the power of interactive mapping, our global iconography and ubiquitous community wisdom to link readily available sustainability resources and leadership on an unprecedented scale.

Initially fueled by Green Mapmakers, GGM will encourage open contributions of compelling sites and initiatives to our ever-growing map, capturing the essentials and evolution of each with public and expert commentary. In addition to the full worldview GGM, users will encounter its contents in many different websites, platforms and formats, selectively ‘framed’ to display local geography and diverse themes.

GGM’s synergetic potential meets all your criteria and exemplifies Fuller’s trimtab principle – with your help, it will quickly snowball into its full potential as the ‘Sustainability Genome’.

IMPLEMENTATION
Making this comprehensive compendium of sustainability resources with Google Map’s easy to use, familiar navigation and features will make GGM accessible to millions. Dotted with our lively icons and connected to user-friendly online site submission/discussion forms, GGM will increase interaction, build momentum and enhance community with:
CONTENT: sites, projects, programs, tours, patterns.
Each site, positive or negative, will have:
-DESCRIPTIONS: icons (sustainability, nature, cultural, social), introduction, discussion, evolution, events, multiple languages, geographic location, accessibility, friendliness.
-GREEN STATUS: sustainability factors, ratings, best practices, calculators/assessment tools.
-CONNECTIONS: networking, cross-border relationships, links, travelers, contributor metadata (including GreenMap.org’s mapmaker profiles).
-MEDIA: images, downloadable locally-published Green Maps, videos, podcasts, PR.
-SHARING: discussions, widgets, syndication, credits, recommend/bookmark/email/print this.

With potential for:
-MULTIPLE FORMATS: digital map, database, newsfeed, geoRSS, albums, travel tool, blog/wiki; all
flexibly designed to accommodate future formats. Semapedia is already helping develop GGM’s mobile interfacing, connecting site contributors and map users on the go.
-IMPACTS: Connecting stakeholders, schools, press and (eco)Leaders with effective resources worldwide. Empowering awareness, action and inclusive democratic discussion to reduce environmental and climate impacts. Expediting transfer of crucial technologies and initiatives. Inspiring hope for our common future, more participation and local green sites alongside global awareness, bioregional and systems thinking.
-PARTNERS: Helping develop regional leadership to co-create, populate, translate and promote GGM, Green Mapmakers include:
Chile: Lake Sagaris, Santiago author-activist
China: Hu Huizhe, Beijing organizer
India: Anand Upalekar, Pune architect
Ireland: Davie Philip, Dublin permaculturalist
Japan: Misako Yomosa, Kyoto businesswoman
Romania: Ciprian Samoila, Bucharest ecologist
Uganda: Odulla Joseph, Tororo educator
Canada: Maeve Lydon is convening one of the international (live and Skype-conference) gatherings with GGM on the agenda (Victoria’s 2008 Community-University Expo)


Potential content partners will join the Green Mapmakers’ networks of networks in contributing sites and promoting usage of GGM, including:
-Treehugger.com, geo-locating their thousands of place-based stories,
-The international university sustainability network (including NYU, which has recently offered to house and digitize Green Map’s Archive),
-O2 and other global networks involved in building green, ethical shopping, sustainability education, etc.,
-Of course, Buckminster Fuller Institute's network of comprehensive anticipatory design science sites can be put on the map!

Fulfilling a long-term goal of the non-profit Green Map System, GGM will meet diverse needs:
-Public participants of all backgrounds can share and preserve local knowledge, models and experiences; connect through social networking and community building.
-Residents, students and travelers will discover the nature that’s nearby, explore social justice, make healthier choices, plan travel or relocation.
-Journalists, policy-makers, entrepreneurs and educators will find a constantly evolving cross-cultural guide to sustainability strategies (current and past).

GGM will support people without time, money or technology to create (or obtain) a traditional Green Map. Even users such as $100 laptop youths will be able to overcome barriers to participation.
All mapped sites will benefit greatly, too.

ECONOMIC ACHIEVABILITY
Green Map System has always been cost-effective in supporting the locally-led and funded Green Map projects. Our organization has plentiful in-kind help, a donated server and low rent. GGM will use open source and free Google resources, and the thousands of site contributions will be socially incentivized, rather than funded.

BFI’s Prize is sufficient for the first year of project implementation. Since GGM must be structured for the long term, we are considering sponsorships and fees for services it provides to commercial entities, for example:

GGM will be designed to appear in other websites via widgets that showcase a single site, a whole city or a bioregion. If it’s commercial, we’ll collect a modest scaled fee.

Custom interfaces, special formats and commercial usage will be charged for, accordingly. As it expands exponentially, we can develop online fees and fundraising opportunities to keep GGM on the cutting edge, year after year.

TEAM, PARTNERS AND PLAN
"Green Map is the most effective truly distributed grassroots global project I have ever seen online." Jim Fournier, Director, Planetwork

Our network’s outcomes since 1995 include numerous books, exhibits, tools, tours, websites and more than 325 Green Maps. Published by NGOs, universities, agencies, grassroots and youth groups to identify, promote and link sustainability assets and liabilities, Green Maps have assessed and charted thousands of diverse sites, changed perceptions, sparked measurable improvements, encouraged replication of successful ecological models and expedited networking by residents, children, tourists and policymakers.

GGM takes this simple, adaptable concept and beautiful participatory movement the next step. Our network’s experience working successfully with everyone from developing world youths to rural elders with traditional knowledge to capital city GIS users, activists, journalists, eco-entrepreneurs and change-agents of all descriptions prepared us to move with alacrity and with love to fulfill critical needs in the shortest time possible.

Initial steps are already underway. We need 6-8 months of focused development using Drupal content management system, open source locative protocols and high quality design/collaboration standards to incorporate every element before GGM can be opened to the public. It will become well-populated during the following 6-12 months. Local outreach at venues from Earth Day to EXPOs, professional presentations and other viral/online/networked marketing will attract thousands more sites and comments annually. Participants will be encouraged to help shape the content, criteria, evolution and future of this universal media platform to ensure the greatest global impact.

GGM’s multilingual development team includes: Founding Director Wendy Brawer - 15 years implementing multimedia eco-social communications projects and local-global collaborations. Designer Risa Ishikawa’s credits include the visuals on GreenMap.org and Green Map Icons, Version 3.
Latin America Liaison/Office Manager Carlos Martinez - excellent planning and organizing skills.
Digital Technologist Thomas Turnbull created the new GreenMap.org; has recognized Drupal and Google Map expertise.
Dr. Robert Zuber - our education, outreach and development specialist for a decade.
Our Board, consultants, interns, content partners and many others will be involved.

Our unique contributions to the Sustainability Genome:
• our culture and communication-gap bridging iconography, which, we have been told, is the only universal symbol system for maps. Freshly updated as 2008 begins, GGM will utilize Icons Version 3, with expanded social justice and pollution, green technology, and cultural character categories.
• Green Map’s powerful global brand, international awards and press recognition.
• a diversified management network that has proven its eco/social agility, communication ability and green credibility.
• a strong board of directors (including Joshua Arnow) and international advisory council.
• the freshly retooled multilingual GreenMap.org has online resources/administration ready to support a major influx of full-scale local Green Map projects.

Global Green Map will provide a vital PR service for hometown environments everywhere, helping counter climate change and foment sustainability and vibrant green healthy living worldwide.