Green Map Blog

Did You Make A Printed Green Map?

Wendy at Green Map — Tue, 15 May 2012 13:57:32 -0400

Our archive of Green Maps is being donated to the world famous Map Collection at the New York Public Library this summer! This will fulfill an important promise we made to Green Mapmakers, moreover it’s a great permanent home for over 500 locally designed and printed Green Maps along with a wide array of outreach and education resources that they have contributed to our Archive over the years.

You can read more about this Archive or watch a short video or progress report, but in short we are especially looking forward to sharing these remarkable maps with new audiences. Eventually, we’ll collaborate with the Library on a digital archive so high quality PDFs can be accessed via both our websites.

It’s taken many months, but we are now in the final weeks of having Mapmakers review their printed maps’ description. We’re spreading the word in the hopes of reaching past mapmakers who are no longer active in our network and encouraging them to take part in this review in May. Thank you for helping us make the connection before the maps move to the NYPL's Lionel Pincus and Princess Firyal Map Division!

So, if you made a printed Green Map, please review it today. We have added translations and are happy to assist you in any way as we complete this important phase of the Archive project by June 1, 2012!

Westside Story of Green Map Project@Changsha

AIESEC Changsha China — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:42:13 -0400

Westside Story
——Amelie from German

This is our first day of exploration, our first day of project work. Yesterday we had an introduction conference and now our project has officially started.

By reason that our main topic is the protection of the Xiang River, the first step for all of us was to get used with this river our project is about. We can’t promote what we don’t know. So our main goal for this day was to get acquainted with Xiang River and the area around it.

A little group of volunteers met at the west Side of Xiang River near Hunan University. Most of the other volunteers are very familiar with this area, but for me it was the first time to see all this. I was really impressed of Hunan University and took photos of everything what looked only a little bit different from Europe.

And then I saw Xiang River, the reason why I am in China instead of enjoying my winter holiday at home in Germany. My first impression was: “what a huge river”. I know for Chinese it’s not a huge river, but for me it really is. In my imagination it was always a small stream, we will explore and protect.

The walk on the waterside of Xiang River also showed me a whole different Changsha than I experienced till now. Not so many high building, green area, with a lot of different plants, historical sights, farmland and many nice places for sitting and enjoying the view. I watched some men doing Tai Chi, I saw fishermen hoping for a good catch, farmers working on the fields, and a man making music just for himself, I noticed a woman praying at a quite place. Yes you can really find quite places at this part, unbelievable, because up to know I only experienced loud and full spots with lots of people. Maybe this impression depends on the weather; I can imagine that on sunny days many Chinese like to enjoy this site. But nevertheless it was very impressive for me.

Unfortunately we also found lots of things disturbing this wonderful countryside: rubbish, graffiti paintings on historical sights, bad water quality.

In conclusion after that day all of us knew what our challenge to protect this river is about.

EASTSIDE STORY

It is weekend, it is cold and it is raining. Nevertheless all members of our group were out today to explore the riverside.

My team took photos on the eastside that day. I already knew much of this part, because I have been here two times during the week, one time with Louis, and one time with Amy and Gin. But at this weekend I was there with Linda and Celia, and different people means that there are also different points of view. Therefore no boredom appeared.

Besides it was possible to took more specific photos and collect more specific information, because we already knew our topic on that Saturday; environmental diversity. So we focused on plants, animals and every creature that appeared before our faces.

After the exploration we had a team meeting at KFC. It’s unfamiliar for me to go to a restaurant just for working and without ordering anything. This would never be possible in Germany, but I really like it. The people in China are more relaxed, and this let me become more relaxed, too. At our meeting our team leader Kavin discussed with us our results from our explorations, and we designed the work plan for the next week. In addition to my work at the High Schools, I will go to explore Orange Island on two days, really great, because I wanted to go there anyway.

The Chinese volunteers will also collect information from libraries, about plants, animals, historical development and Xiang River in general. Regrettably I can’t help them, because all this literature is in Chinese. But nevertheless I was looking forward to a great week after this meeting.

orange Island

In the beginning of my stay in China I really hated to take the bus alone, it was so difficult for me. I learnt some Chinese at University, but this can’t help me to understand the station I need to go off. It’s also nearly impossible to find a person, who can help me to find the way, because most people in the bus can’t understand English, not to mention my poor Chinese. It happened more than one time that I made an unintended city tour through Changsha, because I took the wrong bus or the wrong site or got off too late.

After being here for a while, this doesn’t annoy me anymore; I began to enjoy the bus rides. It’s a kind or freedom sitting in the bus, riding through a foreign country all alone. Furthermore this is a possibility to feel Chinese life. I also met a lot of different and interesting people during my bus rides, an English student, some boys on their way to Shanghai, a young couple.

There is nothing more interesting than talking with strangers about everything that just comes to your mind.

On this Wednesday I didn’t need to take the bus alone, but nevertheless we had some bus problems.

Our last part of exploration should take place today; we wanted to visit Orange Island, the large island in the middle of Xiang River. Last year there was a Green Map Project based on this area, but we have a new topic in our project, biological diversity, so we decided to visit this island again.

But it was a long way to get to this part of the river. Andy and I wanted to go there by bus, so we met at a bus station, where we can change busses. That was at least what we thought. We waited there for nearly half an hour, and also another bus driver asserted us that our bus will come. But nothing happened; obviously this bus has changed its route. So there was no other chance, we were forced to walk.

Since the subway is under construction at this time in Changsha, we had to put up with some detours. When we finally arrived at Orange Island, Gin and Gemma were still waiting for us.

In spite of these primary difficulties, it was a successful and really nice exploration. Orange Island is a big park with a large variety of different plants. Everything is well cultivated, you can hear some classical music, it’s very enjoyable there.

We walked the long way to the south part of the island, taking lots of photos from different plants and drawing an outline of our map. Some friendly gardeners helped us to determine the species of the plants we found. At the end of our walk we took of course some photos with the statue of Mao, placed on the end of the island. It was the first time I saw a group of tourists, but of course all Chinese. You don’t see many foreigners in Changsha; it’s not a city for tourists like Beijing or Shanghai. But nevertheless it has some really nice places; one of them was just in front of us.

To go back to the bridge, we started our exploration; we used a shuttle bus, because we were really tired of walking all day.

Our second exploration to Orange Island was more relaxed. The aim was to explore the north part. This part is much smaller than the south part and additionally we knew this time, which is the fastest way to go to the island. So we didn’t need to walk so much.

Regrettably the temple and the beach park were closed, so we weren’t able to explore every detail of the north side. This causes that we could finish our exploration very early and had some time to relax in the beautiful park and in the city.

All in all we have seen a beautiful island within these two days. The exploration enabled us to combine working on our project and getting to know Changsha a little bit better.

Green Kunming's Green Ambassadors - 绿色昆明－融入未来的绿色使者

Wendy at Green Map — Wed, 09 May 2012 12:39:57 -0400

中文博客在英文版之后

Green Kunming is a non-profit organization located at Kunming, the capital of Yunnan province in the southwest China. Officially established in 2006, the organization has been working hard to achieve their missions of “promoting the awareness of environment protection among the public, and advancing the solutions to environmental issues through scientific attitude and extensive collaborations”.

One of the great examples is Green Kunming’s active engagement with Green Map System through involving the local primary and secondary school students. Starting from 2009, a citywide annual map-making competition named “I love my hometown” was launched by Green Kunming in collaboration with the city’s Department of Education. The event has successfully inspired students’ attention to the environmental issues in their communities, where over 300 students and teachers sign up for the competition and participate in mapping the natural and cultural significances every year.

During the event, the host organizations offer free educations on Green Map mapmaking concepts and skills for primary and secondary school teachers, and the teachers will go back to their respective schools to deliver the instructions to the students, where the community discoveries and mapmaking activities will be followed up. The 4th “I love my hometown” Green Map competition is on its way to inspire more Kunming students to make a greener and better world.

Green Kunming's Mapmaker Profile connects to many of these maps. A video introducing Green Map System was produced by Green Kunming in Chinese, and can be found below or on their website.

In addition, you can explore a wonderful collection of pictures taken during the 2nd Green Map competition.

绿色昆明－融入未来的绿色使者

绿色昆明是一个于2006年正式成立于中国云南省省会春城昆明市的非盈利组织。自成立后，该组织便努力实践着其“运用科学的态度，通过多方合作，提高公众环境保护意识，关注并促进环境问题的解决”的使命。其中一个典型例子便是其通过融入当地的中小学生参与绿地图制作而与绿地图系统展开的积极合作。自2009年起，绿色昆明联合当地教育局联合开展了名为“我爱家乡”的年度性昆明中小学校绿地图竞赛活动。此活动已经激发了许多学生对于家乡环境问题的关注，每年有超过300位的学生与老师报名参与到将家乡的自然与文化特色标识到地图中的竞赛活动中。每次活动，主办方会为报名参赛的中小学老师提供免费的绿地图制作培训和实践，老师们在培训结束后将绿地图的理念与制作技巧再传授给各自学校的学生，并带领学生在周边进行考察制图。第四届“我爱家乡”绿地图竞赛正在火热进行中，并为融入更多未来的绿色使者向前迈进。绿色昆明为此制作了中文版关于绿地图系统的介绍短片，并可通过下列链接观看：greenkm.org/detail/176.html，同时，第二届绿地图竞赛活动的现场照片也可以通过下列链接欣赏：greenkm.org/detail/360.html。綠色昆明绿地图资料

Written by Hui Zhou
Graduate Student, Tourism Management
New York University, Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism and Sports Management

Realizada Apresentação do Projeto Mapa Verde Curitiba à Copel

Curitiba Brasil — Mon, 07 May 2012 12:06:35 -0400

Recebemos a visita dos integrantes da Coordenação de Cidadania e Sustentabilidade e da Diretoria do meio ambiente e Cidadania da Copel (Companhia Paranaense de Energia Elétrica), com o objetivo de conhecer nosso projeto e as formas de atuação. Explicamos como são formuladas e aplicadas as oficinas nas comunidades, que contribuem para o êxito do projeto e frisamos nossa atuação em âmbito local, pensando globalmente, além de contarmos com cerca de 170 ícones diferentes, cada um avaliado com qualidade e responsabilidade prezando pela veracidade das informações.

Less = More Green Map of NYC

Wendy at Green Map — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:02:48 -0400

A new NYC Green Map is getting underway!

In 2012, we’ll confront NYC’s overflowing garbage cans, related climate, health and economic impacts by promoting waste prevention sites and strategies with a new citywide print edition, the Less = More Green Map of NYC.

Freshly researched, beautifully designed and distributed free, Less = More NYC will amplify practical resources and solutions. Compelling images, illustrations and examples will frame the map highlighting:

• Composting - dozens of drop off locations including Greenmarkets, gardens and demonstration sites;

• Reuse icons like Recycle-A-Bicycle and Materials for the Arts as well as newcomers like Film Biz Prop Shop and the City’s “Stop N Swaps” exchanges;

• Hazardous waste reduction - from Brooklyn’s new e-Waste Center to Department of Sanitation stations in each borough;

Along with new research conducted by our staff and interns, we’ll include key waste prevention sites from our published maps, including the interactive OpenGreenMap.org/compostnyc. We’ll print on recycled paper and distribute 10,000 copies free at Greenmarkets, conferences, schools, libraries and community events citywide. Suitable for posting, this folded map will be promoted with a launch event and social media. Additionally, we’ll post the PDF online.

Pitch in to this project at IOBY.org!! Help get the research and design off the ground for this important project!

With your support, we can inspire meaningful personal change, promote dynamic models and improve the quality of life for all New Yorkers.

Mapping Baltimore Green Week 2012

Baltimore Green Map — Sun, 15 Apr 2012 11:15:59 -0400

Green Events! Green Organizations! Green Collaborations! Baltimore Green Map is collaborating with Baltimore Green Works to map Baltimore Green Week 2012. (a plethora of "green") As many mapmakers know, it's a great way to capture the geographic dimensions of multiple activities around common themes.

Debuting a New NYC Energy edition!!

Wendy at Green Map — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:41:54 -0400

Energy in New York City!

The city that never sleeps uses a lot of energy! Green Map System's newest interactive Green Map brings crucial information to your fingertips, and invites your site suggestions, viewpoints and images to help keep it fresh and up to date.

Created in 2012-2012, a wide range of energy conserving, generating and demonstration sites are on the OpenGreenMap.org/nycenergy. With our power needs growing while there is an imperative to reduce our carbon footprint, this map will always be a work in progress. Our thanks to Con Edison's Strategic Partnership program for supporting this initiative.

We want to share this map with you. It's easy! Use the embed code beneath each map to add it to your own website or blog (on Wordpress, choose "html"-mode, not "visual"). We can make you a special widget if you let us know the centerpoint and base map you'd like - email apple [at] greenmap.org. It's free, but donations are welcome.

Click OpenGreenMap.org/nycenergy to explore the map alongside its legend on our social mapping platform.

Our team of interns and staff has included Brigid Keating (LEED Buildings (read her blog here), Aaron Miller (solar and renewable sites (see his blog and NY State energy map research), Alexandra Purdy, Melanie Reed and Yutaka Nakashima, as well as director Wendy Brawer.

Want to know more about how this map was made? Click About over the map to find more about the research and resources that went into this OpenGreenMap.org/nycenergy.

Widgets to Add to Your Website or Blog!

Citywide NYC Energy Green Map (map view, 100% x 600)

Brooklyn-Queens (satellite view, 100% x 600)

Manhattan Solar Empowerment Zones (map view, 60% x 500)

Staten Island & Brooklyn (map view, 60% x 500)

Featuring the Bronx (hybrid view, 60% x 500)

...and lastly, here's a view centered over our office in Manhattan's East Village!

Interacting with Students

Wendy at Green Map — Thu, 12 Apr 2012 14:35:24 -0400

Throughout the year, Green Map System welcomes several dynamic interns from various education backgrounds: for example, students studying Graphic Design, Tourism Management, and Environmental Science have all found their fit in the organization.

Brigid Keating, a NYU Urban Design and Architecture Studies student, came to Green Maps in the summer of 2011 and created OpenGreenMap.org/nyc-leed charting all of NYC’s LEED-certified buildings. “Green Map provided me with the opportunity to continue my education in sustainable design outside of the classroom,” says Brigid. One of Green Map’s newest additions, Hui Zhou, a NYU Tourism Management student, joined the team since February 2012 to translate the award-winning iconography into Chinese (download the poster in several languages at GreenMap.org/icons). In addition, Hui is also reaching out to the Mapmakers in China to keep them updated about the forthcoming Green Map Archive and Icon Expansion projects and developing reports for our generous Global Giving donors. Currently, all of Green Map’s interns are based in New York metro area.

Green Map System also offers its assistance to students outside of the office. In March 2012, Elisa Andretti, a student at the Aalto School of Economics in Finland, interviewed founding director Wendy Brawer as part of her research on entrepreneurship. Elisa writes, “Wendy was one of the first to connect the dots of individual green enterprises and creating the net, understanding the value of individual initiatives within a broader scheme”. You can download and read Elisa’s finished paper entitled Towards Entrepreneurial Identity. Wendy also responded to students working on a guide to community mapping – she introduced then to Ben Andersen, the Green Mapmaker in Blekinge Sweden and this week, a new Green Map of BTH (Blekinge Institute of Technology) was initiated!

In addition to Green Map’s connections with individual students, the organization has also created collaborations with several local universities. Professor Sharr Prohaska from New York University has introduced the Green Map concept to her Tourism Product Development class for several semesters. Professor Claudia Green, who teaches at both NYU and PACE University, extends her expertise in sustainable tourism and cultural heritage tourism using Green Mapmaking to support sustainable community-based tourism and pro-poor tourism, supporting social change in the town of Paraty Brazil, as seen at ParatyGreenMap.com.

Are you a student interested in sustainability? Create a new Green Map for your community or look into interning for your local Green Map project or for the global office. This blog was contributed by NYU students, Hui Zhui and Brigid Keating.

now a Facebook page

Helsinki Finland — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 07:22:37 -0400

Helsinki Green Map now has a Facebook Page!

HelsinkiGreenMap on Facebook

Don't forget to like us!

Cape Town Green Map – a legacy project on the move

City of Cape Town — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 03:38:35 -0400

Although 2010 FIFA World Cup™ is now only a fond memory, it did leave a few legacy projects that have benefitted Cape Town in its wake. The Cape Town Green Map is one such project that has kept up the Soccer World Cup momentum by growing its readership via print and web media.

Now in its third edition, the print map has been very well received and has been distributed far and wide, including at COP 17 in Durban, and in New York and Brisbane, Australia! The cover of the third edition features the Mayor of Cape Town on a bicycle. The map has a strong sustainability focus and includes strategic branding for the Climate Smart Cape Town Campaign, ahead of the COP 17 conference in Durban. The map also made its way to COP 17 via the Climate Train! The print edition focusses on Cape Town’s pressing environmental and sustainability issues, and centres on public transport, waste and recycling and biodiversity.

The Cape Town Green map website is receiving a steady flow of visitors with the green blog proving to be a popular read. The map also has its own Facebook page and over 1 000 Twitter followers.

During 2011, Arts and Crafts Maps (A & C Maps) the project partner with the City department responsible for producing the map (Environmental Resource Management), hosted two Norwegian interns for a few months on the project. This was arranged with UCT’s Students' Health and Welfare Centres’ Organisation (SHAWCO). The interns helped organise a Cape Town Green Map forum workshop with ‘green’ participants from all over Cape Town. The event was hosted free of charge by the Vineyard Hotel in Claremont. They also initiated a project with Abalimi Besekhaya and the ‘Harvest of Hope’ vegetable box delivery scheme, using the Cape Town Green Map network to spread its message and increase its subscription base.

Project manager Arne Purves was recently elected to sit on the International Green Mapmakers Advisory Council and interacts on a regular basis with the GreenMap System network partners around the world. Project partner Philip Todres from A & C Maps boosted the map’s exposure with visits to the home of the Open Green Map System offices in New York. He also arranged several strategic media interventions, including a radio interview on SAfm where founder of the GreenMap System, Wendy Brawer was featured in an interview, and SAfm’s Enviro Show with Nancy Richards.

Following the success of the Cape Town Green Map, the Cities of Johannesburg and Durban have approached the project team for advice on setting up similar projects in their Cities. There should soon be additional Green Maps in South Africa!

The fourth edition of the map will be printed in the near future, and promises to be better than its predecessors. Watch this space for details!

User Comments Enrich Our Maps!

Baltimore Green Map — Mon, 05 Mar 2012 22:19:17 -0500

Baltimore Green Map has had maps online via Open Green Map for several years now. Over 60 site nominations have come from map users suggesting other places that should be on the map. And we have attracted some useful and lovely comments about sites mapped. We hope many more people will add relevant comments! Here's a sampling - nostalgic, informative, practical - from the last 45 days:

About "Mother's Garden" in one of our local parks: "My mother, who just passed away at the age of 92, recorded in her memory book of her visits to Mother's Garden. She said there were "roses galore" and it was a favorite place to visit, especially on Sunday afternoons. Sounds like she would have been visiting there when it was still "new"."

About a school with an expanding Green Program: "In 2012 the Waldorf School of Baltimore is adding an Experimental Composting Program - students collect composting materials from the school's gardens and the food waste from lunch and events. The waste is distributed between four alternative composting systems: a demonstration bio-digester; insulated tumblers; outdoor wooden composting bins; worm bins. The students are responsible for collecting the composting material. They measure waste and the by-products of composting, comparing the benefits of each approach. Hands-on learning, in the messiest sense!"

About a Library: "I love this library and spent so much of my childhood here. I'm happy it is mapped."

About another park: "I walked the area and found it to be suitable for a disc golf course (18-27 holes)."

The "Comments" and "Impacts" interactive opportunities are great features of OpenGreen Map. I hope more and more people will take advantage of them to enrich the local maps.

Отчет о деятельности в системе Green Map 2011 год

Kazan Russia — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:52:08 -0500

В 2011 году работа по созданию «Водной карты г.Казани» в системе Green Map активно продолжалась. Мы представляли наш проект на различных конкурсах и конференциях. Ниже представлен список наиболее значимых мероприятий, где был представлен проект «Водная карта г.Казани»:
- проект «Водная карта города Казани» стал победителем Российского Национального Конкурса Водных Проектов Старшеклассников (апрель, 2011) и получил право представлять РФ на Международном Юниорском Водном Конкурсе в Стокгольме;
- Мы создали Молодежный экологический портал и назвали его GreenTeen (greenteen.ru). На нем размещается информация об экологических проблемах а также о разных экологических мероприятиях, конференциях, конкурсах и т.д. В первую очередь мы разместили на этом портале «Водную карту города Казани». Модераторами сайта являются школьники. Портал был создан в апреле 2011. В настоящее время он активно развивается;
- Мы представляли Российскую Федерацию с проектом «Водная карта г.Казани» на международном Юниорском Водном Конкурсе в Стокгольме в рамках Всемирной Недели Воды (Август, 2011). Проект был удостоен диплома финалиста международного конкурса;
- В сентябре 2011 года мы представляли наш проект на Всероссийском слете юных экологов в городе-курорте Анапа. Мы предложили администрации города также присоединиться к системе Green Map и начать работу над созданием «Зеленой карты». Проект получил одобрение администрации города;
- В ноябре 2011 года мы представляли проект «Зеленая карта г.Казани» на Региональном молодежном форуме, который проходил в нашем городе. Президент РТ оценил проект и выделил грант на его реализацию;
- В декабре 2011 года проект «Водная карта» стал победителем конкурса «50 лучших инновационных идей для Республики Татарстан». В 2009 году на этом конкурсе победил проект «Зеленая карта г.Казани».
- В настоящее время при поддержке Московского Института Консалтинга Экологических Проектов готовится к изданию методическое пособие по созданию «Зеленых карт». Данное пособие будет представлено на Российском Конкурсе Водных проектов старшеклассников в апреле этого года, в котором ежегодно принимают участие школьники более чем из 70 субъектов Российской Федерации.

Report on activities in Green Map system 2011

Kazan Russia — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 12:47:55 -0500

In 2011 work on the «Water Map of Kazan city» in the Green Map System is actively continued. We presented our project at different ecological competitions and conferences. List of the most significant events, where we presented our project «Water Map of Kazan city» is presented below:
- The project "Water map of Kazan city" won the Russian National Junior Water Prize in Moscow (April 2011) and received the right to present Russian Federation at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize;
- We have created a Youth Ecological Portal and called it GreenTeen (greenteen.ru). It provides information of different environmental issues and different ecological events, conferences, competitions, etc. Firstly we have placed «The water map of Kazan city» on this site. The moderators of the site are schoolchildren. The portal was created in April 2011. At the present time it is actively developing;
- We presented the Russian Federation with the project «Water Map of Kazan city» at the Stockholm Junior Water Prize within the framework of World Water Week (August, 2011). The project was awarded the diploma of finalist;
- In September 2011 we presented our project at a national competition of young ecologists in the resort town Anapa. We offered the city administration to join the Green Map System and to begin work on a "Green Map". The project was approved by the city administration;
- In November 2011 we presented the project «Green map of Kazan city» at the Regional Youth Forum that was held in our city. The President of The Republic of Tatarstan estimated the project and provided a grant for its implementation;
- In December 2011 the project "Water Map of Kazan city" became a winner of the competition «50 Best Innovative Ideas for the Republic of Tatarstan». In 2009 at this competition has won the project «Green Map of Kazan city».
- At the present time, with the support of the Moscow Environmental Projects Consulting Institute we preparing for publication textbook on the making of a "Green Maps" in the Green Map system. This guide will be presented at the Russian National Junior Water Prize in April 2012. Evert year schoolchildren from more than 70 subjects of the Russian Federation take part in this contest.

Crisis Mappers Presentation

Wendy at Green Map — Fri, 17 Feb 2012 12:09:10 -0500

In November 2011, the Crisis Mappers International met in Geneva. I happened to be nearby, thanks to the Social Design Award bestowed upon our tools by the Papanek Foundation and meetings with regional Swiss and French Green Mapmakers organized by Earth Focus Foundation and SBM Conseil. Nicola Furey and her staff at Earth Focus joined me at the beautifully organized, well-documented ICCM 'unconference' and pitched in at our stand following the Ignite session in which I presented.

It was exciting to learn about amazing technologies and tools from practitioners and participants - find more videos, a listserv, other resources and information about the next international conference in Washington DC in October 2012 at CrisisMappers.net. Here's mine:

On the Radio

Wendy at Green Map — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 16:27:04 -0500

From South Africa to the Americas, we’re on the news!

On Cape Town’s SAfm Enviro Show, host Nancy Richards interviewed designer Philip Todres on the wonderful Cape Town Green Map and Wendy Brawer about Open Green Map and progress in NYC on Thursday 5th Jan 2012. Both are linked here.

Carlos Martinez, formerly Green Map staff and now our Board Treasurer is creating radio segments for Radio Diaspora, a public affairs program on the issues and experiences of recent migrants from Caribbean and Latin America hosted by WRFG in Atlanta USA. This segment includes Campinas Green Mapmaker Leonardo Freire de Mello, along with director Wendy Brawer, Board member Thomas Turnbull and others on the Power of Maps. Enjoy!

Click to play Power of Maps

Thank you to Nancy and Carlos! We invite everyone to explore other recent media coverage, too.

We Win NetSquared Invitational!

Wendy at Green Map — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 18:37:25 -0500

We are happy to share the good news that Open Green Map has won the NetSquared Invitational!

Green Map System is really thrilled that our little video has received lots of votes and the jury's support. This award comes with plenty of help for our social mapping platform's ongoing development in the coming months, which is really great because we have big plans!! Thank you voters, NetSquared, TechSoup, our staff and technical team as well as the Green Mapmakers who have now published more than 250 diverse Open Green Maps!

This is the 8th award for the Open Green Map!!! 2011 has brought three honors to this resource - the Victor J Papanek Social Design Award, the Treehugger Best of Green (really for our mobile app, which features Open Green Map sites), and now the NetSquared Invitational.

We welcome your support for the Open Green Map and invite you to become a Green Mapmaker and use this remarkable resource to chart progress toward sustainability in your community, too!

Visiting Shameen

Fresh Green Map of Guangzhou — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:28:45 -0500

It was a lovely day that day, warm sunshine , blue sky and gentle breeze. We arrived Shameen in the morning, after being divided into two groups, we set out to searching Shameen to make a green map of it.

Shameen’s beauty is beyong description. On each side of the roads stand considerable ficus of old age. Their hair roots were swaying in the wind, wishpering the long history of Shammeen to every passers-by. It seemed that the buildings just wake up from the bird-singing, and the time was as if still when you stared at them. I’t was sort of walking in an old photo.

There were visitors walking slowly, and sometimes they paused to take photos. Foreign children were playing delightedly with their parents. And what impressed us most was that couples shooting wedding photos could be seen here and there, which made us envy a lot.

We walked slowly ,so as not to disturb the peaceful ,harmonious atmosphere . In the end ,we finished appreciating this delicate poet reluctantly.

Workshop in Shuishi Village, China

Fresh Green Map of Guangzhou — Wed, 21 Dec 2011 09:27:14 -0500

I think it to me, and to all the people of the workshop, November, 2011, 26 and 27 are memorable days. Because the two days, most of the people are the first time for full participation in the Green - Map drawing process. Attend the period, we learned a lot, thought a lot and felt a lot, grew many......

On the morning of 26th, our teacher——"Whale", a teacher from Taiwan Society of Wilderness brought and showed us many fine green-maps from all over the world. She gave us detailed introduction to the origin of the green-map and the development of it , and the differences between green-map and the general map , the green-map visit quartet (commentator, TaZha, drawings, share), rendering the purpose of green-map (environment education, community development, etc), green Icon and the story behind the green-map...

The group of green-map influence me very much. There are pictures of the Swiss a rural urbanization process of green space figure in the photo, the woods, houses, and the change of the river - clear performance in the whole process of urbanization, lost the woods, the growing numbers of buildings, factory, the river which was changed its’ direction, and maybe it is the true portraiture of my hometown. Maybe one day, the appearance of hometown will exist only in the memory of fuzzy and gone forever in the earth, this is to me is a complete tragedy...

In the afternoon of the 26 , all the members of the workshop in accordance with the requirements of Whale's group and for team unit to our drawing the target region-spike SHUISHI village, the TaZha. According to the division of labor before departure and route design, our TaZha smooth all the way . Along the way, my team members, with strong curiosity and profound insight, found many beautiful, and the figure of the green painted place (such as in one hundred kapok tree, the green roof kapok, old ancestral temple, etc), in fact we also have these places on the graph shows green-map , and at the same time, there are some bad phenomena and problems, such as the number of sewage pool)...... Come back later, each group of us to the TaZha were summarized.

In the morning of 27 , Whale and teachers led us to do a game (in order to dynamic atmosphere), we began the green-map drawing process... After half day of struggle, before 3 p.m , we finally made a complete green-map ! As is known to us all , in a short time, that's no easy task for no painting of strength people to draw a complete green-map... It may not be proud, but everyone has a deep sense of satisfaction and happiness, a heart the feeling of happiness.

The next share the meeting, each group of us shows their results, as well as the other found TaZha process, TaZha experiences. As the whale teacher says, painting figure very important aspect of green space is Shared. Yongjun said it well: "We did not need to completely according to the predetermined line in the activity, if there are special found that follow feeling, follow your heart go is." I think this not only applicable to TaZha, may also be used in our daily life!!!!

我想之于我，之于工作坊的所有人，2011年11月26，27日都是令人难忘的日子,因为这两天中，我们——绿地图工作坊中的多数人——第一次全程参与了绿地图的绘制过程参加工作坊期间，我们学会了很多，想了很多，感悟了很多，成长了很多......
26号早晨，我们的老师——台湾荒野协会的鲸鱼老师，给我们带来并展示了众多世界各地的精美的绿地图，并给我们详细介绍了绿地图的起源及其发展历史，绿地图与一般地图的不同之处，绿地图走访四部曲（解说，踏查，绘图，分享),绘制绿地图的目的（环境教育，社区发展等），绿地图的Icon以及绿地图背后的故事......
其中有一图组给我的印象特别的深刻！
那是一幅关于瑞士某一乡村城市化过程的绿地图，图中树林，房屋，河流的变化清晰表现了该地区城市化的全过程，失去的树林，不断增多的房屋，工厂，该向的河流，或许正是我家乡当前的真实写照吧,或许有一天，故乡的模样只能存在在我模糊的记忆中而永远消失在地球上了，这之于我是个完完全全的悲剧......
26号下午，我们工作坊的全体成员按照鲸鱼老师的要求进行分组并以小组为单位对我们的绘图目标地区——穗石村，进行了踏查。按照出发前的分工和路线设计，我们的踏查一路顺利地进行着
一路上，我所在的小组成员们，凭借着强烈的好奇心和深刻的洞察，发现了众多美的，值得绘入绿地图的地方（例如百年木棉，绿屋顶，老的祠堂等），实际上我们也有将这些地方画到绿地图上，同时也有发现一些不好的现象和问题（例如为数不少的污水池）......回来以后，我们的各个小组分别对这次踏查进行了总结……
27日上午，鲸鱼老师带领我们做了一个游戏后（为了活跃气氛），我们开始了绿地图的绘制过程……经过半天的奋斗，下午3点之前，我们终于绘制了完整的绿地图！！！要知道，在短时间内，对于没有绘画功底的人来说，绘制完整的绿地图，绝不是件容易的事……或许并不值得骄傲，但每个人都有一种深深的满足感和幸福感，一种发自内心的快乐的感觉
接下来的分享会上，每个小组都向大伙展示了自己组的成果，以及踏查过程的其他发现，踏查的心得。正如鲸鱼老师所说的，画绿地图很重要的一方面是分享。通过各个小组的分享，我们发现了踏查过程中自己忽略了的东西，也得以借鉴他组的有益经验。勇军说得好：“踏查的时候我们没有必要完全按照预定的路线进行，如果有特别的发现，跟着感觉，跟着自己的心走就是了。”我想这不仅仅适用于踏查，或许也很适用于我们的日常生活吧！

20 Years!!

Wendy at Green Map — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:16:03 -0500

December 13th is the 20th anniversary of a great idea!

I was with a group of New York activists at the United Nations, planning side events in New York during meetings leading up to the Earth Summit, which was held in Rio in 1992.

I thought about the individual’s experience during their 5 weeks in NYC – and realized a map would help people of all backgrounds discover signs of progress toward sustainability. I knew it was possible to make a fresh view of the city in a few weeks, and that it would be resource-efficient and fun!

That very day, I named the project the Green Apple Map and had 10,000 copies donated, thanks to the Municipal Art Society (Curitiba Brazil’s eco-innovations was their next exhibit and the Green Apple Map would highlight local examples).

The next day 12 eco-designers met and we planned and worked together to create not one but two Green Maps and a special event on the first day of Spring 1992.

Today – Green Mapmaking has spread to 60 countries! Thousands and thousands of people are making making the connection to green living resources, local nature and culture, thanks to the vision of dedicated Green Mapmakers!

This week – the United Nations is again hosting prep meetings for Earth Summit – Rio+20 and Green Map System is involved in events in parallel on Friday December 16 – please join with us in NYC to send a strong message about the Future We Want – details are here.

This coming first day of Spring – save the date for a celebration of our movement’s impacts - in NYC and beyond - throughout the past 20 years!

We welcome your involvement and support - help us guide the way for the next 20 years - there is so much we can to - and must do - together!

Think, global, map local!!

Wendy E. Brawer, founder and director

2011.12.10 Green Map Report for Odawara, Kanagawa prefecture

Green Map Japan — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 03:24:21 -0500

直前のアナウンスになってしまいましたが、神奈川県小田原市で、この3月に完成した、『おだわらグリーンマップ』とその後の展開につながる講演会が、明日、開催される運びとなりました。人数も小規模なもので、初の試みで、どんな感じになるかわかりませんか、少しでも関心をもってくれる方々の輪が広がるといいなと思っています☆2010年グリーンマップハーモニーも配布します！詳しくはこちらまで　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　