Second Life Takes on Darfur Conflict

A virtual world rally against the Darfur conflict was held in Second Life Tuesday, with actress Mia Farrow speaking on the importance of educating residents about the struggle in Sudan and what could be done to end the crisis.

Cambridge, Mass.-based Lichtenstein Creative Media, an independent media production company, organized a Second Life exhibit entitled "Our Walls Bear Witness -- Darfur: Who Will Survive Today?"

The exhibit was unveiled by Farrow, who works as a UNICEF goodwill ambassador; John Heffernan, director of the Genocide Prevention Initiative for the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum's Committee on Conscience; and Ron Haviv, the award-winning photojournalist whose images of Darfur were on display.

"The mantra of our family is that with knowledge comes responsibility," says Farrow. "I've been to the region three times, but I don't go just for me to understand. The whole idea is that I've had the privilege to pass on the knowledge."

Farrow says Second Life is a perfect forum for disseminating what's she learned, because the virtual world extends around the globe.

"I have a moral responsibility to transmit what I've witnessed," says Farrow. "[Second Life] provides a unique opportunity to convey what I know to be so, with the hope that I can pass on this knowledge to others."

Heffernan adds that Second Life "really allows us to build a subcommunity. It's far more interactive than a regular press conference. This back-and-forth is critical in helping to inform each other."

Heffernan, who helped organized the event, says the goal was to reach out to "anyone and everyone. Second Life is something that hasn't been tapped yet. There is a multiplier effect. It's critical for us to reach out to as many people as possible."