The Commons - Links

This important page is to be reorganized shortly and put into a form that is both accessible and agreeable to use. The goal is to provide links to sites and programs that have been carefully selected for their content, and then organized in a manner which makes it clear why they are there and how they might be put to use. For now, sorry about the mess!

Categories (draft listing)

Text to be put in shape

Internet and the world wide web are terrific places to get lost (or bored). Once you have learned to find your way of course the perils of lost time and sheer junk are considerably reduced. But we have all seen that for early users the obstacles to efficient referencing and use can be considerable. The Fast Track bar to the left of your screen in the main menus represents our modest attempt to open up some parts of the net that relate to the concerns of The Commons in a way that is convenient and encouraging. The short section that follows is intended as a handy guide to its use.

Organization of Fast Track Sites

The first set of small icons you will see directly under The Commons Fast Track bar represent easy ways to access the various home pages and sections that make up the various parts and concerns of The Commons itself. For a key to what the icons themselves represents, see below.
The Web sites indicated under this section heading refer to projects and programs with which The Commons had or has some form of involvement, either as an active partner, contributor or advisor in some form. Your visit to the site in any case should make this quite clear.
These are a selected collection of sites that relate to the main work and interests of The Commons to which we would draw your particular attention. In the main we see these sites as providing valuable complements to our own work, including even shaping roles. In others, they may show rather different approaches, which we put before you as a reminder that this is a big world and that there are an awful lot of opinions and approaches out there which are receiving attention. And that most of the problems we are looking at are still very much ‘work in process’.

The idea here is to share with you some of the Web resources that we and others are making regular use of in this new age of information and access. This short list only opens the consideration of course, and many more such references will be found in various parts of the site as well. Still, you will find some interesting places to visit here, and once again we hope that you will share your own ideas and favorite places with us all as well.

Here are some mind stretchers for you. After all, we have ample proof that what we have being trying thus far is failing in a number of very important respects. So we had probably be ready to look around for some new ideas and approaches.

Meaning and Uses of Icons

What's Small gray outline arrow (Example: What's New This Week)

Where you see this small gray outline arrow, this indicates that the jump will be directly to the indicated site under The Commons. (In most cases, there will eventually be a small bridging text as in the above.)

European Link icon (Example: European Telework Development)

The link icon (you do have to look close)is meant to indicate that these are directly linked projects and programs. (Why don't you try this particular one to see for yourself.)

The Satellite Dish (Example: New York Public Library)

The dish is used to indicate unrelated Web sites, to which you can nonetheless link directly.

Linking Arrow (Example: World Transport Policy & Practice.)

The linking arrow is used in the body of the home page to indicate that you can jump directly to the site which is briefly introduced in that section of the page. Have a look at the first steps of the new page for the Journal of World Transport Policy and Practice. It may give you some ideas about cooperative venture.

Links to be sorted, culled, and wresteled into shape


European European Telework Dev.
MIRTI MIRTI
Ciudades Ciudades Accesibles
TERC- TERC - Global Lab
EU Transport Telematics
World WTP&P Journal


Telework '97
Project Telework in Portugal
Canadian WorkInfoNet Canada
New New Work World
State WS DOT Home Page
UK InfoSociety Initiative
ZERI HomePage
Conservation Council
HyperForum
FREE Foundation
Sustainable Business
Communications for a sustainable future Sustainable Future
Web Mississippi Starts Here


The New York Public Library
Uncover Uncover Database
Library Library of Congress
The The Technology Shelf
OECD OECD Statistics
Princeton Transporation Resources
Learn Learn the Net
Research-It! Research-It!
Amazon Amazon Books


Communications Sustainable Future
Technology/Education Technology/Education
Rethinking Rethinking Leisure
Technology/Education Technology/Education
OnLine OnLine Education
Disgruntled Disgruntled
WebMuseum WebMuseum
Netherlands Doors of Perception
HotWired HotWired
CNAM Technology Museum
NASA Photo and Media GalleryNASA Media Gallery

More Links Needing Work:

This page still under construction. The Zero Emissions Pub

These are the tools with which the virtual conference is working.
First Organization and Communications Guidelines for Participants: This introduces the main lines of organization and communications of the conference Operations Guidelines
This provides useful background on the key technologies that are making the conference work Technology Checkout
The Virtual Conference FastTrack: Organisation and Uses FastTrack Bar
World Wide Web Navigation Hints: An attempt to provide handy guidance for those who have questions about getting around on the Website. Navigation Aids
Search tools for getting around the conference and for the World Wide Web Search Tools
Web Links and Search Results (Examples)This page provides both links and leads for successful Net searches. Web Links
The electronic library is one of the main building blocks of the conference. The Electronic Library
Here is where some of you can help us!!! This section is intended to give those interested a convenient place to get together to discuss technical matters relating to electronic media, and in particular the various conferencing tools at the heart of this exercise. Geeks Corner

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If you are at all uncertain as to your Web skills, this is the place to begin.
Some BIG! help to learn the net. Tyros, we plead with you to start here. (It offers first rate help and guidance in five languages.) Learn the Net
World Wide Web - Frequently Asked Questions (With Answers, of Course!) Web Answers
This is an example of a 'day in the life of..' page of a net savvy person who also has to organize his life and get some work done. Drop in; you'll find it sensible, digestible, and, we think, quite reassuring. Paul's Web Day
For people who want to learn how to access the World Wide Web and how to get the most from the resources available on the Internet. No prior experience with the World Wide Web or the Internet is assumed. Learning the Web
The Technology/Education index is a first rate site with good didactics and interesting technology content. Not a bad place to get your feet wet and gain some confidence in the process Technology/Education

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Sponsors and others Contributing Actively to support the Conference.
In addition to their substantive contributions, Eric Britton and other EcoPlan associates are responsible for all aspects of the virtual conference. Until additional support is obtained, EcoPlan is deficit financing most of the expenses involved in this trial. EcoPlan
THE UNU/IAS provided a first round of start up funding for the August pilot project, with the objective of using the conference as a source of expert feedback to make decisions of its own about continuing their path-breaking Zero Emissions work. UNU/IAS
The Programme, Preparation and Monitoring Unit, Advanced Communications Technologies and Services, of the European Commission (Directorate XIII/B/1) has provided some flexible assistance for the first pilot run through their European Telework Development (ETD) program. European Commission
The European Telework Development Initiative is a flexible collaborative program sponsored by DG XIII of the EC which has provided encouragement and support for this project over the first half of 1997. ETD
The French Ministry of the Environment provided some support for the project under their Green Challenges (Virtual University) program, through an existing contract with CMER/UNSEAD. Min. d' Environnement
The Center@Hamline of Hamline University in St. Paul, MN has joined the project in September and is collaborating by making available their interactive conferencing capability for the Discussion Panels within our conference. The Center@Hamline
Teles is providing the telecoms and technical support for the two planned multi-point video conferences Teles
The OECD Environment Directorate has provided some early support through their Environmentally Sustainable Transport (EST) programme. OECD

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These are sites and sources that relate to the Z/E theme in various ways, and should be of direct interest and use to the participants Sustainable Development: From Concept to Practice: UNU-IAS Project Website: The electronic forum will discuss the UNU's response to Agenda 21, the progress with sustainable development made since Rio and how to effectively implement Agenda 21 UNU/IAS S/D Website
A good place to begin to get an understanding of the state of play and progress in the UNU's initial work in this area, and the ZERI spin-off program in Geneva. ZERI HomePage
Index - World Wide Web Virtual Library: Sustainable Development - includes links to resources, organizations, events, projects, discussion groups, libraries, journals, databases, and documents. 3W S/D Library
The Center of Excellence for Sustainable Development is a program of the U.S Department of Energy dedicated to promoting the use of sustainable technologies and practices. Center of S/D Excellence
The United Nations Environment Programme: Working Group on Sustainable Development: 'Our work involves looking at the environmental impact of products, services and systems that meet human needs. The objective is to make them more sustainable'. UNEP-WG-SPD
Homepage of the International Institute for Sustainable Development. A rich reference resource. IISD
Japan-US Public Policy Virtual Conference for researchers and faculty members at universities and research institutes in the US and Japan, aimed at promoting policy making process - environment panel. A Virtual Conference
The Corporate Conservation Council of the National Wildlife Federation Conservation Council
The Sustainability HyperForum of Caltech: Application needed for full access HyperForum
The Foundation for Research on Economics and the Environment - an educational and research foundation, established to support environmental goals based on individual liberty and responsibility and harmonized with economic prosperity. FREE Foundation
Center for Information and Communications Research (Sweden) CIC
WBSCD - The Sustainable Business Challenge (Norway) Sustainable Business
CSF - Communications for a sustainable future (Colorado) - hosts over a dozen mailing lists on topics related to a sustainable future. Environmental lists include Ecofeminism, The Environment and Latin America Network (ELAN), and Ecological Economics. Sustainable Future
HomePage to The Commons The Commons
The 1996 OECD Conference on Sustainable Transportation's virtual counterpart. Organized and run by EcoPlan under The Commons, it is today a bit of a museum piece. But still useful as a reference tool. Vancouver '96

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Unless you already know them, you should find it quite worthwhile simply to work your way down this list, look, learn and reflect. It's already a rich virtual world out there.
'The World's Largest Bookstore' - Worth a visit and a bit of reflection as well. DOes this mean that you will never go to the corner bookstore again? Amazon Books
Library of Congress home page (USA) Library of Congress
Uncover searches more than x thousand scientific and other periodicals for you. Be a bit patient and get to know this source. Once you do, you'll find yourself using it. Uncover Database
Research-It! your one-stop reference desk. Or at least that's what they say! Research-It!
Global Change Electronic edition Site Outline seeks to familiarize the public with the issues associated with climate change and ozone depletion. covers Global Change and the Global Climate Change Digest. Global Change
The Global Environment Information Centre (GEIC) is a specialized information centre of the United Nations University and the Environment Agency of Japan Environment Info Centre
The New York public library home page is action in progress. It is being regularly extended and improved so that there is more of their huge collection available to their distance visitors, and faster. New York Public Library
OECD statistics, with links to other OECD sites OECD Statistics

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Peripheral vision, it is often said, is the best way to navigate in situations of dubious lighting.
Albert Einstein Online Einstein Online
The Open University, the international pioneer in the field of supported open learning, has, over the past 27 years, gained an immeasurable wealth of knowledge in the effective delivery of open learning to students around the globe. Open University (UK)
CNAM technology museum (France). Drop in and then chase down some of those Gallic links. Technology Museum
The American Telecommuting Association: drop in, it may give you a few ideas. Telecommuting
The World Wildlife Fund HomePage - Worth a visit World Wildlife Fund
The HotWired Network. HotWired Network
Multi-media is progressing on the Web, but still needs work. Still... Alice Online
The shining hope for a revolution in human consciousness lies in the actions of everyday people Adbusters
Changing consumption patterns can allow the world's poorest people a fairer share of the earth's resources and the opportunity to achieve an adequate standard of living. American Dream
Real Audio daily briefing (but only if you have a fast modem and sound card. Uses Real Audio. Daily Briefing
Been to Mars recently? Mars Pathfinder
If not Mars, what about Dublin? Dublin Pathfinder
Global Lab, The Testbed for Telecollaboration, the Hub and the Regional Alliancefor Mathematics and Science Education Reform. (Now tell us that the Web is a waste of time.) Global Lab

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Children's Environmental Health Network
Conservation International Foundation
Environmental Defense Fund
National Audubon Society
Woods Hole Research Center
Alliance to Save Energy
Friends of the Earth
Taxpayers for Common Sense Foundation
Tellus Institute
World Resources Institute
Island Press
Sierra Club Foundation

Environmental Defense Fund
Environmental Information Center
National Wildlife Federation
Ozone Action
Union of Concerned Scientists
Radio and Television News Directors Foundation
Natural Resources Defense Council
National Public Radio
Society of Environmental Journalists
World Media Foundation * Living on Earth
Worldwatch Institute

___Back to The Commons home page, or, if you prefer, on to ...


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Page last updated on 3 January 1996.
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