how to write and to do numbers i dont call it education,


[2011/04/21 07:43] Agnes Sharple: but one also needs practical experience of course
[2011/04/21 07:43] Agripina Bernheim: We are not that educated when compared to amount of technology out there we need to know
[2011/04/21 07:43] josjoha Resident: i believe its perfectly fine if teh ppl want to make idiots have power, as long as they can take that power away again any moment etc
[2011/04/21 07:43] josjoha Resident: the ppl's right to make mistakes
[2011/04/21 07:43] Sophiekittycat Resident: true education is to know how to think on society to know history and things that make our world to be what it is
[2011/04/21 07:44] Plot Tracer: I think our education system is churning out "workers". Look at the emphasis on economics and degrees like accountancy? And the attack on the arts and "critical thinking" qualifications. the fear of the right and the rich is that the workers learn to think.
[2011/04/21 07:44] Sophiekittycat Resident: to just know to read is not great education, to know to think is another education


[2011/04/21 07:44] Plot Tracer: education sooo much is focussed on facts. not teaching how to think
[2011/04/21 07:44] Agripina Bernheim: Sophie you are so right
[2011/04/21 07:44] Plot Tracer: yes sophie
[2011/04/21 07:44] Sioux Nikolaidis: sorry afk for a while
[2011/04/21 07:44] josjoha Resident: i'm afraid you want to 'teach' ppl to be 'moral' but i don't think that's either possible or desireable
[2011/04/21 07:45] Agripina Bernheim: yes it is possible


[2011/04/21 07:45] josjoha Resident: ppl who want to be evil make that choice and we're at war with them, simple
[2011/04/21 07:45] Sophiekittycat Resident: not desirable ? what do you want an elite ruling robots workers ?
[2011/04/21 07:45] Sophiekittycat Resident: who is being evil ?
[2011/04/21 07:45] josjoha Resident: no i fear that 'teaching system' will be that ruling elite
[2011/04/21 07:45] Agripina Bernheim: It takes time to teach morals and survival sklills as well as the ability to think
[2011/04/21 07:45] Sophiekittycat Resident: sorry evil is different depnding of our cultures
[2011/04/21 07:45] Agnes Sharple: a dramatic change is needed in our educational model and i think we should spend a lot of efford and money on that, to make the coming generations grow up to be smarter and more wise than us, hopefullt, i think its absolutely possible
[2011/04/21 07:45] Agripina Bernheim: but without thosde we have chaos


[2011/04/21 07:45] Sophiekittycat Resident: in usa a slipping nipple is evil, in europe to have guns is evil
[2011/04/21 07:46] Sophiekittycat Resident: what is evil ?

[2011/04/21 07:46] Sophiekittycat Resident: in arabia saudia a thinking woman is evil

[2011/04/21 07:46] josjoha Resident: i think all we need is academia doing its job on how economics works, and that should yield the rational system which is the best ppl can do now
[2011/04/21 07:46] Agnes Sharple: i think its more important to teach ppl empathy :)
[2011/04/21 07:47] Sophiekittycat Resident: people at service of economy ? a giant corporation state with only goal economy ?
[2011/04/21 07:47] josjoha Resident: but they don't do their job so its up to us
[2011/04/21 07:47] Trill Zapatero: yes
[2011/04/21 07:47] Trill Zapatero: how do you teach empathy
[2011/04/21 07:47] Trill Zapatero: gawd
[2011/04/21 07:47] Trill Zapatero: enpathology

[2011/04/21 07:47] LolaRennt Blanco: :D
[2011/04/21 07:47] Plot Tracer: well
[2011/04/21 07:47] josjoha Resident: it's all quite complex in my opinion, and therefore we're not easily going to get somewhere
[2011/04/21 07:47] Agripina Bernheim: thaT IS EASY
[2011/04/21 07:48] Plot Tracer: one of the huge things that imho leads to acceptance of violence towards each other is the simple example of hitting kids.
[2011/04/21 07:48] Trill Zapatero: get a degree and career in empathology
[2011/04/21 07:48] Agnes Sharple: and no more teaching in religion, instead theyll have philosophy and etics

[2011/04/21 07:48] Agnes Sharple: yay Trill!
[2011/04/21 07:49] Agripina Bernheim: IF YOU TEACH A CHILD TO EXPRESS WHAT THEY WOULD FEEL IN DIFFERENT CIRCUMSTANCES AND THEN EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT SOMEONE ELSE FEELS THAT TOO WHEN THIS HAPPENS
[2011/04/21 07:49] Trill Zapatero: religion usualy sucks
[2011/04/21 07:49] josjoha Resident: and the wars the bosses wage causes violence down the pyramid of this failed society
[2011/04/21 07:49] Celia Bedrosian: i agree Agnes
[2011/04/21 07:49] Sophiekittycat Resident: agnes which ethic ? which philosophy is then respectable ? european american asian ?

[2011/04/21 07:49] Keithunder Graves is Online
[2011/04/21 07:49] josjoha Resident: there is a lot to improve in the system, for example denying politicians the right to lie
[2011/04/21 07:49] Trill Zapatero: how do you get people to stop wanting to stick their head in the sand
[2011/04/21 07:49] Sophiekittycat Resident: if we begin to say what is good what is evil we became dictators we create 1984 of georges orwell or a best world of aldous huxley
[2011/04/21 07:49] josjoha Resident: once you improve the system the individuals also improve - directly improving individuals is always being tried and its very hard
[2011/04/21 07:50] Plot Tracer: the weakest and most susceptible impressionable people in our society are hit if they do the "wrong thing." how fucked up is that? what does that seem to a kids mind? "To make me conform i must be hit."
[2011/04/21 07:50] Trill Zapatero: I'm hoping change comes from the ground up


[2011/04/21 07:50] josjoha Resident: how do you stop a politician from lying: passing laws against that, etc - shouldn't even be too hard ?
[2011/04/21 07:50] Trill Zapatero: there's more hope down here at the bottom, more natural motivation
[2011/04/21 07:50] Plot Tracer: Do you think a loved child could have tortured those people in Abu Ghraib?
[2011/04/21 07:50] josjoha Resident: not keeping promises i mean (caling that lying)
[2011/04/21 07:50] Agnes Sharple: "freedom is not worth having if it doesnt include the freedom to make mistakes"


[2011/04/21 07:50] Trill Zapatero: goooooooood point
[2011/04/21 07:50] Agnes Sharple: who said that actually? gandhi?
[2011/04/21 07:50] Agripina Bernheim: NO i DO NOT
[2011/04/21 07:50] Agripina Bernheim: sorry caps
[2011/04/21 07:51] Plot Tracer: yes agnes


[2011/04/21 07:51] Sophiekittycat Resident: how we stop politicians to be bad, by having citizens who know when to vote when to say no, to not vote again for a politician who failed, we need educated citizens,
[2011/04/21 07:51] Trill Zapatero: so 'love' is the answer
[2011/04/21 07:51] Sophiekittycat Resident: if we have bad politicians it is that we have bad citizens


[2011/04/21 07:51] Trill Zapatero: I totally believe that, if there is an answer it' just that
[2011/04/21 07:51] Agripina Bernheim: a big part of the answer
[2011/04/21 07:51] josjoha Resident: sophie, how about a system where you don't vote with millions for one, but with only 50 for 1 ?
[2011/04/21 07:51] josjoha Resident: so that you really know your delegate ?
[2011/04/21 07:51] Sophiekittycat Resident: we have the politicians we elected, we are the guilty ones


[2011/04/21 07:52] Agnes Sharple: no, we dont really have the politicians we elected
[2011/04/21 07:52] josjoha Resident: and you can replace that delegate any moment, through proper procedure ?
[2011/04/21 07:52] Sophiekittycat Resident: what do you mean 50 rich who vote for a richer ?
[2011/04/21 07:52] Chelsea Louloudi: plot, torturers are usually control freaks from childhood ..... quite likely threatening their parents..not the other way around
[2011/04/21 07:52] Trill Zapatero: I read somewhere that we have more vote power when we go shopping


[2011/04/21 07:52] Trill Zapatero: how we shop
[2011/04/21 07:52] josjoha Resident: sophie, why do you think i mean rich ? of course not
[2011/04/21 07:52] Agnes Sharple: jeez Trill, that is sooo sad
[2011/04/21 07:52] Agnes Sharple: that is fucked up!
[2011/04/21 07:52] Trill Zapatero: well, not really
[2011/04/21 07:52] josjoha Resident: power of shopping is great
[2011/04/21 07:53] Agnes Sharple: it is?
[2011/04/21 07:53] josjoha Resident: how ppl shop shows they want bad things, then again it's hard to know everything about what you buy
[2011/04/21 07:53] Trill Zapatero: sorry, I have zero faith in political systems
[2011/04/21 07:53] LolaRennt Blanco: so do I
[2011/04/21 07:53] Sophiekittycat Resident: if it is to replace economical dictature by a mind dictature , better to stop to live :)
[2011/04/21 07:53] josjoha Resident: so then we live without law ?
[2011/04/21 07:53] Sophiekittycat Resident: political systems are our creations we vote if we vote bad is our fault
[2011/04/21 07:54] josjoha Resident: without communication & any common decisions ?
[2011/04/21 07:54] Trill Zapatero: but what are our options in elections
[2011/04/21 07:54] Trill Zapatero: I mean who are those freaks they give us to vote for
[2011/04/21 07:54] Sophiekittycat Resident: we need laws of course we need rules but we will not go from an extrem to an other


[2011/04/21 07:54] LolaRennt Blanco: freaks
[2011/04/21 07:54] josjoha Resident: that's why i'm asking: why not vote with 50 persons
[2011/04/21 07:54] Sophiekittycat Resident: in france we got the terror once, trust me once was enougth
[2011/04/21 07:54] josjoha Resident: not in the entire nation of course, but ten of thousands of groups of 50
[2011/04/21 07:54] Sophiekittycat Resident: who are theses 50 ?
[2011/04/21 07:55] josjoha Resident: you
[2011/04/21 07:55] josjoha Resident: here we are with about 15 ? so we need 35 more
[2011/04/21 07:55] Sophiekittycat Resident: i dont understand what you eman joshua sorry my english is bad
[2011/04/21 07:55] josjoha Resident: this way about 1% of the population becomes a delegate
[2011/04/21 07:55] Sophiekittycat Resident: mean oops
[2011/04/21 07:56] josjoha Resident: form a group with 50 in your street or what you like, elect someone to run the election, elect a delegate
[2011/04/21 07:56] josjoha Resident: these delegates form councils


[2011/04/21 07:56] Agnes Sharple: ah
[2011/04/21 07:56] Sophiekittycat Resident: dictature of the mass ? impossibility to do decisions, people talking on subjects they dont know? and when a mass vote usually it is never with morality and ethic
[2011/04/21 07:56] josjoha Resident: and to form larger councils they re-group and elect someone per delegates-group; that works up to the national government
[2011/04/21 07:56] Sophiekittycat Resident: sucha system without people with morality of angel and education , it will be an hell
[2011/04/21 07:57] josjoha Resident: then it's hell the nation deserves
[2011/04/21 07:57] josjoha Resident: your argument is the same as themonarchist used
[2011/04/21 07:57] josjoha Resident: 'we need the wise men in power, who are also rich, and they will make the wise decinions for the ignorant masses'
[2011/04/21 07:57] Sophiekittycat Resident: i am atenant of republic system, a contract between nation and citizens


[2011/04/21 07:57] josjoha Resident: i say let the masses make ignorant decisions that's fine, if its wrong they'll learn a lot
[2011/04/21 07:58] Sophiekittycat Resident: the day we will focus on educating people we will have achance
[2011/04/21 07:58] josjoha Resident: and the masses will appoint delegates who will be primarily involved, so that's already a 1% of the ppl rather then 100% about every detail
[2011/04/21 07:58] josjoha Resident: educate them in what ?
[2011/04/21 07:59] josjoha Resident: note how things are lots better then 150 years ago, because of democracy
[2011/04/21 07:59] josjoha Resident: bu it needs to be a lot better still, so we need even better democracy
[2011/04/21 07:59] Agnes Sharple: to grow up and be responsible reasonable councious ppl :)
[2011/04/21 07:59] Sophiekittycat Resident: in being citizens not just people who need their tv show


[2011/04/21 07:59] Agnes Sharple: and to respect and love others
[2011/04/21 08:00] Sophiekittycat Resident: agnes it is perhaps too much to ask to someone,
[2011/04/21 08:00] Sophiekittycat Resident: ;)
[2011/04/21 08:00] Trill Zapatero: well love is kind of contagious I think
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: it's the kind of thing that could be a grassroots movement
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: like a secret society
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: underground love movement
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: hahaha
[2011/04/21 08:01] Agnes Sharple: :))
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: fuck I'm hoaky
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: woo
[2011/04/21 08:01] Trill Zapatero: Imean it though
[2011/04/21 08:01] Agnes Sharple: unfuck :P

[2011/04/21 08:01] Eupalinos Ugajin: hmm I was abused so... someone sold me this as an Ubik spray can
[2011/04/21 08:02] Trill Zapatero: what's a Ubik spray can?

[2011/04/21 08:02] Kanomi Pikajuna: Philip K. Dick item :)
[2011/04/21 08:03] Sophiekittycat Resident: if it is from k dick mind it is then scary, i know ubik book
[2011/04/21 08:03] Eupalinos Ugajin: must read book :)

[2011/04/21 08:03] josjoha Resident: we can wait & do nothing, but WW3 is coming so better get active already ... i'm afraid the ruling class will organize WW3 to get rid of all democracy and rights
[2011/04/21 08:03] Plot Tracer: ok - back to the topic. what about exploitation - what can we as INDIVIDUALS do about low paid and exploited workers where-ever they are?
[2011/04/21 08:03] Sophiekittycat Resident: i dont want to touch the spray can
[2011/04/21 08:03] Agnes Sharple: oh well
[2011/04/21 08:04] Trill Zapatero: stop buying stuff
[2011/04/21 08:04] Trill Zapatero: for one
[2011/04/21 08:04] Sophiekittycat Resident: as individuals,, we can promote boycotts of products coming from exploitation, we can do protestation votes at elections,
[2011/04/21 08:04] Sophiekittycat Resident: we can be true citizens
[2011/04/21 08:04] josjoha Resident: the exploited people will have to organize, overthrow who is against them with arms, install a better system
[2011/04/21 08:04] Agnes Sharple: I`m not sure what to do, i mean by boycotting stuff, the workers will have no work at all


[2011/04/21 08:04] josjoha Resident: as individuals we can show them how that could be done
[2011/04/21 08:04] Celia Bedrosian: it's all not enough
[2011/04/21 08:05] Agripina Bernheim: I am sorry but I shall have to leave
[2011/04/21 08:05] Celia Bedrosian: take care Agripina
[2011/04/21 08:05] Chelsea Louloudi: jos, what arms? rocks?
[2011/04/21 08:05] Agnes Sharple: bye Agripina! great to see you:)
[2011/04/21 08:05] LolaRennt Blanco: bye Agripina
[2011/04/21 08:05] Sophiekittycat Resident: agnes they will suffer the time of the boycotts as workers suffer while a strike, but if we can make that they have better life , isnt it worth it ?
[2011/04/21 08:05] josjoha Resident: sophie i agree and we can pass laws to have a tarrif on goods/services that where made under unacceptable conditions
[2011/04/21 08:05] Chelsea Louloudi: however people in places like Bolivia have shown it can be done...they rise up often


[2011/04/21 08:06] josjoha Resident: if you rise up properly you've a high chance much of the military & police is already on your side
[2011/04/21 08:06] Agnes Sharple: yes of course, but im not sure a boicott is the right thing, it can be, but idk really
[2011/04/21 08:06] josjoha Resident: if not, we the people have near endless bodies
[2011/04/21 08:06] Sophiekittycat Resident: as citizens we can post on the net in medias each time it is possible proofs that a product is done by exploitation
[2011/04/21 08:06] Plot Tracer: yes agnes - boycotts sometimes hit the poor and vulnerable the hardest... but- perhaps boycotts also ensures labour goes to industries and services that are valuable? perhaps it is about values? who buys "Hello or OK" magazines? who pays Murdoch for their TV and internet to have the detritus of consumerism thrown back at them to make them envy and think they need the latest i-eggtimer?
[2011/04/21 08:06] Sophiekittycat Resident: we need to do all that companies using exploitation end with a terrible image
[2011/04/21 08:07] Trill Zapatero: yes


[2011/04/21 08:07] josjoha Resident: the problem is that those who do use slave products will therefore be stronger, so boycotting is probably not going to be enough
[2011/04/21 08:07] Agnes Sharple: yes
[2011/04/21 08:07] Sophiekittycat Resident: a wikileaks of bad corporations is needed
[2011/04/21 08:07] josjoha Resident: they're all dictatorial
[2011/04/21 08:07] josjoha Resident: so as far as i'm concerned you could list them all
[2011/04/21 08:08] LolaRennt Blanco: resorteras
[2011/04/21 08:08] Trill Zapatero: we have this rundown walmart at four bridges
[2011/04/21 08:08] josjoha Resident: but it's a good thing, fair trade
[2011/04/21 08:08] Sophiekittycat Resident: listinga ll is useless you begin to list the worst and when a worst have to be better you can then list the next


[2011/04/21 08:08] Trill Zapatero: there's a big huge tree busting up through the concrete
[2011/04/21 08:08] josjoha Resident: sophie, i agree
[2011/04/21 08:08] Agnes Sharple: in my town a lot of workers have lost their jobs the last 20 years due to production set in eastern europe and china, cause its cheaper
[2011/04/21 08:08] Trill Zapatero: I mean, for us, SL is kinda our forum for the time being
[2011/04/21 08:09] Trill Zapatero: might as well do something about it
[2011/04/21 08:09] Agnes Sharple: yes Trill, use it for all its worth:))
[2011/04/21 08:10] josjoha Resident: in my system its already worked out, but we need to: 1. do fair trade individually, 2. form investment funds that invest in democratic companies, 3. form political parties about 10 per nation (usa:per state) ... and form 50 person voter groups, and - where needed/possible - form a resistance army


[2011/04/21 08:10] josjoha Resident: in some nations with active tyranny (such as China) we may needto organize a cell resistance
[2011/04/21 08:11] Plot Tracer: ok - as always... can we wrap up with a sentence each? how do we ensure our neighbour is not oppressed and exploited?
[2011/04/21 08:11] josjoha Resident: already its too late but we can do what we can
[2011/04/21 08:12] Sophiekittycat Resident: i preffer first to try by ghandi way
[2011/04/21 08:12] Agnes Sharple: me too Sophie
[2011/04/21 08:12] josjoha Resident: of course, because that will yield us public credibility
[2011/04/21 08:13] josjoha Resident: with that we could already win politically and through constructive setup of a new state model
[2011/04/21 08:13] Agnes Sharple: well, we can stop consuming and encourahe others to think a little more about what they actually do by consuming


[2011/04/21 08:13] Sophiekittycat Resident: we can as a mass change things if we realize that we can, but actually we always hear than one vote one people can change nothing but we are millions we need to unite
[2011/04/21 08:14] Trill Zapatero: yeah, we gotta look at our own greediness
[2011/04/21 08:14] Trill Zapatero: and be nice
[2011/04/21 08:14] Celia Bedrosian: Will that work?
[2011/04/21 08:14] Sophiekittycat Resident: we can win without too much blood if we act as citizens
[2011/04/21 08:14] josjoha Resident: i'm against uniting with too many people
[2011/04/21 08:14] Agnes Sharple: yes Sophie and thats why these discussions are so great!:))
[2011/04/21 08:14] Trill Zapatero: gotta start somewhere
[2011/04/21 08:14] josjoha Resident: because that will corrupt easily
[2011/04/21 08:14] Plot Tracer: yes - i agree. my last sentence than is, let us think about what we need and what we buy - bread and roses does not mean feeding every whim.
[2011/04/21 08:15] Sophiekittycat Resident: and a bloody revolution cant be corrupted look at what happened to russian revolution ? to the numerous revolutions in africa in south america
[2011/04/21 08:15] josjoha Resident: my last sentence is: get my plan, learn economics objectively, and go do it or face total chaos.


[2011/04/21 08:15] Sophiekittycat Resident: look at the terror state that followed french revolution
[2011/04/21 08:15] Sophiekittycat Resident: look at cromwell in english revolution
[2011/04/21 08:15] josjoha Resident: your criticism is off base because my revolution system is different to say the least


[2011/04/21 08:16] josjoha Resident: the feudal system was disgusting and its great the FRench detsroyed that
[2011/04/21 08:16] Agnes Sharple: lets think about what we actually need and what we really do not need :)



[2011/04/21 08:16] Agnes Sharple: thanks everybody for coming:))
[2011/04/21 08:18] josjoha Resident: once the third world war is on, it's too late to think calmly about complex issues, i wish ppl would use the remaining time
[2011/04/21 08:19] josjoha Resident: bye
[2011/04/21 08:19] josjoha Resident: i'm going, train for the combat that will come because ppl do nothing

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Friday 22 April 2011

Recent Posts Menu

SLACTIVIST DIARY HERE

SLLU FN - The Unqueering of SL by Scylla Rhiadra- HERE

"Just that?" by Millay Freschi - HERE

RAWA on Metaverse Arts (Featuring Trill Zapatero) - HERE

Discussion on Immigration April 2011 HERE

Discussion on Austerity Measures HERE

Questions about SLLU- HERE

Sl Left unity Monday discussion 28th March 2011 - The Economic Crisis and the Austerity Measures - who should pay?  HERE

SL Left Unity discussion 21st March 2011 "Nukes and Energy" HERE

Plot's Conversations:
With Ilsa Hesse on socialism etc HERE

With Agnes Sharple on "a place for Left discussionHERE

SL Left Unity discussion 14th March 2011 "Left response to a No fly zone" HERE

SLLU PODCAST HERE

Protests and hard questions for the President of the World Bank - HERE

KIDZ - video by Sophia Rossen HERE

LEFT BANKER on making the rich pay! - HERE

"Speak to me your song of greed," Redzone and the Economics of Fear - Scylla Rhiadra - HERE

Scylla's follow up article -Son of Redzone: How to Protect Your Privacy, Why You Still NEED to Protect It, and Why the Landed Gentry Are So Annoyed at You.  HERE

SPOOKS IN SECOND LIFE - Private Security Contractor Pitched Second LifePsyOps Campaign to US Military by Kanomi-   HERE

Anti-Austerity measures MEETING ON MONDAY 28th Feb HERE

Demonstration in support of the people of Libya - HERE

Find your way around our parcels - HERE

Help needed - HERE

What's to be done about Unity (Station)? Plot Tracer - HERE

Proposal for SLUncut - HERE

On SL Marxists, Networks and Platforms - Plot Tracer - HERE

Tempests, Teapots, Death Threats and Commie Parasites by Scylla Rhiadra HERE

Anonymous Revolution Online HERE

SLLU CHARTER, AIMS AND PRINCPLES - HERE

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Discussion on immigration

Sorry on the late posting of this chatlog. From Tuesday 12th April.

Present: Trill Zapatero; Agnes S.; junivers Stockholm; Anon1; Violet ; Templeton Tigerpaw; tutsy Navarathna; Ernest Genesis; Mirabella Seda; Starshine;

[09:06] junivers Stockholm: normally i cant come to these meetings. Its too early for me
[09:06] Agnes S. : idk if you both saw the link i sent out yesterday about the iranian man who died in Amsterdam last week?
[09:06] Agnes S. : ooh, is this a good time for you then?
[09:06] Anon1: i read that
[09:07] Anon1: would that change anything, like policy
[09:07] Agnes S. : http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/netherlands-failed-help-self-immolation-victim

[09:07] junivers Stockholm: this is still a bit too early for me - but its way better that 3am i think it was before
[09:07] Anon1: altho any way, there is huge population of poverty in the world, would be not realistic if all solved by immigration to richer places
[09:07] Agnes S. : good junivers :)
[09:08] Agnes S. : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Md5LlI1f6tc
[09:08] Anon1: so probably nothing is going to change, would be as usual....or perhaps

[09:08] Anon1: perhaps in the future the immigrants who cant feed themselves would be excluded from entering totally
[09:08] Anon1: so suicide only happens outside neitherland
[09:09] Anon1: in iran, not there in neitherland lol
[09:09] Agnes S. : im not sure immigration is the idea for solving poverty either, but there are so many ppl living in hiding as illegal citizens and immigrants all over europe
[09:09] Anon1: yes

[09:09] Agnes S. : and we have the most rigid immigration policy ever now
[09:09] junivers Stockholm: i dont agree kiki - 1. everyone was expecting a break down of germany when they took on east germany

[09:10] Anon1: if they are excludeed from entering, then they can only suicide in their homelad, not in europe
[09:10] junivers Stockholm: but it did work in the long run
[09:10] Anon1: so no news any more lol
[09:10] Agnes S. : thing is a lot of immigrants waits and waits and waits for years for their application to be treated

[09:10] Agnes S. : hi Violet
[09:10] Anon1: oh
[09:10] Violet: Hi :)
[09:10] Agnes S. : Kiki? This man would have been killed if sent home
[09:11] junivers Stockholm: i dont belive in nations anyway so the word immigrant is not relevant to me

[09:11] Agnes S. : nobody is illegal, thats my view
[09:11] Trill Zapatero: we're all immigrants

[09:11] Anon1: yes loads of ppl are starving the death on daily basis on other parts of the world , huge population....and border control makes sure they dont go to europe or US or etc to make a living , so we cant see them. only if they happen to enter illigally, then the death makes news

[09:11] Anon1: otherwise there wont be any news
[09:12] Anon1: nobody cares
[09:12] Trill Zapatero: somewhere in our background
[09:12] Anon1: starved to death/stoned to deaths....and whatever just not in europe lol

[09:12] Agnes S. : right Kiki
[09:13] Agnes S. : also, in Norway recently The 19 year old iranian refugee Rahim Rostami was, on february 19. forced to return to Iran by norwegian police. There he was, immediately imprisoned in the notorious Evian prison accused of having carried out actions against "national security"

[09:13] junivers Stockholm: well our leaders WANTS immigrants - they one with education, and those people the leaders use to get lower wages for thet people
[09:13] junivers Stockholm: people that need help (immagrants) are not welcome
[09:13] Agnes S. : hah yes

[09:13] junivers Stockholm: solidarity is totally gone
[09:13] Trill Zapatero: but then they spend money on weapons
[09:13] Anon1: yes immigrants who can contribute to the economy are welcomed
[09:14] junivers Stockholm: right trill
[09:14] Anon1: immigrats who have to get help instead of helping are otherwise
[09:14] Trill Zapatero: and often they agress on the very countries that the immigrants come from

[09:14] Trill Zapatero: of course to liberate them
[09:15] junivers Stockholm: well the bad thing kiki is that people are loosing jobs because of immigrants that take jobs for lower wages(iblame politicians NOT the immigrants)=
[09:15] Trill Zapatero: but often the jobs are ones that nobody wants anyway
[09:16] junivers Stockholm: not really trill - we "import a lot of doctors for instance
[09:16] Anon1: then immigrants can get it
[09:16] Agnes S. : yes and because immigrants often are willing to take whatever job they can, the exploitation of them continues

[09:16] Anon1: labour market test.....immigrants can only take jobs if the job is advertised in specified media for several weeks, and no EU citizens apply for it
[09:16] Anon1: that is for work visa procedure in most countries in europe
[09:17] Anon1: also there are defined fields and requirement on salary in addition to that labour market test
[09:17] Agnes S. : hi Templeton

[09:17] Trill Zapatero: well, in Canada, we hire immigrant doctors because many of our doctors go to the states when they graduate
[09:17] Violet: Hi Temp
[09:17] Anon1: yes, high educated ppl, like researchers too, in difficult fields that no local person wants to take
[09:18] junivers Stockholm: i dont know the rules kiki, but i´ve had a lot of problems with my lungs and my doctors (different every time) has to 30-40% been "immigrants"
[09:18] Anon1: i see

[09:19] Anon1: any way i dont think poverty of the world can be solved by immigration
[09:19] junivers Stockholm: so "immigrants" are good when politician needs them (mostly to press down wages, and in good times we want to thou them out
[09:19] Anon1: global development issue is very compex problem to deal with
[09:19] Agnes S. : it sure is
[09:19] Anon1: if immmigrants can work in fields that nobody in europe wants to work in, and they contibute a lot to the economy
[09:20] Anon1: then yes
[09:20] junivers Stockholm: it was complex to send spaceship to the moon, but we did it. It would be MUCH more easy to erase starvation, but we dont
[09:20] junivers Stockholm: why?
[09:20] Agnes S. : good question junivers
[09:20] Trill Zapatero: yeah why?

[09:20] Anon1: if we focus on the good of the world population, then it is global development issue

[09:21] Anon1: if we focus on europe alone, then it is about border control, what kind of ppl to import, what kind to be excluded so they only suicide in home land, not i here
[09:21] Agnes S. : so theyll get killed in their homeland as well
[09:22] Anon1: right
[09:22] Agnes S. : recently, theres a lot happening in Lampedusa, with libyan refugees
[09:22] Anon1: such is life
[09:22] junivers Stockholm: if we do things in solidarity EVRYONE can get a better life
[09:22] junivers Stockholm: haha kiki - life is what me make of it
[09:23] Anon1: so many ppl are persecuted like, criminals of consicience, e.g. so many of them , in their home land, as long as they dont make their way here yet
[09:24] Anon1: so....what can be done....any policy to be changed?
[09:24] Agnes S. : all policy to be changed i think
[09:24] Anon1: i completely understand the border control policy tho....it has to be like that, its natural

[09:24] junivers Stockholm: in my view its a change of our culture - update humans to homo sapiens V2 - media is one of the important keys
[09:25] Templeton Tigerpaw: Nonsense, countries are an atavism
[09:25] Anon1: btw i hold a chinese passport mmyself , residing in europe atm.....the labour maket test requirement for work visa, and since work visa holders have loads of restrains in benefits, staying period etc.......but i completely understand the policies....they have to do this
[09:26] Templeton Tigerpaw: Borders are a relic from the time when people were owned by people.
[09:26] Violet: I don't know what can be changed. A lot of it is inappropriate tribal thinking; confusing your nation with your tribe, and viewing the world in terms of insiders and outsiders.
[09:26] junivers Stockholm: right temp

[09:26] Agnes S. : yes Violet

[09:27] junivers Stockholm: we´ve been pushed to compete in every way
[09:27] Trill Zapatero: it's absurd for humans to think they can own a piece of the planet
[09:27] junivers Stockholm: agree trill
[09:27] Templeton Tigerpaw: It's time to completely abolish all borders. What difference is there between going from one city in a country to another to going from one country to another? The only thing that makes a difference is the power structure.
[09:27] Agnes S. : but they do and thats our biggest problem today i think
[09:28] Anon1: aww i wish you are my visa officers, and give me a greencard here straight away now ;p seriously

[09:28] Anon1: jk

[09:28] Violet: hehe Kiki
[09:28] junivers Stockholm: temp... its also about resources of course
[09:28] Templeton Tigerpaw: Why a green card? Why any card?
[09:28] junivers Stockholm: give all land back to nature ! :)
[09:28] Templeton Tigerpaw: Most resources are owned transnationally, anyway
[09:29] junivers Stockholm: right temp - in that respect its ok to give a damn about borders (nation borders)

[09:29] Violet: I'm with Temp, in spirit. In practice, Iunno. I'd like to see borders done away with, but I'm not sure how to get there from here.
[09:30] Trill Zapatero: brb

[09:30] junivers Stockholm: Atar.. we just have to start - every learning starts from zero. From there we can build, learn and make things better
[09:31] Violet: No worries :)
[09:31] junivers Stockholm: but as long as we dont change it wont happen
[09:31] Agnes S. : is in human nature to seek some form of control and we take that natural instinct out on our countries, scared of chaos and loosing control
[09:31] Agnes S. : welcome Tutsy
[09:31] Agnes S. : claiming land to be ours
[09:31] Agnes S. : and nobody else
[09:32] tutsy Navarathna: thanks agnes :)

[09:32] junivers Stockholm: i do belive more in human behaviour - its in our culture more than we belive
[09:32] Agnes S. : yes junivers :)
[09:32] junivers Stockholm: we are copying eachother and bad leaders make bad copies
[09:33] Ernest Genesis: hello
[09:33] Violet: Hi Ernest

[09:33] Agnes S. : but when did the law come above humans? why are authorities too busy reading and following laws and the law is more important than humans now
[09:33] junivers Stockholm: hi ernest
[09:33] Agnes S. : hi ernest
[09:34] Anon1: i hope more stories like egypt and lybia repeat in other places as well, one day when all parts of the poor countries with lack of human rights get developted to prosperity, by then it would be easier not to set borders . but with the gap of wealth, it can be hard

[09:34] junivers Stockholm: fear agnes?
[09:34] Anon1: or which shall be done first....i dunno
[09:34] junivers Stockholm: fear of change that will diminish their power?
[09:34] Agnes S. : i guess, and fear of chaos
[09:34] Agnes S. : i guess

[09:35] junivers Stockholm: i do think one part is stupidity too ;)
[09:35] tutsy Navarathna: i think chaos is still there
[09:35] tutsy Navarathna: already

[09:35] Trill Zapatero: hope it's not contagious
[09:35] Violet: Yes, Kiki....but is it an advantage for some, for others to be disadvantaged? How do we ensure global human rights and decent standards of living?
[09:35] Agnes S. : politicians today are like "hey,we`re so important and busy controlling the law, we cant take human considerations"
[09:36] junivers Stockholm: a primeminister dont need ANY education - a hairdresser has more education
[09:36] junivers Stockholm: maybe we should have higher demands on those leaders
[09:37] Violet: Hi Mirabella
[09:37] Agnes S. : maybe we should let the people lead?
[09:37] Agnes S. : and deside
[09:37] Mirabella Seda: hey hello
[09:37] Agnes S. : hi Mirabella
[09:37] junivers Stockholm: you mean have democracy?
[09:37] junivers Stockholm: :)

[09:37] junivers Stockholm: hi mira
[09:37] Mirabella Seda: hello

[09:37] Anon1: dunno atar, after getting my certificate of courses in global development issues(went to lectures for fun, in the end was surprised they offer certificates...which was the story), i get more confused
[09:38] Agnes Sharple: i mean control from the bottom up, not top down, like today:)
[09:39] junivers Stockholm: yepp - and im NOT a nationalist - im ashamed that sweden is tricking rest of EU into a very right wing ploitic
[09:40] Agnes S. : i am not a nationalist either
[09:41] Anon1: because if paternalism is wrong,it means you cant use force to change the political institutions/cultures of poor countries.....but what if they are immune to softer means , and the poverty roots in the hard institutions
[09:42] junivers Stockholm: we are creating reality and culture is a foundation - so we have to redesign it

[09:42] junivers Stockholm: but its up to US to understand it all
[09:42] Agnes S. : totally

[09:42] Anon1: then what happens is the developed countries set borders for fear or those immigrants, and in foreign policies only focus on self interest
[09:42] junivers Stockholm: us=we
[09:42] Anon1: and the poor countries are still in vicious dead loop
[09:42] Anon1: nothing is going to be changed
[09:43] junivers Stockholm: not US=america lol
[09:43] Violet: That's something I wonder about, too, Kiki--how do we communicate with places that violate human rights without destroying the good in their culture?
[09:44] junivers Stockholm: leaders and their media is an impoirtant key
[09:44] junivers Stockholm (from english): ledere og deres medier er en impoirtant nøkkelen
[09:44] junivers Stockholm: black people in us were slaves

[09:44] Anon1: its like asking the leader to give up power?
[09:44] junivers Stockholm: then cam martin luther king and changed it
[09:44] Anon1: and propagnda of loving the leader sustitude with human rights?
[09:44] Anon1: not sure ifthey would be willing, unless wars are wages
[09:44] Anon1: waged

[09:44] junivers Stockholm: martin luther king had more power than most of our leaders have today
[09:44] Violet: Yes, good example, Kiki
[09:47] Anon1: plus the ppl in powerin poorer countries mostly have gotten EU/US/canadian citienship, their family,property aborad......when things go bad in politics, when ppl revolt, they can leave quickly
[09:47] junivers Stockholm: ok i admit that im simplifying BUT if i dont understand, i dont care, i dont have time, then i dont take responsibility. I have dreams of a good world for all. Im prepared to take the steps if i/we get the chance. Thats a beginning
[09:48] Anon1: me too junivers

[09:48] junivers Stockholm: we need to prepare ourself as individuals, prepared with dream and try to follow that dream - and SPREAD it
[09:48] Templeton Tigerpaw: Well, the biggest step towards world freedom would be if China changed its government. I think we should all work on throwing the repressive fascists out in China.

[09:49] Anon1: i agree with birric
[09:49] junivers Stockholm: stop using money as much as possible would be good ;)
[09:50] junivers Stockholm: money makes the world go round they say (but its actually hands, brains and material we need ONLY)
[09:51] Agnes Sharple: but what about all those illegal immigrants who live in hiding and have no land, they can not go home and they will not permit any place, because most countries have a strict immigration policy
[09:52] Anon1: short term policy would be policies targeting at those ones
[09:52] Agnes Sharple: it becomes a bigger and bigger problem

[09:52] junivers Stockholm: agnes.. things like that make me feel ashamed
[09:52] Anon1: long term resolution is aobut global development issues
[09:52] Agnes S. : me too
[09:52] junivers Stockholm: its about solidarity
[09:53] Anon1: global dev. issue can go as far as very serious things,like politica reform

[09:53] Anon1: turmoils
[09:53] Anon1: or maybe softer means
[09:53] Anon1: dunno
[09:54] Anon1: most countries have foreign policies focused onn self interset only tho

[09:54] junivers Stockholm: in simple words and technical terms: we´re a fucked up spieces living obn a small planet that we fucked up
[09:54] Anon1: as long as money is made
[09:54] Anon1: yup

[09:54] Agnes Sharple: and so we have all the scare tactics about Muslims, which in turn creates xenophobia and make integrating hard, instead of seeing what these resources can actually add to the country
[09:54] junivers Stockholm: right
[09:55] Violet: That's true, Kiki, and something worth addressing. Asylum laws are especially crazy in some countries.

[09:55] Anon1: i dont think long term prosperity can be achieved by just donation and international aid...long term prosperity has to do with the institutuions, structures, cultures of that place

[09:55] Anon1: economic, political system
[09:56] Anon1: dunno
[09:56] junivers Stockholm: this is a good explanation with solutions: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w&feature=player_embedded
[09:56] Agnes Sharple: Jeez, are why politicians and leaders so stupid
[09:56] junivers Stockholm: zeitgeist moving forward is the movies name
[09:56] junivers Stockholm: 2 hours 41 minutes

[09:56] Agnes S. : ah ive seen that, ty junivers
[09:57] Anon1: tho i am unsure if i really buy their stuffs
[09:57] Anon1: i saw about zeitgeist movement too ty

[09:57] Agnes S. : you should all take the time to see it :)
[09:58] Anon1: reminds me that
[09:58] junivers Stockholm: thats up to you kiki - i think its a path we NEED to start - then we need to correct it during the journey
[09:58] Trill Zapatero: watching the trailer
[09:58] Anon1: N Korean ppl can't go to S korean due to the danger zone , but some managed to go to china illegally...and chinese gov whenever they discover one, always send them back to N korea

[09:58] junivers Stockholm: i think you will like it trill
[09:59] Anon1: its impossible for them to flee to S korea. there is a very dangerious zone in the border, anybody going to there would die
[09:59] Anon1: and they are not allowed to go outside
[09:59] Agnes S. : hi Starshine!
[09:59] Starshine: hi Agnes

[09:59] Starshine: and hi everyone
[10:00] junivers Stockholm: kiki... we live in a now (a precense) but we need tolook forward, create dreams that include all - we WILL succeed to make a great world on this beautiful planet
[10:00] junivers Stockholm: hi star
[10:00] Violet: Hi Starshine
[10:00] Anon1: i really would wish so
[10:00] Starshine:

[10:01] Anon1: altho it seems global dev. issues is too large a thing for me, an individual starving and stupid young person lol
[10:01] Anon1: but i would hope so ;p
[10:01] Violet: We all start somewhere :)
[10:01] junivers Stockholm: if it takes many generations - so what - its better that we start and people that die before we reach a much beter state will know that its coming further down the road - thats a good way to die :)
[10:02] Agnes S. : agree junivers

[10:02] Agnes S. : thats the problem today, ppl dont think long enough forward
[10:03] junivers Stockholm: kiki - if you believe, learn and take a stand... then you did a imortant part. When new leaders show up you know who to follow, vote for etc
[10:03] Agnes S. : we`re pretty fucked, but lets start make the world a better place for coming generations
[10:03] junivers Stockholm: i think thats the most important thing i did

[10:03] Anon1nods
[10:03] junivers Stockholm: and im not ready of course
[10:04] Violet: Well, we just do what we can to help others and reduce harm wherever we're able
[10:05] junivers Stockholm: its easy to say/bilieve.. people are evil, greedy etc and its in our nature. We did change things during our journey herte - question is... where do we wanna go (and why)

[10:05] junivers Stockholm: i like that atar
[10:06] junivers Stockholm: yepp agnes - lets start !
[10:06] Agnes S. : yes-lets start!:))

[10:06] Starshine: sounds like you people really want to make this wold a better place, but it is only talk, what are you actulally planning to do?
[10:07] Starshine: any briliant ideas to make changes?
[10:07] Agnes S. : like Violet said, we do what we can to help others
[10:07] Starshine: like what?
[10:07] Anon1: i will teach more ppl in china to hack great firewall to read uncensored materials

[10:07] junivers Stockholm: spreading ideas, critical thinking, encourage to take stand - we can do that in our everyday life
[10:07] Starshine: ah oke

[10:08] junivers Stockholm: when we are many enough we can do things more powerful
[10:08] Violet: I'm planning to bring food to people who lost their homes in a local fire either today or tomorrow; little, direct things matter more to me than changing a whole culture overnight.

[10:08] junivers Stockholm: i mentioned Martin Luther King before - he did that and succeeded in the and - and it was all non violence
[10:09] Agnes S. : "I have a dream"
[10:09] junivers Stockholm: exactly agnes
[10:09] Starshine: well he was smurdred and still the situation is far from perfect for blacks in the US

[10:09] Anon1: altho
[10:09] Anon1: wont discard the efforts of donation and aid
[10:09] junivers Stockholm: right star - so we need to continue
[10:09] Starshine: awareness is very important
[10:10] junivers Stockholm: true kiki
[10:10] Anon1: altho i dont think poverty can be solved in root by asking richer ppl for money only

[10:10] Violet: I don't either, Kiki
[10:10] Agnes S. : agree Kiki
[10:10] junivers Stockholm: atar... it IS a donation you make
[10:10] junivers Stockholm: tho its not money
[10:10] Starshine: but it is a fact that rich country's like do take most recources and maintain poverty in poor countries
[10:10] Agnes Sharple: we need to provide help for self-help
[10:11] Anon1: but donation is good thing.....i would donate too when charity staff ask me too

[10:11] Anon1: wont discard that efforts
[10:11] junivers Stockholm: right kiki
[10:11] junivers Stockholm: @star... yes and we need to be aware of that
[10:11] Violet: I think, right now, there's not much to be done except be ready for the system to fail, because it's probably going to, more and more. If people have healthier alternatives, they have more incentive to make positive changes, and if the system recovers....it's like an immune response.

[10:11] Trill Zapatero: this zeitgeist video is amazing
[10:11] Starshine: actually I'm pretty sure we all live in rich countries, being on sl, whilst most 3rd world countries people don't have computers let alone theyknow anything about sl
[10:12] junivers Stockholm: sure it is trill - its very important
[10:12] junivers Stockholm: there is another one too - check that after Zeitgeist addendum
[10:12] Anon1: i think the most horrible thing is about ignorance
[10:12] Starshine: what's the url of that video??

[10:12] Anon1: they dont even know whats going on
[10:12] junivers Stockholm: yay kiki
[10:12] Anon1: if all media gets censored
[10:13] junivers Stockholm: and you know what kiki - many of our leaders are VERY ignorant
[10:13] Agnes Sharple: Starshine right, let us use this privilege to something useful
[10:13] Violet: Not knowing isn't too bad....it's knowing things that are just wrong that worries me :p

[10:13] Anon1: i would love to invest loads of efforts leaning politics/economics/development issues, i am afraid of ignorance
[10:13] junivers Stockholm: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Z9WVZddH9w&feature=player_embedded
[10:13] Starshine: well I think they do know pretty well what is going on in the 3rd world, it's more often that people in the developed worlds have no idea what 's going on in the rest of the world because they only care for hteir own wellbeing
[10:13] junivers Stockholm: well echonomics shour be "a resource based echonomy"

[10:14] junivers Stockholm: resources are NOT infinitive
[10:14] Agnes Sharple: yes and it makes me sick star shine
[10:14] Anon1: the popes in africa are preaching that....it is the codomns that causes AIDS
[10:14] Starshine: (thnks for the url, I'm gonna check that)
[10:14] Anon1: and 20% population in south africa have AIDS
[10:14] Violet: Yes! Exactly. Misinformation is dangerous.
[10:15] Anon1: it is due to religious reasons
[10:15] junivers Stockholm: @star... i think the worst ignorance is not ignorance of what is - it it the ignorance of what CAN BE

[10:15] Anon1: religions dont like contraception there
[10:15] Anon1: and the AIDS is going wild there
[10:15] junivers Stockholm: please do star - it changed the lives of many :)
[10:16] Starshine: ah oke that movie is 2.45 ohours, hehe I'm gonna check later
[10:16] Anon1: and it is sad when ppl are taking political leaders as god, when actually corruption is wild

[10:17] Anon1: or misinformation is from the leaders
[10:17] junivers Stockholm: yepp its long but its about us, our systems complexity and about the alternative to it
[10:17] Agnes S. : those of you who havent seen it, pls take your time to watch, its really interesting :)
[10:18] junivers Stockholm: you said it kiki - corruption is spread in the whole system - i guess even to most of us

[10:18] junivers Stockholm: YAY agnes - i agree
[10:18] Starshine: oke I'm so sorry I have to cook and make dinner, feed the family this seems like a nice initiative, I will try to come more often and see if I can contribute to the discussion more next time, goodluck you all
[10:18] Anon1: who...world health organization?
[10:19] junivers Stockholm: all "left people" should see it - and all other that have been starting thinking for themself
[10:19] Agnes Sharple: to think we `ll end the meeting here, its fun Been Than an Hour, But of course, Anybody intersted in Discussing more, pls stay:)

[10:20] Violet: Take care, everyone :)
[10:20] Agnes S. : great to see you all here and great discussion!:))
[10:21] Trill Zapatero: see you all
[10:21] junivers Stockholm: i guess its time to do something else

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Thursday 21 April 2011

Slacktivist Calendar, April 21-24

US Monetary Policy
Event: Talk
Topic: Liberalism and US Monetary Policy
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 5 PM SLT
Description: This week in liberalism it's all about US monetary policy. Arthur Kimball-Stanley joins Jay Ackroyd and Stuart Zechman to shed some light.
Sponsor: Four Bridges
Contact: Widget Whiteberry
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtually%20Speaking/163/150/25

Lessons of the Gulf Oil Spill
Event: Talk
Topic: Environment - Gulf Oil
Date: Thursday, April 21
Time: 6 PM SLT
Description: Fishgrease and Bob Cavnar come by to discuss the state of the Gulf, lessons learned and lessons ignored by British Petroleum and the US Govt
Sponsor: Four Bridges
Contact: Widget Whiteberry
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Virtually%20Speaking/163/150/25

Gender and States of Emergency

Event: Talk
Topic: Feminism
Date: Friday, April 22
Time: 2:30 PM SLT
Description: "Why Do Feminists Refuse to See 'Chaos' When Others Do?" a talk by Cynthia Enloe of the American Association of University Women
Sponsor: Four Bridges
Contact: Ellie Brewster
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Minerva%20Pier/63/227/27/

Reformist Tendencies Within Marxism
Event: Lecture
Topic: Marxism
Date: Sunday, April 24
Time: 8:00 AM SLT
Description: Wilhelm will give a chronology of reformist tendencies within Marxism/ ideas which have developed from Marxist thought. bring your boxing gloves ;)
Sponsor: SL Marxists
Contact: Lisabeth Nikolaidis
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/New%20Babbage/41/251/116/

Second Life Left Unity Feminists
Event: Discussion Group
Topic: Feminism
Date: Sunday, April 24
Time: 2:00 PM SLT
Description: The Second Life Left Unity Feminsts Discussion group meets every Sunday at 2 pm Pacific (5 pm Eastern) Time. This is an open discussion:  bring your own questions, topics, suggestions. They are an informal group, everyone is welcome.
Sponsor: Second Life Left Unity
Contact: SLLU Feminists Group
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Flagg/239/23/107/


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Wednesday 20 April 2011

New Post on the SL Left Unity Feminist Network blog:

"The UnQueering of Second Life."

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Tuesday 19 April 2011

Just That-?

By Millay Freschi


“I learned early on that war forms its own culture. The rush of battle is a potent and often lethal addiction, for war is a drug, one I ingested for many years. It is peddled by mythmakers- historians, war correspondents, filmmakers, novelists, and the state – all of whom endow it with qualities it often does possess: excitement, exoticism, power, chances to rise above our small stations in life, and a bizarre adn fantastic universe that has a dark and grotesque beauty. It dominates culture, distorts memory, corrupts language, and infects everything around it, even humor, which becomes preoccupied with the grim perversities of smut and death. Fundamental questions about the meaning, or the meaninglessness, of our place on the planet are laid bare when we watch those around us sink to the lowest depths. War exposes the capacity for evil that lurks not far below the surface within all of us. And this is why for many war is so hard to discuss once it is over.”

Chris Hedges, War is a Force, Page 3

We did the War and Peace Exhibit this weekend on Four Bridges. It was so powerful made even more so by my journey through this week’s reading and the Veterans of War, Veterans of Peace by Maxine Hong Kingston book included as optional text. My mind is drained of anything except the stories and the images come to life through the exhibit. Anything that I could put together now as an essay would only be filled with the questioning of a soul in transition. My part in this? Whew. That’s too big a question for a girl on the ground with her breath knocked from her body.

About 6 months ago a girl from an African nation found me on Facebook. I think she found me through the “End Gender Violence” group where I had posted something on an event that we had in the late summer. She’s 17 and part of a growing number of girls her age that have tried to keep themselves from early marriage or the sex trade in a country that has been ravaged by war. She lives in a beautiful city that gives of an air of high elegance. But she stands at the glass. Her mother and her sister were ripped away from her during the last uprising, war, governmental inconvenience, - whatever you want to call it and she has never really recovered. Her father turned to booze, as many veterans do and neglected the rest of his dwindling family. She moves from couch to couch, tries to keep her mind sharp with books (it’s $300 a month for her to go to school) and she hangs out with her girlfriends that fight the same battles. One by one she watched them make that choice to shut out through artificial means the rush of grief and fear that must crowd their sleep. She too is a veteran of the wars she and her family have endured.

She sent me an email yesterday, in the middle of my running about with this event and asked me if I still believed in love. I had a hard time answering her and even as I sit here now, in the retelling, my eyes well with tears of fear. God, I hope so is what I wanted to say. But do I know? I don’t know. It’s so hard to sit here in this aftermath….a bomb shelter from my own journey through war and peace and believe in something as pure as love.

The exhibit, this course is full of the terrible things that we do to one another in the name of war. Collateral damage, casualties…heroes. Heroes? Really? That’s almost funny to me now except when I think of all of the community’s scars that these heroes are left with.

Love? Where is love in that? Maybe that’s what makes war so hard to understand. It’s like it’s an absence of love. Didn’t Chris Hedges say that? – That the antidote to war is love? Maybe him, maybe another of the billions of expressions that are almost too much. I read the material a few times. It’s all swirled together in the poetry, music and reflection of our times – our wars – images that are burned into me through this journey – with you and that journey there – with them. I’m all full of lines – and question marks? I am broken strands and I’m wondering where this girl makes her place in all of that.

Can I start this over? Can I make only one statement in answer to all of that and call it good? I swear I read and I got….oh believe you me, I GOT all the meaning from the assignments. And it can all be summed up in one statement…not a fact or a truth or some academic work that I can reference. Just something I know.

The antidote to war is love.

Just that.

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Monday 18 April 2011

RAWA exhibition highlighted on Metaverse Arts

Trill Zapatero talks about her exhibition in SL and her fund raising for The Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (her interview starts at 14 mins 15 secs.)



RAWA is the oldest political/social organization of Afghan women struggling for peace, freedom, democracy and women's rights in fundamentalism-blighted Afghanistan since 1977.

Contact Trill Zapatero inworld for information on the exhibition (and on her other rl and sl work!)

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Friday 15 April 2011

Slacktivist Calendar, Weekend of April 15

Art For Peace
Event: Art Exhibit
Topic: Anti-War Art Exhibit
Description: The Howard Zinn Center for Social Consciousness and the Arts presents an incredible exhibit of "War and Peace", featuring art by Filthy Fluno, Miso Susonowa, SLLU’s own Plot Tracer, and many more.
Date: April 16-17
Sponsor: Four Bridges 
Contact: http://fourbridgesproject.org/events.aspx
SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Four%20B...ect/147/232/25


Ingenuity in Harsh Living Conditions

Event: Discussion
Topic: Anti-War Art Exhibit
Description: Living and creative conditions of individual are becoming more and more limited and restricted. Public spaces are slowly but steadily withdrawing and making space for privatization, which is becoming a total social fact...How do you cope with that? We wanna know! Share your experiences and agency on weekly discussion with

Date: Sunday, April 17
Time:  1 PM SLT / 21:00 GMT

Sponsor: Four Bridges
Contact: Utsche Kira

SLURL: http://slurl.com/secondlife/Fontaine/98/135/37


Marxism vs. Anarchism
Event: Debate
Topic: Left-wing statism - a Marxist vs. an Anarchist view
Description: There will be a debate on the issue of leftwing statism, a Marxist view against an Anarchist view. The Marxist view will be represented by Czarny Zsun, while the Anarchist view will be championed by Mercurius Jacobus.
Date: CANCELED

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