What kind of power tool did you wish for this holiday season? Grist readers are likely to be seeking something that transforms the view of their own community, highlighting all the ecological richness and green living innovations in a tapestry that weaves in local culture and justice resources to boot.
So if you didn’t get that cordless DeWalt screwgun you wanted, consider the powerful tool of the Green Map network, which has been busy creating unique community self-portraits of over 500 places around the world, from Seattle to Singapore (and Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, at right). And each map is locally-created, which I find to be the most inspiring aspect: The map making groups transcend gender and ethnic lines in many places around the world, bringing together powerful groups (in 54 countries!) from among those who normally do not interact to create a sustainable vision of their city or place.
It’s also an ideal time to get involved with these folks’ new participatory platform OpenGreenMap.org. Designed to reduce the stumbling blocks of fundraising, technology, and distribution and involve significantly more people, they are open to enhancements in any language. Every site on the map has space for your images, insights, and impact assessments, so you can help tell the story of its evolution. It’s a great place to find projects to emulate and to learn about how each site has changed the people and community it serves.
Meet your eco-mate with Planet Earth Singles
Umbra advises on web hosting
Comments
View as Flat
delpadre Posted 2:53 pm
14 Jan 2009
Not impressed.
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Kalista Posted 12:56 pm
16 Jan 2009
I am impressed with the Seattle Green Map, regardless of the fact that it hasn't been updated recently. Somebody obviously put a lot of time and effort into putting it together.
Keep it up, Green Mappers!
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delpadre Posted 6:34 am
20 Jan 2009
Sure, the time spent is impressive. And if I had seen this map at any point in let's say, 2006, then yes I would have been impressed. But since it's been about 2 1/2 years without an update, I am not only completely unimpressed, but also disappointed.
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Erik Hoffner Posted 1:59 am
21 Jan 2009
Clicking on the info button on the map gets you this contact info for someone named Seth:
Email:
(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
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webrawer Posted 1:54 am
22 Jan 2009
The Open Green Map platform in progress will help everyone take part in keeping the map updated, as you say, and the public's own impact assessments will help us all understand more about the importance of each site's contribution to its community. We expect this feature to become very useful after OpenGreenMap.org is officially launched this spring.
We welcome Grist readers' involvement and ideas - our world is a beautiful place - join us from where you stand and help everyone see it that way!
Wendy E. Brawer
Founding Director
Green Map System
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