What: A growing field of study called Biocultural Diversity

Problem: Little public awareness about topic and no central clearinghouse for information relating to Biocultural Diversity

Solution: Through WiserEarth, The Christensen Fund, a California-based foundation, created a Biocultural Diversity working group on WiserEarth. The portal serves as a repository of all information and resources related to the emerging field of biocultural diversity. It is also a space where people can discuss various issues related to the subject; identify organizations, people, resources, events, and jobs having to do with the topic; and document best practices, challenges, and solutions within the field. The portal is used by TCF as a vehicle to educate the public, particularly young people, on this important topic and highlight TCF's leadership role as one of the largest funders in this field. 

What: A consortium of conservation organizations

Problem: Conservationists needed a place to catalog their toolkits and manuals and link them to consultants, practitioners, and funders.

Solution: Building on WE solution records, the Conservation Pages is a front end website that draws its data from WiserEarth, making it easy and simple for practitioners to find the tools and manuals they need for their conservation projects. (www.conservationpages.org)

What: A grassroots NGO, the African Child Peace Initiative, Inc

Problem: The African Child Peace Initiative, Inc. needed used computers to promote literacy and recycling in Liberia.

Solution: Through WiserEarth, the ACPI connected to the nonprofit InterConnection, which collects second and third-hand computers for those who need them.

What: A diverse coalition of non-profit organizations in Seattle.

Problem: Interra project wanted to create a web portal for the Eco April Alignment, a network of intergenerational and cross-cultural organizations, groups, and individuals aligning with extraordinary events happening in both April and October of 2008 in the Seattle area.

Solution: Building on a WiserEarth group, Interra has created a simple front end website to WE events and organization listings helping provide visibility to these important contributors to the sustainability scene in Seattle. 

What: Cargo ship spill of 58,000 gallons of toxic shipping fuel into the San Francisco Bay

Problem: Environmental crisis needing immediate public awareness and participation

Solution: Members of WiserEarth could mobilize immediately by creating a community group and exchanging timely information about the ways to volunteer and mitigate the damage.

What: An International Peace Day, where activists from around the world coordinate an educational campaign

Problem: Many peace initiatives had no web presence; global effort was disconnected and not coordinated.

Solution: For International Peace Day, the Culture of Peace Initiative created a central space where 500+ organizations in their global network could post or search events happening in their regions and connect to each other's efforts. CPI's coordinator said, "Not only does WiserEarth provide the technology to present information about Peace Day events in a clear and visual way, it also makes it possible for organizations, schools, faith groups and individuals in all parts of the world to reach out to a bigger audience. It is especially important for groups that, for different reasons, do not have the infrastructure or financial stability to maintain their own web presence."

What: A national public outreach message around cutting carbon emissions

Problem: No coordinating space to increase participation and execute a messaging strategy to hundreds of volunteers

Solution: When the organization Step it Up rallied communities and politicians in all 50 states to host events around the concept of "Step It Up Congress: Cut Carbon 80% by 2050", lead organizer, Jon Warnow garnered support from the WiserEarth community, growing their base of participants around the country. He recently shared with us the following: "WiserEarth has gone ahead and created the thing that everyone has been saying we desperately need: the well-organized, elegantly presented all-in-one directory for folks working in the fields of social and environmental justice and advocacy.  As the Step It Up team moves forward and thinks about the possibilities of international movement building around climate change, it strikes us that WiserEarth is the perfect ally and resource moving forward."

What: Women’s Earth Alliance, a global effort to link and empower women environmental advocates from around the world into collective action.

Problem: Grassroots women environmental leaders from around the world were struggling to access the connections, resources and training they needed to address the pressing environmental challenges in their communities. 

Solution: One of the first groups to launch on WiserEarth, the global participants in this network are sharing their learnings, collaborating on projects, and amplifying their local efforts-- all while building their capacity in technology. This is one of the largest and most international WiserEarth groups, representing over 20 countries.
“Thanks again for the opportunity to be part of the women's network on WiserEarth.  It has significantly enhanced my profile and work in ways that I couldn't have imagined a year ago!”
    -Mary Umble Wuya, Organized Centre for Empowerment and Advocacy in Nigeria

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