Residents Support Relief for Australian Bush Fires

Coming from Australia and working for Linden Lab in our San Francisco office, I am always keeping an eye out for the activities that are happening in my home country. My focus at Linden Lab is in the enterprise space, so I generally see the great work that has come out of several Australian corporations. This week, however, my attention has been focused on the amazing Second Life community that has rallied in support of the devastating bush fires that have hit Australia.

As many of you are aware, these fires are one of the worst natural disasters to hit Australia in over 100 years. In response, Residents have created several inworld campaigns to raise funds to donate to relief efforts, from donation boxes to concerts to vendors selling clothing to support the cause. There’s already been some great coverage of these efforts from outlets including Massively, the Metaverse Journal, and New World Notes.

Seeing Residents come together like this is another powerful reminder of the breath and strength of our global community and another great example of how Second Life is being used in ways that can really make a difference in the real world.

I’d like to thank those who have initiated fundraising efforts or given their support to this cause. Please describe/link to your inworld relief efforts in the forums.

Chris Collins (AKA Logan Linden)

--
Original blog post by Logan Linden:
http://blog.secondlife.com/2009/02/12/residents-support-relief-for-australian-bush-fires/

I would like to take this opportunity to tell you that my Tres Jolie clients have come together to raise 180,000L in less than 24 hours!

I would also like to request that Linden Labs waives the 3.5% transaction fee and ensures that the people organising this Charity sell their Lindens at a competitive rate. I believe 261L for 1 USD is pretty good at the moment.

I would also like to challenge the Lindens to donate 1 million Lindens to the cause in light of the huge Australian presence in Second Life.

I am very well connected with RL media and will ensure that the right parties will become aware of your generosity.

Thank you to all who have helped and the organisers. I am deeply + profoundly moved.

In Australia you are required to be licenced to collect for charity. I have searched and the collectors do not have any such authorisation.

There have already been arrests here in Australia of idiots posing as collectors. I hope they rot in prison with the arsonists and looters.

The Red Cross is the ONLY Government approved organisation currently taking phone calls and submissions of donations of REAL MONEY will go directly who those who need it. Every cent donated to the Red Cross will go to the survivors and will not be taking out administration fees or any other costs such as implied by this stupid idea.

In conjunction with the Red Cross a special committee will decide which survivors get the proceeds to rebuild the homes, vehicles, lives and restock their farms and much more.

The survivors have had their lives turned upside doen and have been through hell, lost friends and family through this holocaust.

If anyone wishes to donate should do so using REAL currency at http://www.redcross.org.au.

This will ensure that your donation will actually get to the survivors and not line some unidentified scammers pocket.

I have filed a support ticket on this matter and informed the Australian Media.

Are those that have been arrested not keeping the funds for themselves?


I feel it would be find to collect in here and the person donate to the Red Cross or Salvation Army who are also collections for the victims of the bush fire

Yes - there is no guarantee that the SecondLife residents will pass on the donations either. They are not Australian Government controlled or authorised as collectors for charities.



The donations made to the Redcross are heavily controlled, sanctioned and protected by the Australian Federal Government. The Salvation Army are not authorise to take monetary donations for this particular cause - their job is merely distributing donated clothing, shelter and clothing etc.

Why donate in SecondLife when you can donate REAL money personally directly to the Redcross?

Only the banks currency exchange rates and fees apply.

All funds raised by the charity headed by Dakota Buck, are bonafide and she has registered using this link.

http://www.redcross.org.au/howyoucanhelp_communityfundraising.htm

I have personally spoken to Dakota, a very sensible and serious young Australian woman whom I have agreed to help.

I simply would not be involved in anything that is not Kosher! It would be much simpler for me to just call the Red Cross and hand over my American Express card details.

Oh and don't worry about alerting the media, I've already done so! Remember they are investigative journalists and don't make wild claims and throw tantrums which thwart the efforts of good people.

Save your disgust for more odious matters, not people working their asses off 'round the clock to raise funds in order to alleviate our nation's despair by appealing to the friends we have made in the international community of Second Life.

P.S. This is NOT a Holocaust [unless you are referring to the archaic definition of the term]. It is a NATURAL DISASTER with implications of criminal negligence relating to fire and drought zones not being properly maintained to reduce the incidence of such a tragedy.

Save your drama hun, pull your finger out and HELP!

Regards,

Iota Ultsch
CEO Tres Jolie!

Obviously you are blind.

Log into SecondLife and Search All on Australian bushfire. There are 3 pages of hits of people obviously scamming.

In my profile I have information directing people to the Redcross website.

Why should Linden Labs cash in on the misery of others which by the way include my friends who live in the area who have lost everything?

It is true how do you know people are not scammer. Myself and some friends are putting an event together called Digital Angel, its a 48 hour event with musicians booked to play and content creators who have donated goods for the event.

I have been in touch with the Red Cross here in Sydney, but you can imagine the amount of calls they are recieving at the moment, so I am still waiting to hear back from them. I have filled out the forms so now its just waiting for them to call me back.

We do have a donation Kiosk, It was created by nuvolino Roffo, it has the Digital Angel name and is the only official Kiosk for OUR event. Though there are many others out there whom I believe are as genuine as we are in raising money for the event. I have talked to many and they are doing an excellent job, and the money is all going to the same place.

So please if you have worries, contact the person, talk to them, ask questions. If you still have worries go to http://www.redcross.org.au/vic/services_emergencyservices_victorian-bushfires-appeal-2009.htm and donate. These people have lost everything, every little bit of money counts. They need to rebuild their towns, their lives. They have lost not only things material, they have lost children, husbands, wifes , grandparents, friends and have a long way to go to recover.

So Please come along to Digital Angel on the 20th to the 22nd of Feb, dance, shop and most of all help those who really need it. We have been lucky enough to have Stroker Serpentine lend us his new sim for the event. He has been wonderful with all the help, as well as his girlz who have offered their support 100%.

We have musicians from every genre who have just poured in and booked times, Creators are contacting me as well, but we still need more!!!

For more info on the event or if you would like to help please contact me in world via notecard in case of my IM's being capped.

Surreal Babii, nuvolino Roffo, Trix Noel, Marcia Scott, Annie Twilight
Digital Angel

It's possible that giving directly to Red Cross is the most efficient way to give, but very few in Second Life are going to give that way simply because SL giving is spur of the moment impulse donations, for the most part and also done with lindens - money people usually spend more freely. Also, many of the contributions are motivated by the designs of SL clothing, hair, jewelry and skin stores. Those funds won't be flowing to red cross.

Seriously, inciting unreasonable and unverified fears of scams is not only reckless, but it provides the uncharitable one more excuse to do nothing.

Moreover, living your life in expectation of being cheated will make your life miserable, petty and crabbed. Much better to recognize that the vast majority of people are honest and good at heart and live your life expecting decency and honesty. That you might be burned once in a while is a small price to pay for not living a petty life of suspiciion, distrust and negativity.

I have already donated a substantial amount directly to the Redcross in AUD. I am sure as hell NOT going to give you that amount to play with for the benefit of your ego.

By the time it goes through all the currency exchanges and various charges involved in all the transactions amount would be reduced somewhat. Then there is the conversion from $L back to USD$ then to AUD$ again (more charges), to finally donate to the Redcross. LMAO

You do the maths.

BTW - THERE IS ACTUALLY A REAL LIFE OUT THERE or do you all live in a world of fantasy and make believe. Real world problems require real world solutions. Next thing people in SecondLife will attempt to cure the Global Financial Crisis. LMAO

Incidently, the survivors, the subject of your concerns, know nothing about virtual worlds or SecondLife even if it fell down on their heads.

I am a SL (tm) avatar who has both contributed directly to the Australian Red Cross site and is participating in the inworld relief project organized by Dakota Buck and Autumn Hykova as a contributor of money and goods. Of course there will be scam artists, but the effort organized by these avatars is not one of them. People in SL care a great deal about the world and, as people engaged in a "second life", it is natural to want to donate within that life. I trust these two avatars in this project. The money raised WILL go to the Australian Red Cross, which is where it should go. My advice -- don't get your knickers in a twist when it isn't warranted..

But it's fun watching the knickers twist in the wind...

Yeah it will be fun watching the scammers getting a knock on their real life door by the Australian Federal Police.

You know this is quite sad to read. Are we doing it for our ego's?? Is it just to better our standing in SL?? I think not. Yes there is a real life out there, I have family and friends who are affected by the fires that what motivates me. Who cares if they dont know about SL , Do they really care where the money is coming from?? These Survivors have so much more on their plates then pettymindness and put downs. I have already donated AUD to the fund, but my event , Digital Angel, we have good people donating their time and efforts to help other less fortunate at this time. I am proud to be part of a community that is like this.

I am sorry that you think people are doing this for their egos, I am sorry you cannot see the good in what we are all doing. I am sorry you cant see the tears that we shed when we hear the news or hear from loved ones.

To all the others fundraising for the right reasons, good on ya!! Keep up the good work, keep your chin up and raise lots to help others in need.

I would have absolutely no objection to those who genuinely wish to support the cause, just to simply put up a nice big sign at an event, containing a link (URL) directly to the Australian Redcross website.

I think some need a crash course in accounting 101 ot economics 101 as well as morals and ethics.

To fellow Second Life Residents: DO NOT GIVE LINDENS to unauthorised collectors in Second Life. The official site to donate is http://www.redcross.org.au and you can donate via their Website or by Phone.

© Copyright SLWYD AND BEYOND is a Not for Profit Affiliate of © Copyright and ™ WYD 2008 operating in Second Life and at Http://www.slwyd.com. We would be happy to have a Victorian Bushfire Crisis awareness concert but our Homestead Region has an agent limit of 20 avatars.

Awareness by definition is having knowledge or perception of a situation or fact. Ref. Concise Oxford Dictionary of English 11th Edition. It empowers people to make their own decisions to donate to the Red Cross Appeal or simply offer support by numbers gathered in solidarity.

I live in the outer eastern suburbs of Melbourne and watch the constant fleet of helitankers and breath the smoke since 7.2.2009. I pray everyday for our CFA and interstate firefighters. We have many agencies doing all different kinds of work at Whittlesea.

If you are a LIVE performer or like the idea of an Victorian Bushire Awareness concert let me know. We are here for you and I too have a relative who lost 10 friends at Kinglake. My parents were to retire in Marysville and when they rebuild we will return for day trips and holidays but now is a time for mourning and remembering.

Benni Criss.
slwyd Project CEO

So true, you know logically you make sense, but at times like this emotions tend to win. We plan to have media playing at our event, as well as links to the Red Cross site so they can donate directly. Like I said , doesnt matter how it gets there, as long as it does. You are most welcome to come and join us on the day. In fact everyone is!!

I doubt they are going to make it all the way to the United States-slight matter of jurisdiction you know. Seriously, for your own well-being, let go. You're beginning to sound... umm... a bit too focused here.

I will only donate money to red cross.

1. This is not about ego, unless you are referring to yours.
2. What exchanges are you referring to ya silly mongrel? The 3.5% fee and $1 USD transaction fee that Linden Labs charges on all transactions except charities like Relay For Life, or the currency exchange fees which are basically hidden but still charged by Paypal?
3. Your behaviour in this forum and in light of our tremendous effort is 'unAustralian'.

Not impressed. You're an idiot clearly.

You do your little donations and play in Gor whilst us grownups forge the friendships and international connections we need in order to help our countrymen in their worst hour.

Oh and don't fight fire with fire...or I'll burn you at the stake...like a steak...medium rare...then feed you to a furry! LMAO!

No problem. I will try to be there and I live in Sydney also. Its really the effectiveness of every single cent that counts which is our government's intention by ruling that no administration costs, and the like, are to be extracted from the donations given to the Red Cross. Its the only fund that is tallied up by the mass-media, currently standing at AUS$77M and the only fund that the is being considered by the rebuilding authorities which starts NOW. Its going to cost a fortune including the Royal Commision Enquiry.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/02/13/2490528.htm?site=centralvic

To be honest, many people will give more freely and easily to a kiosk in Second Life than to a website - even a Red Cross website. Some people in SL have SL earned lindens but would never give credit card info on a web site, not even the Red Cross site. It makes it easy for people to give cross borders and from countries that may restrict internet transactions of currency but think lindens are purely imaginary money.

The fashion community has raised hundreds of thousands of lindens which translate to thousands of dollars and I, for one, trust the people involved. The people operate reputable businesses in SL and have for a long time. They are people with reputations that would be damaged by scamming and have no reason to scam. I think it's reckless and irresponsible to throw around these sorts of accusations.

On a personal level, I also sincerely doubt that you gave 5 cents - your words, tone and attitude express nothing within miles of the quality of generosity and compassion that motivates charitable giving. At the risk of repeating myself, you sound like a miserable unhappy miserly person who seeks out reasons to avoid helping people. If you cannot express charity in your conversation and your language, how can you express it in your actions. Talk is easier than action and your talk fails on all levels.

I regard your post as a threat clearly breaching Linden Labs Terms of Service and Community Standards. Why are you being so defensive huh?

Gor? - Never heard of it. Age - you wouldn't know. Beside what are you doing trying to make this a game.

Typical! All this coming from a lame virtual CEO loser who could'nt make it in the bricks and mortar world - LMAO

Come and get me you tool.

It is incredibly sad to see anyone wasting this much time and energy disparaging the positive efforts of others without doing any actual investigation into the situation.

Meta Starostin - While your intentions may be good, you are doing a great disservice to yourself and others when you act like a child, name calling and hurling insults.

I think what we all need to remember is that in a time when the world is in a financial crisis, caring individuals using their skill in making pixelated goods and virtual dollars to assist others in need is not something we ever should discourage. I am not ignorant, I do not suggest that frauds do not exist, I am suggesting that the drive organized by Dakota Buck and Autumn Hykova is as transparent as possible, and as legitimate as they come.

Do not assume that the people involved in these drives are not your fellow countrymen, do not have friends and family equally affected by this tragedy, and do not feel every ounce of sadness and despair at the losses suffered, and that continue to be uncovered. You do not have exclusive right to grief, nor is that satisfaction going to help anyone.

Those who are out of work, are facing financial hardships in the real world may have a few virtual dollars that they can pool with others that together can actually make a difference and make them feel like they are doing something. Attitudes like M. Starostin's only serve to turn off those who are in a position to help in this way.

No one says that we should not be encouraging people to donate RL dollars via an official website, only that not everyone is in a position to do so. This drive is another way to help.
Do yourself a favor, if you have nothing to say that adds information, support, or legitimacy to your claims, then you might want to hold your comments. You are making yourself look ridiculous, and you are hurting the cause you claim to be helping. No one reading this thread would be inspired to donate in either SL or RL based on the venom and ill will you display.

~ Ketsy

If people really want to help, they should crawl out from behind their computers and get off your backsides and come here to Whittlesea, VIC and volunteer real help like hundreds of others.

Some of those drives here in SecondLife would only generate a small fraction of the amount that I have donated out of my own personal savings.

I have noticed posts that agree with me who are simply donors who have no vested interest and hidden agendas. Because of this I have achieved my purpose.