Signposts in Cyberspace

New websites with a ‘solutions’ slant keep springing up, a testimony to the attractions of the internet for idealists and activists, educators and entrepreneurs. Among the latest crop are Ethical Junction (0161 236 3637, www.ethical-junction.org), for finding the route to a range of campaigns and companies, and envirospace (01535 601555, www.envirospace.com), to promote international discussion and training for business and industry.

Other than being electronic information projects, the two are actually quite dissimilar. Ethical Junction is simple in conception, straightforward in execution, immediately useful, and up and working. It’s really a directory, for the UK and Ireland, linking to email addresses and websites for the organisations and ethical companies on its listings. There are currently 166 of these, a tally that can be expected to keep rising. Any organisation wanting to participate can apply online to subscribe. If its core activity meets the site’s criteria, it is accepted and given a listing in the relevant category. It can also look forward to having its own site indexed by the Ethical Junction search engine, coming really soon now.

Envirospace is a more complex project with global aspirations, from the National Centre of Excellence for Environmental Management (NCEEM). Its 18 subject areas or channels are designed to work together as "a single point of information" and to "allow corporate bodies and businesses to share ideas on methods for operating successfully in an environmentally responsible manner". The intention is to add facilities for online training and education in time for the website’s official launch early this year. As previewed at the Earth Centre, the site was stronger on potential than on up-to-date content, but NCEEM says that it is attracting worldwide interest and prospective partners.

More best practice case studies from www.business-impact.org, produced by Business in the Community to help companies combine competitiveness with social responsibility.

18 October 2001