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Social networking and social media are proving to be among our most powerful tools for mobilizing people to action. Twitter has helped groups engage followers for good causes, such as charity: water's twestival, and there are even social networks created specifically for green causes like WiserEarth and MakeMeSustainable. In fact, it's pretty easy for us to think of at least 15 ways that social networking can be use for green good. A new group of people are looking to make social networking key for stopping deforestation in the Amazon - Team Earth.
Team Earth Wants You to Help Stop Amazonian Deforestation
Launching officially in November, Team Earth is a collection of businesses from Dell to Starbucks, nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) including Conservation International, politicians and student activists who hope to utilize the power of social networking to slow tropical deforestation. The founding partners felt that there were actually too many groups that, while working toward the same goal, weren't utilizing one anothers' strengths. So, they created what they hope will be one big hotspot for green networking.
In addition to its own site, Team Earth will also use Facebook and Twitter - two essential tools for anyone wanting to use social networking in a meaningful way - to get people involved in climate change, water issues, and health in addition to deforestation.
Team Earth's Social Networking Goal:
Guided by the wisdom of a blue-ribbon panel of the world's leading scientists, Team Earth is designed to harness the power of social networking and global outreach to incite action and create momentum around efforts to address the great challenges of our time. Team Earth's initial collective action campaigns will focus on saving forests as a tool to slow climate change. Watch for further rallying cries around energy use, fresh water, and the way we consume.
Sounds appealing! We aren't sure if it'll be the catch-all solution they're hoping for, or will simply become part of what they see as the problem of too many social networks, but it has some heavy-hitting companies, groups, and even celebrities like Harrison Ford supporting it and so will get significant push. Without a doubt, it is worth checking out and seeing if it's something you want to take part in as the site rolls out more tools in November.
