EcoLinking #9
by Don Rittner

The Green Disk

More than 200 million trees are cut down each year to produce paper!  Much of
that paper is used for environmental communications --  newspapers,
magazines, letters, books, etc.  Those of us using Cyberspace also have
access to much of the same material BUT the medium is paperless  -- its
electronic,  and we can store 200,000 pages of text on a single plastic disk!
 It certainly makes sense to get our information electronically but not
everyone has access to online services. A wildlife biologist has come up with
a great alternative to distribute environmental information -- on disk!   

Every two months, subscribers can receive The Green Disk Paperless
Environmental Journal!!! (Mac or PC) by mail, or if they have access to
America Online, EcoNet, or Internet (FTP server) can receive it in their
electronic mailbox.  Each disk contains the equivalent of
hundreds of pages of well-organized and timely information in text format.

Each disk covers specific environmental  issues.  Additionally, you will find
research reports, press releases, action alerts, and news summaries from the
world's environmental groups and governmental agencies including such groups
as Defenders of Wildlife, Environmental Defense Fund, Friends of the Earth,
Greenpeace, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, Natural
Resources Defense Council, Public Citizen, Rainforest Action Network,
Wildlife Fund, Worldwatch Institute, and others.

There are regular features as well: 

o  The Smithsonian Biological Conservation Newsletter -- a useful
bibliography of current conservation literature.

o  The Sierra Club National News Report

o  The Environmental Computing Digest

o  An index of current environmental newsletters, magazines and journals.

o  Listings of recent environmental publications plus ordering information.

o  A comprehensive environmental calendar.

o  A listing of recent environmental education resources and projects.

o  Employment and internship listings.

o  A periodically updated database of over 300 organizations.

o  The complete text of selected newsletters and reports on a wide range of
topics.

William Sugg, a student-teacher in the Environmental Science and Policy MS
 program at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia saw the need for
such a journal while a student and created the disk based service.  He is
assisted by Andre Carothers, Greenpeace board member, Heather Spalding,
Editor, Toxic Trade Update and John E. Young, Senior Researcher, Worldwatch
Institute.

Subscriptions are yearly at $45 /$US 50 International in US bank check ($35
Internet anywhere) .  Or call 1-800-484-7616 (you must enter  security code
D-I-S-K or 3475) for info, or write The GreenDisk, PO Box 32224, Washington,
DC 20007 (or email greendisk@igc.apc.org) for a free brochure.  Back issues
of The GreenDisk are available for $5 each. 

You can receive Volume 1#5 (North American Wilderness Recovery Strategy) of
The GreenDisk for review for free.  It can be downloaded from the America
Online Environmental Forum or from EcoNet. 

By using the (300 page+ equivalent) disk based journal you can create a large
searchable database of good environmental information that doesn't take up
rows and rows of shelf space.