2014-02-14

Event Today: ONE BILLION RISING


Today its time again for the ONE BILLION RISING dance event, women worldwide raise their hands against violence. Here a text about the motto of 2014:

ONE BILLION RISING FOR JUSTICE IS ABOUT ENVISIONING JUSTICE FOR ALL SURVIVORS OF GENDER VIOLENCE. JUSTICE CAN TAKE MANY FORMS.

IT CAN BE AN APOLOGY OR REPARATIONS. TAKING LEGAL ACTION. IT CAN BE ABOUT MAKING THE TRUTH VISIBLE.IT CAN BE PROSECUTING, OR PUSHING TO CREATE CHANGE, OR IMPLEMENTING POLICIES AND LAWS THAT ENSURE THE PROTECTION OF WOMEN’S RIGHTS. IT CAN BE CALLING FOR AN END TO ALL FORMS OF INEQUALITY,
DISCRIMINATION, MISOGYNY AND PATRIARCHY. IT CAN BE NAMING OR SHAMING PERPETRATORS – WHETHER THEY BE INDIVIDUALS, GROUPS, CORPORATIONS OR THE STATE. DEMANDING ACCOUNTABILITY. IT CAN BE RISING FOR JUSTICE BE IT PERSONAL, SOCIAL, ECONOMIC, CULTURAL, ENVIRONMENTAL OR POLITICAL. IT CAN BE A REVOLUTIONARY CALL TO RESTORE DIGNITY AND RESPECT FOR ALL WOMEN.

IT CAN BE ABOUT TRANSFORMATION.

AS WE BRING THIS GLOBAL DISCUSSION TO THE FOREFRONT, WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU WHAT JUSTICE LOOKS LIKE. JOIN THOUSANDS OF ACTIVISTS FROM AROUND THE WORLD...

In Second Life again a team of volunteers around Saffia Widdershins organized a dance event on 4 sims surrounded by related artworks. I had not much time and maybe I have overseen some. But here my list of contributing artists: Mikati Slade, Holala Alter, Cherry Manga, Taralyn Gravrois, Tyrehl Byk, Kristali Rabeni, Katz Jupiter, Carmsie Melodie, FreeWee Ling, Misprint Thursday, Nino Vichan, Pallina60 Loon, Solkide Auer, Rubin Mayo, Finn Lanzius, Crap Mariner, Kicca Igaly, Giovanna Cerise, Aloisio Congrejo, Tani Thor and Betty Tureaud.

There are many ways of dealing with the theme and running through the works is not the best way to get all, but I found most touching 2 works which had a very personal view:

Sisters Support by Fuschia Nightfire

Fuschia Nightfire: "I dedicate this build to my RL sister who was in an abusive relationship for many years.

This installation symbolises the help and support that was given to her by all her female friends around her at the time and the women at the refuge where she finally ended up living for over 2 years. 

She did manage to survive and although all the scars will always be with her, she has managed to build a new life and is now happily married to a lovely guy."


The Lonely Human by Betty Tureaud

Betty Tureaud:
I dont feel the pain in the darkness
but i taste the blood on my lips
You say you love me with your fist

 P.S.:  I never have been beaten by a boyfriend 
but it must feel very lonely 
and powerless to be beaten by the one you love 
and if it happens in your child's eyesight 
it must be even more degrading 
and will surely give the child an injury for life.

My art installation "The Lonely Human"
is how i think the feeling must be when you 
are in a violent partnership and don't dare to cry 
for help because you think there must be
something wrong with you.

by Giovanna Cerise

But violence against women has cultural, political and religious dimensions too. Therefore it is the most important to rise for justice. After UN reports the most dangerous countries for women worldwide are Afghanistan, India, Pakistan, Kongo and Somalia. Women have to suffer worldwide degrading, less human rights, violence, rapes, less chances for education and in certain countries systematic abortion of female fetuses (for example China, India) and genital mutilation (Africa). I find a bit sad that 2 artworks are pointing to the situation of women in Islam, Christians are not a tiny bit better. Humiliation and discrimination of women is an inherent part of all monotheistic religions. And sadly women in the Western world are more than ever are degraded to bodies, to objects that can be used after man's will. And not to forget the growing market of pornography with violence against women.

Sim map


The text of 2Lei in SL, a group of mainly Italian artists that has been founded in 2010 for the awareness to the "International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women", reminds us in the text to the collaborative work:

This wall is dedicated to Carmela, Simona, Carolina, Gisella, Amanda, Audrie, Silvietta, Francesca and all those women that you do not know the name - are many, too many - who were killed ... but how? when?

Suicide after violence, because they were not believed, because they were ridiculed, left alone, accused of having facilitated rapists, just because their lifestyle before it was evil, light ... but that different lifestyle might never have girls 13 15 17 20 years?

What lifestyle villain or not can justify the cruelty of rabid dogs to mark the bodies of these women and their lives forever?

A makeup for a party;
a miniskirt;
your "NOT escape", because you are scared;
your "stand still" because you're a disabled ...
There are valid reasons to be told things like:
"but, at the beginning, have you agreed?"
"Why do not you run away?"
"Why did not speak right away?"

You could continue to make a list of facts, names, judgments, doubts on the part of parents, friends, insinuations by the authorities, sarcasm and treatment of psychotropic drugs administered to silence the victims of violence apparently mistaken for victims of hallucinations and obsessions. ..

Many reasons to rise!

This beautiful dress is one of the visitors gift at ONE BILLION RISING, created by Lyrical Bizarre

More about One Billion Rising in RL: http://www.onebillionrising.org/
More about One Billion Rising in SL: http://onebillionrisingsl2014.wordpress.com/

ONE BILLION RISING starts at Midnight in Friday, 
February 14th for 24 hours of dancing!

Taxi: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/OBR%20Rise/160/171/24

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