The CDS, Confederation of Democratic Sims, is the oldest functioning democracy in Second Life. All the details you could ever want can be found in our
website, but here's a quick overview!
CDS started on the SL mainlaind as an experiment in self-governance. It was placed on the old snow sims and encouraged by Linden Labs in 2004. (The main plaza in Neufreistadt is named after our original contact, Haney Linden.) Soon after that, Linden Labs started selling private islands, and our first sim (originally called Neualtenberg) was born.
Because we are a democracy, the citizens run the sims, not a single landlord as you see in most of Second Life. To do this, we have a federal government with three branches: the Representative Assembly, or "RA," (legislative branch) a Chancellor (executive branch) and the Scientific Council, our judicial branch.
Most of our citizens are as interested in the experiment of democracy in virtual worlds as the land and design ... but we put a lot of effort the latter! CDS plans land use and "zoning" in the same way as real world cities, and as you can see when you go there, the results usually are gorgeous. We have covenants, and we take them seriously.
There are at present five sims . . . click on the name to be taken there in Second Life.
NFS: Neufreistadt -- "New Free State" -- is a typical medieval Bavarian village, located on a cloudy mountaintop. If the "fog" bothers you, touch ctrl, alt, shift and the minus sign, all together, and it will be turned off. Shop the Neufreistadt Marktplatz, chat with friends in the Biergarten or spend some quiet moments at the Kirche (church). The MoCa (Museum of Contemporary Art) is not to be missed
AM: Alpine Meadow, to the North of NFS features mountainside home sites, a few pubs, an outdoor amphitheater called the Old Bowl, and beautiful landscapes, including a river tumbling down the mountain.
MON: Monastery, our newest sim, houses the CDS Monastery, hosting exhibits connected to wisdom, meditation, and knowledge. It is non denominational, and all visitors are welcome. But if you go, beware the ghost!
CN: Colonia Nova -- "New Colony" -- is an interpretation of Cologne, Germany under Roman Rule in about 50 AD. Public buildings here include the Thermae (Roman Baths), the CDS Amphitheater, an event partner site for the Metanomics lecture series, and the Praetorium, home of our governmental meetings. Particularly striking are the docks along the River Rhenus.
LA: Locus Amoenus, "Pleasant Place" in Greek, is an extension of the Roman colony. As the name implies, it is exceedingly lovely, with some beautiful homesites. The public beach is one of the nicest around, and there is a quay on the harbor where events are often held. Be careful about attending one of the evening concerts there -- you may come away hooked!
We've got many ways to participate in community life: government offices, NGO's with specific areas of interest and artistic, educational and fun events. By far our biggest resources are the many fascinating people who make up the CDS. If you are interested in learning more, using one of our buildings for an event or business, or buying land and joining us as a CDS Citizen, IM Anna Toussaint, Public Information Officer.
