Eve Ensler, the playwright who brought us The Vagina Monologues, has for over a decade headed up an organization called V-Day with the aim of ending violence against women worldwide. This year, for the organization's 15th anniversary, their efforts have been focused on One Billion Rising, a planet-wide event in which women are being asked to "walk out, DANCE, RISE UP, and DEMAND an end to this violence." There will be a big event for One Billion Rising on Thursday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. at San Francisco City Hall featuring DJs, flash mobs, and more.

Every year, on Valentine's Day, V-Day has organized large events focused on both domestic violence and systematic, enculturated violence against women and girls around the world. This year's event is the most ambitious by far.

There are a bunch more events happening all day Thursday around the Bay, including a party at Cat Club, and a gathering at Dolores Park from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

As Ensler writes:

Dance is dangerous, joyous, sexual, holy, disruptive, contagious, it breaks the rules. It can happen anywhere, anytime, with anyone and everyone, and it's free. Dancing insists we take up space, we go there together in community. Dance joins us and pushes us to go further and that is why it's at the center of ONE BILLION RISING.

Above is the theme song for the event, with music and vocals by Tena Clark, and choreography by the legendary Debbie Allen.

For more information on the event, you can sign up here. Also, below, is the event already unfolding amongst avatars in Second Life.