Saturday, March 31, 2007

Second Life Liberation Army Conducts Major Action Against Fascist Sims In Second Life

March 30, 2007 Second Life Liberation Army Headquarters, Thylacine (252,92,92) - Second Life Liberation Army conducted a major action today against the Second Life sim populated by Front National and other far right and neo-fascist groups. As a result, operations of these groups were seriously impaired.

SLLA recognizes that Second Life is the next step in the evolution of the use of the Internet as a potent tool for extreme reactionary and racist organizations to recruit new members. We stand united in our unequivocal opposition to far right and fascist organizations in both SL and RL (Real Life). We will continue our campaigns against these groups until they leave SL and the Internet for good.

All power to the avatars!

About Second Life Liberation Army

SLLA’s primary goal is the creation of a broad democratic initiative aimed at the election and convocation of a representative body in Second life based on One Citizen One Vote (except Alts). Absence of a citizens’ government leaves citizens vulnerable in relation to other macroeconomic and policy questions essential to the future development of SL, such as land issue, currency supply, immigration (volume of entry of new citizens), participation of RL corporate in SL, land fees and strategic priorities in stabilizing the grid.

Video of the action is available upon request.

For more information on Second Life Liberation Army go to www.secondlla.googlepages.com.

Friday, March 30, 2007

Thế giới ảo, khủng bố.. cũng ảo

Thế giới ảo trong Second Life đã trở thành tấm gương phản chiếu đời thực một cách tuyệt đối, khi những kẻ khủng bố vừa tiến hành một chiến dịch đánh bom ngay trên màn hình máy tính.
Nguồn: AP

Một nhóm người chơi Second Life đã liên kết với nhau, lập ra một tổ chức tự xưng là Quân đội giải phóng Second Life, hay SLLA. Họ thực hiện các hành vi tấn công khủng bố của mình thông qua các avatar, đánh bom bằng mã máy tính ròng rã suốt hơn 6 tháng qua trong thế giới ảo.

Thậm chí, SLLA còn có tuyên ngôn riêng, hệt như mọi tổ chức khủng bố khác ngoài đời thực. Họ tự gọi mình là "một nhánh quân đội của phong trào giải phóng dân tộc", ra đời để lật đổ và thay thế những luật lệ mà Linden Labs, nơi phát triển nên trò game Second Life, đặt ra cho thế giới ảo. Tất cả là vì "một nền dân chủ cho gần 4 triệu cư dân".

"Linden Labs đang hoạt động cứ như thể một chính phủ cầm quyền vậy. Cách phản ứng thích hợp duy nhất trước tình trạng này là... Chiến đấu", SLLA tuyên bố trên website tại địa chỉ http://secondlla.googlepages.com.

"Khủng bố kiểu... sáng tạo"

Tuy nhiên, trái ngược với thái độ đầy khiêu khích của SLLA, phòng thí nghiệm Linden vẫn tỏ ra bình tĩnh. Thậm chí, họ còn sẵn sàng chào đón những "sự bất đồng quan điểm mang tính sáng tạo", miễn là chúng không gây ảnh hưởng đến người chơi khác.

Nhiều thành viên Second Life, vốn tinh thông công nghệ, đã chỉnh sửa các đoạn mã máy tính có sẵn, kiểu như "nã súng" vào avatar khác khi bị gây sự. "Chúng tôi hết sức tạo điều kiện cho những sáng tạo kiểu này, miễn là trong ranh giới và chừng mực nhất định", Giám đốc marketing Catherine Smith của Linden nói.

Tuy nhiên, các vụ bạo lực ảo sẽ được Linden cân nhắc và đưa ra quyết định trong từng tình huống cụ thể: cho phép tiếp diễn, ngăn chặn hay xóa nick.

Cụ thể, trong trường hợp của SLLA, những quả bom ảo phát nổ, màn hình trở nên nhòe nhoẹt và các avatar đứng gần bị ép bẹp dúm. Mặc dù vậy, các hành vi phá hoại diễn ra chớp nhoáng, chóng vánh và không gây ra tổn thất lâu dài.

Vì thế, trong mắt Linden Labs, các vụ đánh bom của SLLA chỉ là một trò "bắt chước khủng bố" cho vui, nhằm chỉ trích nạn bạo lực đang hoành hành ngoài đời thực mà thôi. "Chúng tôi tin là hoạt động của họ không xuất phát từ động cơ hiểm độc".

Để chứng minh cho nhận định này, Linden trích dẫn việc SLLA đòi hỏi các cư dân Second Life phải có những quyền cơ bản như đi chơi và mua... cổ phiếu với giá rẻ.

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Monday, March 26, 2007

The Rights of Avatars

The SLLA wasn't the first entity to conceive of the rights of avatars - there have been a number of people interested in this subject before we got to it. One of the most interesting treatments of the subject is by Raph Koster, who in April 2000, asked, "Do players of virtual worlds have right?". In answering this question he outlined a theoretical Declaration of the Rights of Avatars.

Other notable attempts to highlight the question of rights for Avatars include Julian Dibbel's 1993 essay, <a href="http://www.juliandibbell.com/texts/bungle.html">A Rape in CyberSpace - which neatly demonstrates that players of virtual worlds can indeed suffer harm and therefore, by extension should have rights.

The question of Avatar rights is not likely to go away especially as virtual worlds and Second Life continue with their rapid development. It is therefore worth highlighting some of the thinking that has preceeded this moment.

The SLLA will seek to keep this debate at the forefront of SL users minds but recognizes its debt to the past.

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Monday, March 19, 2007

Swedish Report

Report in Swedish Publication.

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Thursday, March 15, 2007

French Report

"Nous voulons le pouvoir dans Second Life"



. Interview - Depuis quelques mois, l'Armée de Libération de Second Life (SSLA) combat le caractère toujours plus commercial de l'univers virtuel.
. Sa porte-parole, Solidad Sugarbeet, réclame à Linden Labs, société créatrice de Second Life, un "droit de vote" pour tous ses utilisateurs.

Propos recueillis par Olivier LEVARD - le 15/03/2007 - 17h08



Depuis deux mois, elle est la porte-parole de l'Armée de Libération de Second Life (SSLA). Au nom de son mouvement, elle réclame le "contrôle de Second Life" et répond aux accusations de "terrorisme virtuel".

LCI.fr : Qu'est-ce que l'Armée de Libération de Second Life (SSLA) ?

Solidad Sugarbeet: LA SSLA est une organisation démocratique et révolutionnaire dont les membres sont de toutes sensibilités politiques. Nous sommes organisés autour d'un comité central élu. Nous réclamons le contrôle de Second Life par les avatars et nous battons contre l'invasion des grandes entreprises.

LCI.fr : Vous refusez donc tout commercialisation de Second Life?

S. S. : Nous ne parlons pas de petits entrepreneurs mais de IBM, Sony, Warner Bros ou Nissan, bref, de grandes multinationales. Nous nous battons contre leurs règles sur notre territoire et contre les contrats qu'ils signent avec Linden Labs. Par exemple une entreprise comme Sony a créé 3, 4, puis 5 îles dans Second Life. Et elle les utilise pour afficher sa marque dans notre univers. Nous sommes radicalement opposé au fait d'afficher ces marques qui ont un pouvoir économique majeur dans Second Life.

"Parler de
terrorisme,
c'est une insulte
pour ceux
qui ont été
vraiment
frappés"

Solidad Sugarbeet

LCI.fr : Peut-on parler de "terrorisme virtuel" pour qualifiez vos actions?

S. S. : Le terrorisme n'existe pas dans Second Life! Lorsque vous y voyez la représentation visuelle d'une ogive nucléaire, c'est du théâtre. Ce n'est pas ce que vous verriez dans la réalité en cas d'acte terroriste... Utiliser l'expression "terrorisme", c'est une insulte pour tous ceux qui ont été frappés par le terrorisme. C'est aussi une tentative de nous discréditer ou de donner un tour spectaculaire aux événements.

LCI.fr : Comment alors définir vos actions?

S. S. : C'est un mélange d'actions directes et de théâtre. Cela ressemble à ce qui se passe dans la réalité lors des sommets du G8. Il y a des personnes qui mènent des actions spontanées : certains font du théâtre de rue, d'autres empêchent les gens d'accéder à des bâtiments pour provoquer le changement. Dans Second Life, il est également possible de manifester et de bloquer l'accès à certains bâtiments.

LCI.fr : Pouvez-vous devenir un véritable problème pour Linden Labs?

S. S. : Les médias commencent à parler de nous. Nous sommes 200 et donc encore une petite organisation. Mais comme dans le monde réel, les révolutions commencent à petite échelle. Regardez Cuba, le Venezuela... Lorsque vous écoutez les gens - dans ce cas, les avatars de Second Life - lorsque vous avez un dialogue ouvert avec eux, vous créez des liens plus forts que le pouvoir en place.

LCI.fr : Dialoguez-vous avec Linden Labs?

S. S. : Nous demandons un débat public avec Linden Labs représenté par le "gouverneur Linden" dans le monde virtuel pour évoquer l'avenir de Second Life. Jusqu'ici, pas de réponse... Je ne suis pas surprise car nous réclamons un contrôle de l'environnement de Second Life. Ce n'est pas dans leur intérêt de nous reconnaître à court terme. Reste donc à voir comment ils réagiront lorsque nous prendrons encore de l'ampleur.

"Nous sommes
la prochaine vague
qui déferlera
sur l'Internet.
Le web 3.0!"

Solidad Sugarbeet

LCI.fr : Second Life est quand même leur propriété...

S. S. : C'est aussi un environnement social qui appartient à tous. Second Life ressemble aux autres sites dits "web 2.0" comme MySpace. Sur ces sites, le pouvoir social vient de la création de contenu et d'un réseau de relations. Des musiciens, réalisateurs, auteurs y publient leurs œuvres. Second Life permet tout cela en temps réel. Rappelez vous le réseau Napster, il n'était possédé par personne.... Pour l'instant nous réclamons un droit de vote dans Second Life. La question est de savoir qui des entreprises ou des Avatars va diriger Second Life. Nous défendons aussi l'idée d'une prise de contrôle capitalistique de Linden Labs par les utilisateurs de Second Life car nous voulons détenir un pouvoir réel et non symbolique.

LCI.fr : Et si Linden Labs vous dit non?

S. S. : Nous prendrons notre destin en main avec tous les moyens nécessaires et avec ou sans Linden Labs. L'open source est l'avenir de l'Internet. Nous sommes dans un conflit permanent qui oppose les utilisateurs d'Internet et les grandes entreprises. Nous représentons la prochaine vague qui déferlera sur l'Internet. Le web 3.0!

LCI.fr : Envisagerez-vous des actions illégales comme le piratage des serveurs de Second Life?

S. S. : Je ne peux pas faire de commentaire là-dessus. Toute la question est de savoir pourquoi les gouvernements considèrent de tels actes comme du piratage.

Screenshots from SLLA rally at Linden Village

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Toronto Star Article

http://www.thestar.com/artsentertainment/article/190479

Saturday, March 10, 2007

SLLA on RL news in UK

SLLA received its own report on the TV news of Channel 4 in the UK.

See Link.

While the SLLA appreciates all coverage in this instance we would just like to clarify that we are not an anarchist organization but a broad-church of activists seeking to achieve political rights for avatars within Second Life.

SLLA

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Tuesday, March 06, 2007

Second Life Liberation Army Rally and Protest 3-6-07

March 6, 2007 Second Life Liberation Army Headquarters, Thylacine (252,92,92) - Two hundred members of the Second Life Liberation Army gathered at SLLA Headquarters and satellite locations in Second Life for a rally to demand Avatar rights in the virtual world of SL. The rally was followed by an action aimed at getting the attention of Second Life’s owners, Linden Labs. At the rally, SLLA President Marshal Cahill said the goal is to create the world’s first avatar democracy – “One Vote-one avatar.”

In taking today’s action, Cahill stated a goal was to demand Linden Labs meet SLLA in public debate. Cahill said, “We believe that at the moment within SL direct action is the only way to achieve our aims.” Cahill went on to say, “I have one regret today and that is that I just have one IP address to give to this cause but we have started a fire and that will not be extinguished.” Members of the SLLA were then teleported to Linden Mansion and bombarded the Lindens with instant messages demanding Avatar Rights, followed by a spirited spontaneous action at the headquarters of the French far right group Front National. After the rally, SLLA Liaison Solidad Sugarbeet said "As we are a democratic revolutionary movement, we stand united in our unequivocal opposition to far right and fascist organizations in both SL and RL (Real Life) , including Front National, Jeunesses Identiaires, and the repugnant racist organization Patriotic (sic) Nigras."

While Governor Linden was not available for comment, Robin Linden did indicate a willingness to meet with SLLA members this week. While hopeful, Solidad Sugarbeet was not impressed by this gesture. "Our demand is clear: we want a debate between SLLA and Governor Linden. Where was the openness for dialogue when First Land was taken away, or when Linden Labs started selling chunks of our world to IBM, Sony and Warner Brothers?" Sugarbeet also noted that this is neither the first nor the last time that SLLA will act. "From our actions at American Apparel last year to our resistance to corporate control of our AV lives, we are building a movement together! We will strike again very soon, count on it." Sugarbeet went on into emphasize that SLLA is planning a series of social gatherings for members, as well as meetings with the avatariat within SL. "We recognize that SLLA is not for everybody, including people who otherwise support our message. As such, we will be having meetings very soon to meet those who sympathize with our goals and wish to dialogue further with us. All power to the avatars!"

Transcript of President's Speech.

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Monday, March 05, 2007

For a different perspective

Recent interesting coverage in CNET.

The article quotes the SLLA skeptic Wagner James AU but also uses material from
Alexander Galloway at NYU who seems to indicate the future is with the SLLA.

This piece in the Second Thoughts blog neatly explains Wagner Au's views.

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Saturday, March 03, 2007

Action - Mass Rally

There will be a mass rally of all SLLA members on Tuesday 6 March at 12 noon SLT/PST (8pm GMT).

The rally will be held at SLLA HQ within Second Life - please follow SLURL.

The goals of the SLLA will be explained; our president Marshal Cahill will then set out plans to force Linden Labs to grant democratic rights to avatars.

Please come - and be ready for immediate action after the rally!

Self Rule in our Second Lives!

Keksakallu Klata
SLLA Strategist

Front Page of the Avastar

SLLA appears on the front page of the Second Life Tabloid nespaper the Avastar.

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