I've found this debate really interesting. I don't have much knowledge to 
contribute to it but I do have ideas about using the internet (and cultural 
education) to change attitudes.

Here's one of them. I hope you'll agree this isn't unnecessary blogging and 
don't mind this tangential jump from the discussion: 
http://powerparties.wordpress.com/

The idea is to badge any events as Power Parties, which means your 
invitations encourage people to turn down the power before they leave home. 
Your events may also be organised to save power or to raise awareness of 
power-saving. I know this idea isn't only about museums, but museums do 
organise lots of gatherings and some of you might like to contribute to 
this, for example with links, posting to promote your events or artwork for 
invitations?

Power-saving ideas for museums organising events: More overt advice on 
walking & cycle routes on your websites? Go smaller and use web & podcasting 
to reach more people?.... Any more ideas?

Bridget McKenzie
Director, Flow Associates
441 New Cross Road,
SE14 6TA
07890 540178
0208 816 7200
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Jon Pratty" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, February 14, 2007 10:31 AM
Subject: Re: A greener internet?


Matthew, Nick, Dan et al
Matthew's email zeros in neatly on a point that's been one of my
enthusiasms for a few years - the ecology of the internet - but it
misses the point, if I may politely interject.

For some time I've been concerned with the literal issues of
'green-ness' and technology. A while back I wrote about how the European
WEEE regulations might mean the end of the line for the online retail
tech industry -
http://www.vnunet.com/vnunet/analysis/2132031/industry-faces-toxic-shock
-2. If you look at the date on the article you'll see how little
progress has been made in the last five years!

But more importantly I think it's the wider meanings of 'sustainability'
that should concern us in the cultural sector, with the emphasis on how
we work, how we fund that work, and how we plan and make strategies in
the wider scheme of things.

For me, sustainability in the digital world means:

a) making sure we don't duplicate work being done elsewhere, or nearby,
or by others better placed to do the work.
b) it means building sites in simple, easily maintainable open source
cms that most can work on cheaply.
c) It means trying to devise publishing models that can be sustained,
developed and networked in ways that mean they thrive and bring benefits
for all
d) It means building digital cultural infrastructure that is widely
supported, easily understood and brings connection to mass audiences
(inwards and outwards) for every cultural venue.
e) It means transferring the skills to publish simply to as many in the
sector as possible

I think a better approach to internet ecology ought to make it possible
for all cultural participators (small museums, galleries, libraries,
archives, artists, community groups etc.) to expect digital
representation as a fundamental right.

These are the things we need to consider as 'green' issues for our
sector, rather than carbon offsetting and so on.



Jon Pratty
Editor

[log in to unmask]
01273 623336 (direct)
01273 623266 (main office number)
07739 287392 (mobile)

The 24 Hour Museum
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