I attended a follow up meeting last night for the SL Human Rights Festival, held last December to mark the 60th anniversary of the UN Declaration on Human Rights. It was nice to meet a bunch of really great individuals, with a lot of performing and organising talent, as well as a solid commitment to further work on promoting human rights in the medium of SL.

And that’s just what they’re planning. The festival generated so much enthusiasm that the group have decided to keep it going – helping use their talents and networks to bring together the many disparate human rights projects and groups already taking place in Second Life throughout the year, and coming together several times a year for bigger, more co-ordinated events.

Here’s some more information from their site if you’d like to come to the next meeting, or get involved in this great initiative in other ways.

Union Island is going to be taking part in a huge, six day cross-SL festival to mark the 60th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Some of Second Life’s leading musicians are coming together with human rights activists and organisations to stage dozens of special events, raising awareness, forming international links and having fun.

Please come by Union Island on 15 December at 8am SLT (4pm GMT, 5pm CET), when we’ll be discussing labour rights and human rights, with Philip Jennings, General Secretary of UNI Global Union, Zuzanna Gorska, socio-political issues expert for Solidarnosc (The Polish union federation Solidarity), and other unionists from around the world. From the adverse effects of globalisation to state repression of basic freedoms that many take for granted, there are a whole raft of issues where strong international action by unions and grassroots groups can make a real difference.

You can find out more about the festival and how to get involved at its own site: slhumanrightsfestival.wordpress.com