It would seem appropriate -- no, more than just "appropriate", a terrific idea! -- if we were to be able to organize so as to offer a "Challenge Award" to leading 2001 projects and events. that being the case, we are now as of this date announcing this officially here on the site.

Working Outline

At this early point (day after Christmas, with 113 days to go), it is too early to post the details of how this is going to work, not least because they are still thoroughly unknown to us. Thus far, for example, we have no money or sponsors, no prize arrangements, and no rules, which may strike some as a bit of a disadvantage. But what we do have is a strong concept and a world wide campaign to get the message out -- and with the car free day concept as set out here a vast and rich terrain for innovation and exploration. (We also have some fine examples to learn from, as you can see from the prize list to your left.) So here is what we can offer for sure thus far.

Approximately one month after the first Earth Car Free Day, a media-supported announcement will be made identifying the winners of the 2001 Awards. There will be several criteria that will be loosely used to make these determinations:

• Those honored will above all be people, places and projects that have done something that Day which is not only unusual and effective to advance the sustainability agenda in that place, but also a concept that can be easily and cheaply replicated in a wide variety of other settings.
• We shall be looking for a wide range of ideas and origins, which span a range of settlement patterns, styles of governance, countries, cultures, and income levels.
• We will be on the lookout for projects which may in fact be having to break some sort of law or ordinance in order to achieve their sustainability and social justice objectives. (Think of Nelson Mandella or the magnificent (and thoroughly illegal) original Dutch Woonerf project, if that's problem for you.)
• Projects and initiatives in very low income countries, regions, or neighborhoods will be especially welcome -- especially those which set out to provide high quality sustainable access in settings which thereby can avoid the usual later hegemony and architectural/environmental destruction that inevitably follows in the wake of the knee-jerk decision to opt for a car-based transport model no matter what its social costs.
• Likewise, we shall be on the lookout for strong projects and models that offer the possibility of saving historical cities in the former Soviet sphere from similar disruption and destruction.
• Might we not want to consider some sort of "Hall of Shame" award as well? To be awarded to a local or other initiative which works in an especially nefarious way to undercut sustainability. (See the Greenwash Awards for some ideas on this front.)