What's In Your Box? We ask Cooltribe.com, Greenwala.com, Greenopolis.com and Greenopia.com? GreenSource Knowledge Paper #2 from PlanetShifter.com - Driven by the Event Circle Interview Series
Submitted by Willi on Sun, 25 Oct 2009 - 11:14
Four Trends in Green Community Making from Cooltribe.com, Greenwala.com, Greenopolis.com and Greenopia.com. GreenSource Knowledge Paper #2 from PlanetShifter.com - Driven by the Event Circle Interview Series
[ONE:] One big challenge for virtual communities is to bring members together in person. Without this face-to-face trust and knowledge building, local action and change is restricted.
Question One for the Four Site Leaders: Are you promoting off-site gatherings?
Hessia Fernandes: Cooltribe.com
Yes we are. Although I would like to reiterate that we are more of a digital movement, we are attending green festivals mainly in the UK. This summer we attended 10 festivals and it was fascinating to see how many people care about environmental issues and want to lower their carbon footprint.
Rajeev Kapur: Greenwala.com
Not yet, but we are close. You may hear more about these opportunities soon.
Joe Laur: Greenopolis.com
In a small way- we sponsored the dTour concerts this year, and have been active in some sports venues
Gay Browne: Greenopia.com
Not as much as I'd like. I'm hoping to change this moving forward.
[TWO:] If online community building "repeats itself," then we may be in trouble. New models and tools are needed to bring diverse cultures, politics and geographic regions together.
Question Two for the Four Site Leaders: What online community models did / do you reference?
Cooltribe.com
We didn't reference a specific online community model. Sure Facebook is a platform we look up to as they are hugely successful in getting people talking and as and when we develop, we will be including some of their key features. Treehugger is another online community that we get our inspiration from. I guess Cooltribe is a mixture of these models
Greenwala.com
There really wasn't one community model that I can say we modeled Greenwala around. At the end of the day, our focus is on community, commerce, content and convenience. We perused Facebook and MySpace, Craigslist and green-focused sites like Treehugger. The Greenfeed on our site is a bit of a homage to Twitter and we recently integrated Yahoo Green into our site. In addition, the Greenwala store partners with Amazon.
Greenopolis.com
Facebook at first, but now more Huffington Post - we want people to come here and learn, and track their offline recycling and waste elimination.
Greenopia.com
We followed the Zagat style of book with the Michelin star ratings system. We feel that consumers need to have both experiences to make an informed decision. We are using YELPs community comments until our viewership is bigger.
[THREE:] Clearly, research at PlanetShifter.com supports the need to create new songs, symbols and stories in a mythic re-birth of the planet and our flagging consciousness. What symbols are you creating?
Question Three for the Four Site Leaders: Are you creating new green symbols and myths?
Cooltribe.com
I think our main symbol is our brand and the five claw marks. It truly means that we can all do our bit for the environment and leave a more natural legacy behind us.
Greenwala.com
Greenwala is creating a community. We hope that the Greenwala community becomes the symbol for those wanting to either learn how to be green/greener or want to provide their knowledge to the community and share their expertise.
Greenopolis.com
Let' s hope so. We need them desperately. "Waste is food" needs to replace "throw it away", "Live on solar income" needs to replace "drill baby, drill"!
Greenopia.com
Hopefully, not myths, but an appreciation and recognition for those businesses and services that are going the extra mile to be socially and ecologically responsible for their customers. The mission of our company is to make it easier to shop, eat and live a greener life.
[FOUR:] An online community without a change agenda is like a lion in a zoo. Can you conduct social activism from your home office?
Question Four for the Four Site Leaders: What social justice issues / campaigns are active at the community?
Cooltribe.com
Our current environmental campaign is our "saving the rainforests initiative". We are passionate about helping the rainforests and work closely with our tree planting partner. The rainforest is one of the biggest and most important living stores of carbon on the planet through its ability to convert atmospheric carbon dioxide into solid carbon and keeping it locked in the tree trunks for centuries. At the current rate of deforestation, three quarters of the Amazon will be depleted by 2030. Cooltribe believes that by restoring vast areas of rainforest, it is possible to recapture carbon at a significant rate whilst protecting biodiversity and supporting local communities by providing them decent work.
Greenwala.com
For one, when anyone becomes a Greenwala member, we plant a tree in their name. We think this is a nice way to start your Greenwala experience. In addition, we have a contest for causes platform. See campaigns running for PETA, Thank you Ocean and others. We just completed campaigns that supported Trees For The Future, Kiva and Ashoka. Thousands of people have participated and we hope that this model will allow for people to truly engage with Green brands and support some great causes at the same time!
Greenopolis.com
A lot - Vitamin Angels is an NGO that gets vitamins to kids in Africa and elsewhere; Dean's Beans brings fair trade and organic practices to coffee lands worldwide. Those are just two examples.
Greenopia.com
We deal with fair and direct trade, but we do come across some environmental justice issues from time to time.
[FIVE:] We desperately need a better Hero. We need to know who the so-called "thought leaders" follow and what new knowledge they bring to the table. Heroes take us along on their journeys. Who are yours?
Question Five: Who are your Heroes?
Cooltribe.com
Anita Roddick for trying something new and ethical at a stage when no one talked sustainability, climate change and so on. That is true leadership and vision. Jean Jacques Cousteau has been a big inspiration for me since I was a child. I am French and used to watch all his programmes. His passion for the environment and especially for the marine life was tantalizing and palpable even from the screen. A true hero in my eyes.
Greenwala.com
My parents, definitely. Also, my two sons. Every day I learn how to be a better father, friend and all-around person by being around them. My wife has been incredibly supportive throughout this whole journey and in many cases she is greener than I. Outside of my family, I grew up a huge Lakers fan (still am) and was amazed at what Magic Johnson could do. I am a student of Gandhi and love to read and learn about people that have made making a difference a priority.
Greenopolis.com
Gandhi, Israel Salanter, and anyone who takes the next small step to make a difference.
Greenopia.com
I have a lot of green heroes. The green area is full of notable and respectable individuals. Among them, Wangari Mathai, who won a Nobel Peace Prize for her work in planting trees in Africa and for breaking the forestry devastation. Andy Lipkus of Tree People for his urban forestry and early work in the environmental movement in Los Angeles. Ed Begley, for his eco-commitment, his humor and for using his background as an actor to get Hollywood involved. Laurie David for her activism in getting the 'Inconvenient Truth' on the big screen and for creating a website that has been very instrumental in raising political awareness. Bobby Kennedy for championing the need to keep our waterways clean and fish healthy....I could go on.
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Note: Please also enjoy the first GreenSource Knowledge Paper concerning Urban Localization.
