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For more and more environmental organisations there is a real dilemma about wanting to meet (especially internationally) while at the same time needing to cut back sharply on travel carbon.

That's why at OneClimate we have been developing our virtual meeting spaces at OneClimate.net. For example, at the UNFCCC meeting in Poznan, people at their desks around the world were able to put their questions directly to Yvo de Boer and then meet each other afterwards.

Using Second Life to achieve these virtual meetings has been a tech problem for some potential participants. But there's excellent news now that by the end of the year (hopefully in time for Copenhagen) we should be able to access these virtual worlds with a standard browser in a standard PC. 

So this could be a good time to acclimatise in Second Life - to be ready for this much wider access. If your organisation is interested and meets the conditions, we are offering free land on our new EcoCommons island. Here you can build your virtual offices, exhibition areas, video showings and private or public meetings. Groups like the Sierra Club have already taken up residence, so if you'd like to join this new inworld community, please send me a message in OneClimate or leave a comment on this post.

About EcoCommons

EcoCommons is a virtual location, or island in Second Life (sim) designed for environmental organizations. Developed by TechSoup’s Nonprofit Commons team in partnership with OneWorld.net and OneClimate Island in Second Life, EcoCommons provides a network for environmentally-focused nonprofits to promote awareness, community-building and environmental education efforts in the virtual world and beyond. 

Earth Day, Wed. April 22nd, is the official launch of the EcoCommons in Second Life. In additional to educational sessions and presentations, this interactive, mixed reality event will feature a keynote speech from the office of Congressman Ed Markey (D-Mass), Chairman of the Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, broadcast from Second Life. The launch event is part of the TechSoup Global GreenTech Initiative's month-long campaign: Telegreening Your Work, to educate social benefit organizations on how to save money and the environment by using technologies, such as Second Life, to work remotely and collaborate online.

About the Nonprofit Commons in Second Life

Nonprofit Commons consists of three virtual locations (sims), with a fourth underway. Housing over 70 social benefit organizations, the Nonprofit Commons is managed by a community of volunteers, under the leadership of TechSoup Global: http://www.techsoup.org.

Nonprofit Commons was designed to lower the barriers of access to Second Life, to create a community of practice for nonprofits to explore and learn about the virtual world, and to investigate the many ways in which nonprofits might utilize this unique environment. Through this community, we provide free office space to qualifying groups, meet and network, create a cooperative learning environment and foster outreach, education, fund-raising, all in a virtual space.

Our focus is on providing an accessible entry-point to Second Life and on creating a community of nonprofit organizations (NPOs) for effective collaboration and support. We believe that Second Life is a wonderful place not just to entertain, but also to educate, inspire, and work together to assist our fellow avatars (and the humans behind them). You do not have to be a resident of the Nonprofit Commons to get involved with our community. We welcome all who wish to join us as partners, collaborators or supporters.

Nonprofit Commons1 sim was donated by Anshe Chung Studios and Nonprofit Commons2 sim donated by TakingIT Global. The third Nonprofit Commons location, EcoCommons, was developed in partnership with OneWorld/OneClimate specifically for environmentally-oriented organizations. Our fourth sim will be focused on health-related nonprofits.

Members of Nonprofit Commons meet each Friday at 8:30 PST/SLT at Plush Nonprofit Commons Ampitheater. Visitors are always welcome to join us in making a difference one pixel at a time.

Visit us online:
Nonprofit Commons Blog:http://www.nonprofitcommons.org   and wiki: http://npsl.wikispaces.com  
OneWorld/OneClimate.net: http://www.oneclimate.net  
TechSoup GreenTech Initiative: http://www.techsoup.org/greentech