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18 Years and counting...Got SL News? Get it Published! Contact Lanai Jarrico at lanaijarrico@gmail.com

Friday, August 21, 2015

Explore Adventure and Fantasy at The Drow Realm of Luth



The Drow Realm of Luth is a great city built deep underground. If you're a fan of dark roleplay, visit Luth and feast your eyes on a great underdark city. 


 Lloth's City at Luth underdark is a  dark  fantasy role play sim. Experience combat role play, SpellFire, Medieval Fantasy, archery and swords . There are Tournaments in the Arena as well as dungeons and dragons.

It is important to note it is NOT BDSM, bondage or sex sim. Nudity is not allowed in public unless it is in the context of a role play scenario or special event.  We ask that you dress in appropriate medieval/fantasy attire and wear your Unity combat meter and or OOC Tag (obtained at landing point and from the welcome kit)

Let the role play begin!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Luth/127/129/1001

The Liberta Bullring Music Festival - Debby Sharma reporting ....


This weekend “The Liberta Bullring Music Festival” celebrates the love for music and the freedom it bestows on each soul. The rhythm we hear when a string or a drum is played in periodic intervals; the feeling to move and groove when we hear a beat; the peace that is interpreted in every note is the result of music.

Pic by Leela Qissinger
Rejoicing the love for music, we have partied since our noob days in Second Life. A one of a kind festival hits the grid to celebrate the best music ever. A three day event would be taking the grid by storm, the Liberta Music Festival will be held this weekend. The kick off of the pre-opening will begin at 3:45 pm on Friday, 21st August, 2015 with two DJs mixing live music followed by fireworks and DJ Bully (Bully Trisk) commencing the start of the music festival at 6:00 pm SLT, the same day. I had the opportunity to interview Bully Trisk. Here are a few words from the person who consolidated a good team to host a big event.

Debby Sharma: Please tell us about yourself.

Bully Trisk (Bully67): I’m just a guy who enjoys Second Life and all that it has to offer. I especially love how it’s a remarkable platform to connect with others around the world, who you can share your passions with and learn from.

Debby Sharma: What was your motivation to host a Music festival?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): Music itself has been a very big part of my life since I can remember. I have seen many examples, in first and second lives, how music has the ability to easily connect people who would otherwise have very little in common. It’s always been the goal of my SL family to engage with that process. It was a natural next step in our combined journey to invite all whom may wish to attend, the chance to see, touch, feel and taste the magic we’ve experienced through the appreciation of the diversity music offers.

Debby Sharma: We know “Liberta” has come from the Latin word meaning freedom. What is the significance of this name, “Liberta Bullring Music Festival” to you?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): Freedom is a concept that I believe is either sought after or enjoyed all around the world. Especially lately with everything that is happening, we felt that offering a reminder to all that no matter what our life’s circumstance are, or the myriad of challenges we face in our daily lives, that music and expression through music can connect and free us all from the limitations we sometimes feel shackled by. Even if it’s just a song in our hearts that we silently carry with ourselves, there is sense that we have the power to individually and collectively experience Liberty.

Pic by Leela  Qissinger

Debby Sharma: What are the best things about your team? Are there any special moments with them that you would remember for life?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): The best thing about my team is that I have been blessed to have them on this project. They are very dear to me, and each person is tremendously talented and determined, having strengths in areas that sometimes I do not. Their ability to work as a team for the first time on a major project and do it without ego or for the purposes of self-aggrandizement is humbling and inspirational. Each day honestly has been a whirlwind of excitement and successes, fun and hearty laughs that I will never forget.

The Bullring Family

Debby Sharma: What kind of music would we be expecting during the festival and who are performing?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): With only a few exceptions, the music experienced throughout the festival will be mixed live on stage by some of the best DJ’s from around the globe. We’re focusing on Electronic dance music, but to say that is a genre is almost a misnomer. Because there are hundreds of sub genres in EDM and EBM, it is sure to be an exhibition in diversity, with something for everyone.

Debby Sharma: What would you like to tell your sponsors, supporters and fans?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): To my Sponsors, Lick Sim Design and Something Estates, I wish to express my sincere gratitude for believing in us enough to partner with us and make this happen. They are very wonderful and amazing brands, run by some extremely incredible people. To my supporters within the family and those others around me, I wish to simply say I love you truly, thank you for being there always and adding your light to my life. And finally to my fans…. Thanks Mom!!! (Smiles)

Pic by Leela Qissinger 
Debby Sharma: Do you have any plans to extend this festival to a yearly event? Or do we expect any new kind of festivals in near future?

Bully Trisk (Bully67): I think it’s safe to say there are some projects already on the table for the future, but right now I’m staying wholly focused on today because it’s where the magic happens. Thank you so much for asking such great questions and I hope to see you and your amazing team at SL Enquirer here at this amazing event!

Pic by Leela Qissinger

Since only a few counting hours left before the event starts. Here are few things that are a must see this weekend:

-          The Venue designed by Sera Bellic of Lick Sim Designs who has generously offered to sponsor. The Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/X/65/114/62

-          The Liberta Bullring Music Festival. The link to the schedule: http://www.bullringfamily.com/#!schedule/o3cvv

-          Designer Vendors with exclusive items like Addiction Jewelry, The Doll House, Beemee, Indescent Exposure, FK Designs, Tanoshi, M&M Incorporated, Latreia Foot Fashions, Loud Mouth, 8-bit Alchemy and Empyrean Forge are available at the Liberta Market celebrating the freedom of music. Landmark: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/X/65/114/62

-          The Photography Contest held till August 22nd, 2015 for the patrons of Liberta to express their “Liberta Magic”, choosing 3 winners and the top winner receiving 10,000L$. The rules to the challenge and other info are detailed in the following link. http://www.bullringfamily.com/#!photo-challenge-rules/im8ip

-          Promotional Offer given by Something Estates, another generous sponsor, till August 31st, 2015 of a free rental week for renting a week for a new parcel by new and existing renters which can be availed up to 8 weeks using the Promo Code, “LIBERTA PROMOTION”. Landmark to the Estate Office: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Something/64/64/37

Hope to see you there at the kick-off party of The Liberta Bullring Music Festival. Let us all participate in the grand festival for various genres of music.

Reference Links:


Thursday, August 20, 2015

GIZZA CREATIONS - NEW COLLECTION


Please welcome the new, fresh GizzA - Sidney Blazer Sets. A summer savvy ensemble of a quarter sleeve blazer with matching shorts and tucked in tanktop t shirt underneath. Perfect for the seasonal occassions where you need to show off your business smart looks, but with a vibrant twist.

GizzA - Sidney Blazer Set comes in 6 color packs, with the option to change the underlaying t shirt, where you have 15 colors to choose from via the texture changer HUD.
Main-store: 
Market

Wednesday, August 19, 2015

New kid at the cutting table - Lacy Muircastle reporting ....


Do you know your neats from your knife-pleats; your lettuce hems from your unitards; and your vents from your yokes? Katie does ….  Who’s Katie?  She is an emerging SL fashion designer and her brand is AK Designs, that’s who Katie is.

She is from the UK and works as a charitable volunteer for Oxfam.  She came to SL after she watched a trailer for Second Life.  It immediately piqued her interest and she signed on.  She says it has given h the outlet she needed to express her talents, she said “I’m very creative in real life and love art and clothing design.”

I asked her how she got into fashion in SL and she replied “Well I was thinking of trying my hand at something new and I was always sketching dresses in real life so I decided to teach myself how to texture clothing in Second Life and AK Designs was born.”

Her design style is very elegant and formal and she loves to experiment with sequins and more classical looks.

Distant Thunder Fashion Academy


Showcasing Styles For Every Occasion



Distant Thunder Fashion Academy host a Fashion Show at the end of every month. We showcase breathtaking designs in four categories by wonderful creators. Our models have had the pleasure of gracing our runway in designs by Morea Styles, Biker Bratz & Basters, Like Design, Carries Lingerie, Luas; to name a few.  We can't wait to show off more alluring looks as we open our doors to even more creators! Our shows will leave your jaw on the floor and eyes spinning with desire. Come join us at then end of the month and get your fashion fix like no other!
Any creators wanting to participate in one of our fashion shows can contact:

Kimmy Maldor (Kimmy Underwood) Owner
Fiona Whelan (Fionawhelan68 Resident) Marketing & Promotions 

There is no cost to participate, just the donation of outfits of your choosing. Promotions are done via many outlets both inworld and on social media.  There is space available for sponsors to put out vendors in the Distant Thunder Rock club as well as the Fashion Academy venue, if the sponsor desires.



::: GRINDERS :: THE PLACE TO BE FOR LIVE ENTERTAINMENT & KARAOKE


From acoustic / electric performers to karaoke / open mic singers and DJ's, we have for you the perfect venue. Our relaxed bar with main stage, DJ booth and Jukebox, brings performers from all around Second Life.

We offer a very friendly and welcoming atmosphere, come and join us, we would love to have you here.  Feel free to take to the stage or enjoy the music. Anyone interested in entertaining, please apply within.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Bubblegum/214/103/22

The State of Formal Role Play in SL: The Realm of the Forgotten – Stareyes Galaxy Reporting....



You often see avatars in Second Life (SL) with profiles describing their addiction to “Role Play” (RP). While it might be said that the whole idea of SL is a role-play experience for avatars, to RP enthusiasts, there is a vastly different meaning to the term. Stareyes Galaxy went out of her way to seek an authentic, “formal style” role play experience in Second Life.

In the days before Internet chat rooms, Usenet groups, and multi-user dungeons, role playing was a structured form of group exploration where a game master (GM) or dungeon master (DM) typically led a troupe of well-meaning characters on forays of the unknown in fantasy and science fiction settings. The action was expressed as the players’ verbal description of what they would do in any given situation, as the “campaign” trudged on, with the GM and players deciding on outcomes of the actions (especially combat) by throwing sets of odd-shaped dice on the gaming table. The player characters were represented by elaborately painted pewter figures on the gaming board.  As the players matured, consumption of soft drinks during the RP sessions might transform to cases of beer. Later, these players discovered the wonders of online gaming, and RP became a subculture residing in the Usenet groups on the Internet, typically with an alt.* domain name, and “multi-user dungeons” residing on some obscure university mainframe computers.

Relay Rockers to Present Second Annual Alliez Mysterio Awards This Sunday, August 23rd




Entertainment to Include EffinJay and T1Radio's Trader Whiplash

August 17,  Relay dAlliez - The Relay Rockers announced today that they will present the Alliez Mysterio  Award thisSunday, August 23, 2015 at 3pm SLT.  The ceremony will feature entertainment by EffinJay (Frogg Marlowe and JayCatt Nico), and conclude with T1Radio's Time Machine Show featuring Trader Whiplash.

The Alliez Mysterio Award is presented each year to the person or persons who, in the opinion of the team's award committee, have exhibited "Relentless Dedication" and have made an "Enduring Contribution" to the Relay For Life of Second Life.  The award, which memorializes team co-founder Alliez Mysterio, who was lost to Breast Cancer in the fall of 2013, was first awarded in 2014 to Nikki Mathieson and Dwen Dooley.

Alliez, one of the original Second Life Estate owners, helped found the Relay Rockers with Nuala Maracas (2015 Relay Event Coordinator) and T1Radio's Trader Whiplash during the SL's first Relay season in 2005.  The team, which has participated in all 11 virtual relays was the top fundraising team this season, earning the Ruby Fundraising award and amassing more than $15,000 of support for the American Cancer Society.

GLIMPSES – Techno/Poetry Album Launch




 Friday 21 August 2 – 5pm SLT (PDT)
You are invited to the SL album launch of "Glimpses - Chapter 1” – an extraordinary audio/poetry collaboration between SL artist Thoth Jantzen and real life Techno music Producer Cari Lekebusch.
You can download the album and find out more about this SL/RL crossover project here:
Cari Lekebusch: H-PRODUCTIONS: Official HQ  -  http://www.lekebuschmusik.se/glimpses/


Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Get a Model Career at Rodeo Drive Modeling Agency- 900L an Hour!


Start your model career, have lots of fun being a SL model and you could be earning up to L$900 hour, or more for events.

Want to B a model but cant take classes? For a limited time we are offering a self study model course! Yes, learn all you need to know to be a SL model, and have guaranteed work after graduation. Information at the reception desk.

We are the only school that guarantees work after graduation. Here since 2007, not a temporary place that will disappear before you do your first runway  show.

Check us out: Making great models since 2007.

Teleport Here:
http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Vice%20Beach/90/178/22

Monday, August 17, 2015

Introducing GizzA - Molly Blazer Dresses


What was the song again? Good Golly Miss Molly?

Well, they weren't wrong and GizzA is here to show you this with the new GizzA - Molly Blazer Dresses. Fashionable rolled sleeve blazers that are paired with an airy sumer mine dress underneath. Perfect color combinations are offered to you, in 6 available color packs, which each has 2 colors / patterns for blazers in them and a texture changer HUD for the underlaying dress, with no less then 16 options to select.

Main-store: 

Marketplace

Sunday, August 16, 2015

Dazzling Sale at Zuri Jewelry- New Countdown Creations and Much More!



New Fifty5L's Sales and Steals and Deal Sales!
Sunshine Jewelry Sets- Zuri Jewelry- Turquoise/Pink and Blue Opal/Peridot stunning Necklace and Earrings both 50% off.

NEW 55L's leather Bracelet! Cool gray leather with a mesmerizing green opal - For the romantic- From the Heart Ring -Blue Opal / Still available: Men's Ring - Medieval Choker+Bracelet - Butterfly Dreams Earrings just 55L. 
See here- http://tinyurl.com/omwj3u4

56 new cycling items in 5 LUCKY CHAIRS today! All renewed! You can buy them discounted, right next to the chairs! Life too short to wait for your letter to show up!
LATEST RELEASES - The Mist Collection, a lovely fantasy dream! Coral and Elite -gem, metal, pearl change. Tiaras of the Mist - 9 individual colors and two Elite -gem, pearl change.
Be sure to stop by SWANK for Zuri's New Fall Releases- Serenity and Charlotte Sets will make you drool- all discounted.

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jewels%20Isle/197/187/24


Saturday, August 15, 2015

What Will Become of Second Life When Project Sansar Opens it's Glorious Gates in 2016?- Lanai Jarrico Reporting...



For a decade plus two years, Second Life has been a place of great promise, creativity, global culture and a virtual community like no other. It’s a distraction from the negatives in the world in which we live. With virtual culture comes great uncertainty. Having the ability to create our own paths in a virtual world, the tension of everyday life is soothed by our fantasies of what a perfect world could be. We have shared ideas, we’ve built, gained friendships, felt love and great loss. Can we survive more change?

On the other hand change is required to advance technology, or should that be to keep up with the advancement of technology.  We may be nothing but pixels in our virtual world, but we are very much human behind the screen.  Being human means that we will do our utmost to resist change.

Leadership is about leading, but it’s also about implementing change and this is where Linden Labs comes into the picture. While many people like to joke that the only constant in life is change, change has an interesting way of affecting people that can often result in resistance. This resistance can range from fairly subtle, such as avoidance or passive aggressive behavior, all the way to outright defiance, hostility, and sabotage. The best way to avoid resistance to change? Seek to uncover potential resistance prior to implementing change.  In the Linden interviews at SL12B, Ebbe Altberg CEO of Linden Labs made a commitment to have a monthly ‘Question Time’ with the Lindens, which does not appear to have transpired and so the resistance to change continues to gather momentum.


The culture of our virtual world is one that cannot be easily defined or provide one voice or perspective. For each of us, it tells a unique story, one that cannot be repeated in exact detail. Time is the only thing we all share as we spread out across the grid and into our own interests. None of us knows what the future holds but we all share in the uncertainty of what will become of us. We are a culture like no other. We’ve grown alongside technological advances and what the virtual world can do in the midst of this great computer age. Possibilities are endless, creativity is infinite but the end of a virtual world era, might be close at hand.  Perhaps for a few or thousands. For others there is promise of greater things to come in another virtual world; Sansar.

But do we willingly sacrifice all we have done, put our tools and creations down, and set our sights on a new virtual world built off the backs of everyone who has made Second Life what it is today? On the promise of what oculus rift has to offer?  A more immersive technology that grants us the ability to wear goggles to experience a virtual world we have struggled  to keep afloat? Is that enough?


How do we start over without repercussion, or giving up what we already have? I’ve witnessed mass exodus from one virtual world to another before, and the bonds of community and a unique culture were lost forever. How do we know this will not happen again and take years to rebuild? Nothing comes without a price and as for the approaching future of change,the price of our time will be unaffordable. It cannot be reimbursed or returned. How do we trust the promise of something greater when we have struggled with the same unfixable issues for over 12 years? Lag, Trolls, drama, greed and disrespect for others.  These will follow us into the next world only repeating the same issues we already fight against in Second Life. Does it make sense to even make an effort anymore?  We will really have to start from scratch all over again

To quote Mr. Ebbe Altberg from a recent interview in Variety -  (link to full interview at the bottom of this article)

“However, Linden Lab CEO Ebbe Altberg believes that Project Sansar can eclipse Second Life. “Second Life hit the ceiling at the hobbyist level,” he said during a recent interview, explaining that it once had slightly more than 1 million monthly active users, while still attracting just below 900,000 monthly users in 2015. Sansar isn’t just supposed to one day become bigger, but also much more instrumental to the success of virtual reality itself.”

He continued further on:

“But the most fundamental difference between Second Life and Project Sansar is a lot more conceptual: Second Life has always been first and foremost about Second Life itself. Sansar will be about individual VR experiences, powered by Linden Lab’s technology.
Project Sansar will allow brands and other developers to build their own VR experiences, and then deep-link to them from their websites or third-party apps. Users will still have to have the Project Sansar software installed to use them, but it will feel a lot more like custom experiences. “Second Life is a platform dressed as a product,” said Altberg. Project Sansar will be a platform that will allow others to build products. “The experience is the primary brand,” he said.”
So do we trust Linden Labs to lead us in the right direction?  The very ones who seem to have shown us abandonment for the promise of something better? Do we fall to our knees and praise words from those who moved on to other projects they are not 100% sure will succeed? Everything about virtual world advancement is based on speculation and words of a few. What power do they hold over our time and creativity? The power to pull the plug if they so desire?  What is our incentive to trust?


What about the media? Should we trust them? The free agents who spend their time involved in the community and share the happenings across the grid ( without influence from the Lindens as far as we know) They are the ones that have a greater understanding of what is going on within our virtual community and hear the concerns of residents.

The media who do their utmost to keep the community informed of what is happening in and around SL receive very little credit for their efforts.  This then causes rumour mongering while everyone chases their tails trying to figure out what the Lindens will do next. Linden Labs need to recognise that the SL Media can give them a voice much louder than just a few postings on the forums found on the dashboard of our accounts. That’s why I was so encouraged to read about the promise that Ebbe Altberg made to Jo Yardley and Saffia Widdershins about “Question Time”with the Lindens, which appears to be a non starter.

When was the last time a Linden showed interest in what you do unless you are making them thousands of dollars? Everything else is domestic issues and not of concern to them. Although apparently Xiola Linden is responsible for community engagement, whatever that means and I understand that Ebbe Altberg does walkabouts in SL at times and is even alleged to have a SL home somewhere too.

Sim Owners above all have special advantages because they pay huge fees and do all the leg work to provide a place for those who can only afford a parcel to rent. The ones who lose the most are venue owners who pay not only for the land they rent but also for the entertainment they provide visitors, who in turn rarely tip the venues or the musical talent. It is an uneven economy that is consumed with inside politics.

If and when these Land Barons move on to Sansar will they reach the same success as they have in SL or fall to the bottom of the totem pole only to claw their way to the top and repeat the same unfortunate events? That’s highly unlikely since it has been touted that everyone will be given land on signing up for SANSAR, so the need for residential estates will be negated, or is that just a rumour?

Much can be said for the creators of products in Second Life. With so many stores selling fashion, accessories, furniture and other necessities, the market is so saturated and spread thin it is nearly impossible to make a real world living for everyone. The lucky ones have found a niche in the market but the time they spend chasing new ideas and creating new products is traded in for having less of a personal real life that holds the same amount of value. They are forced to weigh the importance of making money and spending a lot of time in SL and being less present in their real world.

But wait! If the rumor that land will be free in Sansar and creators cannot transfer their products into the new world is true, where will that leave the competing creators and landlords when and if a mass exodus takes place? The speculation and unknowns have me wondering if it is even worth giving up everything for a new grid or even live a virtual life, when our real one is more important.


Only time will answer all these questions. My options are to wait to make my final decision and continue to write about Second Life, the virtual world I once loved so greatly and have invested 10 years in, or I can cut my loses and jump ship now.

What will you do?

http://variety.com/2015/digital/news/second-life-maker-linden-lab-wants-to-build-the-wordpress-of-virtual-reality-1201546110/



*Special Thanks to Lacy Muircastle for her insight and contributions to this article

KiX Creations End of Summer Sale 50% OFF! August 15 thru August 22nd



KiX is pleased to bring you an end of summer sale of all items in our furniture range.  All our animations are exclusive to KiX and handmade to fit our exclusive mesh furniture.  Our focus is high quality low impact mesh with animations and props you cannot find anywhere else in Second Life. 

Come and visit our main store today and see for yourself!

http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Belair/31/212/21


For more information visit http://kixcreations.blogspot.com

Friday, August 14, 2015

Project Hope Island- Debby Sharma Reporting...


“Don’t pray for an easy life, pray for the strength to endure a difficult one.”
-          Bruce Lee


It is failure, loss, loneliness and grief that we all have faced at some time or the other. At some point of our life, we have wanted to end this life, however short the moment might be. Loss of a loved one, loss of self-respect, failure in an examination, failure to provide for family, failure to be someone respectable in society and so on. With so many challenges and obstacles that life presents us, there are numerous man made challenges like abuse, trafficking, murders and other criminal activities. The trail doesn’t end here, there are incurable diseases like Cancer to natural disasters; there are wars to droughts to hunger and poverty. Every day we wake up to face a new challenge in order to survive another day. In a perfect world, a father works hard to support his family, a mother works hard to feed her family, a child works hard to assure the future of the family. The daily life starts with posing outright obstacles and ends with a relief of living another day.
Photography Credits: Google Search
Suicide is said to be a cowardice act, a crime in eyes of law, an evil deed in Lord’s eyes. We often hear it is easy to end a life; it is difficult to live one. But how often have we taken the initiative to learn the reasons where a victim is forced to take his/her life? How often have we looked over our shoulder to provide support to the one who has lost the battle? How often have we offered a hand of support without expecting anything in return? We often say something like we are so busy in our lives; we have so many problems to deal with; I have given a donation to a charity; the company that I work for has charitable branch and I donate monthly. But, have we ever given a thought to whose life are we making a difference to in such a support? Have we ever wanted to listen to part of the story of the victim?
Project Hope Island is a place of serenity created by Arwen Mannonen for individuals who need help; people who are distressed and want to commit suicide. It is a peer to peer support group, functioning to give resources and encouragement for the one who have none. Resources like Help-line numbers, Support groups, Domestic Violence resources and Books to prevent suicide.
Photography Credits: Leela Qissinger


A few of the resources are listed below.
Self-Injury Resources:
Books:
·         Cut  by Patricia McCormick
·         Cutting: Understanding and Overcoming Self-Mutilation by Steven Levenkron
·         A Bright Red Scream by Marilee Strong
Groups for Help with Self Injury
·         Safe Haven:  Online  http://gabrielle.self-injury.net/
·         Daily Strength:  online  http://www.dailystrength.org/c/Self-Injury/support-group
·         S.A.F.E Alternatives: http://www.selfinjury.com/  

Visiting the resource office would enable one to open the doors to hot line numbers to national and domestic violence in U.K., U.S.A. among others. The National Domestic Violence Hotline answers more than 21,000 calls per month from victims, survivors, friends and family members, law enforcement personnel, domestic violence advocates and the general public. Hotline advocates provide support and assistance to anyone involved in a domestic violence situation, including those in same-sex relationships, male survivors, those with disabilities and immigrant victims of domestic violence. All calls to the National Domestic Violence Hotline are anonymous and confidential.
How does the Hotline Services work? According to the Project Hope Island Resources, these are the following pointers.

·         Crisis intervention, safety planning, information about domestic violence and referrals to local service providers
·         A direct connection to domestic violence resources available in the caller’s area provided by a Hotline advocate

·         Assistance in both English and Spanish with Hotline advocates having access to more than 170 different languages through interpreter services
·         Assistance through e-mail on the contact page
·         Informational materials on such topics as domestic violence, sexual assault, battering intervention and prevention programs, working through the criminal justice system and related issues

The list doesn’t exhaust here, Terminal Illness Resources, Suicide prevention and survivor resources, Internet Resources like http://www.save.org and other books like “Step Back from the Exit: 45 Reasons to Say No to Suicide by Jillayne Arena” among others are available. Books are peer support for trans-person and their family are also available like the book written by R. Nick Gorton, MD; Jamie Buth, MD & Dean Spade (2005) on "Medical Therapy and Health Maintenance for Transgender Men: A Guide For Health Care Providers", attempts to provide the knowledge necessary to care for transmen before, during and after transition.

Domestic Violence is seen in almost any households today. Stress, peer pressure, money and power, societal norms and sometimes religions too among other stimuli pose a threat to an individual. Irrespective of a developed or a developing country, domestic violence not only includes abuse to women but also child abuse, child sexual abuse, elder abuse, rape or sexual assault to both women and men among others. This leads us to the bravest step of asking ourselves, “Am I being abused?” in the name of love and care. If yes, please don’t hesitate to ask for help from a family member, friend, relative you trust or call the help line number of your locality. There are numerous organisations fighting to stop abuse. However, the first step and the bravest one are in your hand. Project Hope Island is a community within a virtual world to offer help and support.

Photography Credits: Leela Qissinger



When you are writing your story about your life, don’t let anyone else hold the pen for you. Take the first step to fight back. Your step would end the tyranny and would help and others you love to face a new day with a new hope. 

 
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