Many of you may not know that rabble.ca is a virtual organization. We don’t have a real office space and we work from our homes from coast to coast to coast. Now, we’ve taken that virtual existence to a whole new level.

We’ve stepped through the looking glass into the world of Second Life. Second Life is a 3D online world that’s home to about four million residents (about 20,000 of whom are around at any given time).

If that’s hard to imagine, picture a high-end video game with a landscape you can explore at will. Now imagine that instead of hunting down trolls or participating in a first-person shooter, you (as represented by a 3D avatar) spend your time building a home, shopping, meeting folks from all over the world and discovering new educational institutions, libraries and nonprofits.

That’s Second Life.

Much of Second Life is taken up with malling, clubbing, exploring sexualities and adorning often buff avatars. But, an archipelago of non-profits and educators has emerged amidst the hedonism. Islands like Info Island, Cybercity and Better World Island are home to dozens of non-profits, NGOs, colleges, universities and libraries from all over the world.

Second Life now has a small, waterfront retreat on Better World Island, which is owned by Canadians Jackie and Raymond Brosseuk, and was started by Canadian broadcaster Susan Braiden. If you’re in Second Life already, you can find us here.

We’re in great company there. Just across the water from our virtual abode is Camp Darfur, a 3D simulation of a Sudanese refugee camp; just next door, CARE is setting up shop. Elsewhere on the island, the Centre for Water Studies and the Peace and Justice Centre offer visitors environmental education and an exploration of how the families of 9/11 victims have turned tragedy into a powerful force for good.

We’ll be using the space to get alternative Canadian news and issues out to a broader global audience. Plus, we’ll be reporting on non-profit and NGO developments in Second Life here on rabble.ca. Plus, watch for special in-world exhibitions and guest speakers coming to Second Life soon. We think virtual worlds like Second Life open up exciting opportunities for activism and make our first life more just.

We’re also looking for a team of volunteers to help us build, staff and create exhibits for our new virtual space. If you’re interested please contact Wayne MacPhail. Wayne, Medium Helvetic in Second Life, will be leading an introductory Second Life building class on Monday, March 13 at 7:00 p.m. EST (4:00 p.m. Second Life Time).

He also hosts the rpn podcast Who’s On Second? about non-profits and educators doing cool stuff in Second Life and his company, w8nc inc. has already created Second Life buildings and exhibits for McMaster University, Mohawk College and the Alzheimer Society of Ontario.

Attendance for the class is free and limited (but you must be willing to help rabble.ca out), so please let Wayne know soon if you’re interested. It will take place at our space in Second Life.

Hope you can join us and help out!