| For many environmentalists (or any kind of activist for that matter) the toughest part of their job isn’t taking on governments or corporations, it’s getting like-minded people organized and involved.
The Internet promised to make that job easier, but with more than 2,000 conservation organizations in Canada, it remains difficult for those groups to keep in contact with each other and their members.
Canmore-based WildCanada.net is hoping to change all that. The Web site has launched a new section called Conservation Calendar that aims to give everyone in Canada easy access to relevant environmental information.
The calendar uses database technology to break down information geographically. In essence, users can input their hometown and the database will spit back all sorts of environmental and conservation related information, ranging from events to campaigns.
WildCanada.net’s Stephen Legault says the idea is to get as many organizations on board as possible so that the Web site can act as a one-stop resource for anyone interested in the environment
"The real challenge is to provide a place on the Internet where people can find out what’s going on in their community," Legault says. "Getting people to show up is the hardest thing to do."
The advantage the Web site has over previous Internet listing services or message boards related to conservation is its ability to focus on specific locations.
Legault says many people found it frustrating to read about a demonstration or letter writing campaign about an issue they were interested in, only to learn it was taking place halfway across the country.
"If someone’s in Calgary, they’re not going to drive to Fort McMurray to take part," Legault says. "(The Conservation Calendar) is relevant to the issues important to you and to where you live."
Someone from Calgary, for example, can enter their postal code into the database and see all the upcoming events in the city. The site has also taken regional interests into account, so Calgary is linked to Kananaskis and Banff.
There are about 40 organizations involved in the Web site right now, and Legault says WildCanada.net is working to get more organizations on board – the site was set up in a way that enables conservation groups to input information themselves.
Although WildCanada.net is well established, Legault says the calendar became the Web site’s most popular function the same day it was launched.
"The whole point is to get people out from behind their computers and doing things." |
