Informer 5

R.I.P.I.T.S. INFORMER

Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) announces the launch of ForMyWorld, a non-commercial web site that delivers detailed, zipcode specific environmental information for every community in America.

"ForMyWorld offers people across America facts and advice tailored specifically to their communities, so users can access information quite literally about their own backyards," said Environmental Defense executive director Fred Krupp.

ForMyWorld offers customized "Neighborhood Reports" with detailed local data. Each report contains ways to take action in your community to improve your environment. Users can receive reports on four different topics:

• Pollution studies levels of contaminants in local air, waters and soils, as well as local toxic manufacturing emissions;
• Nature provides a detailed overview of native fauna, from indigenous birds to common area snakes, in addition to information on local natural recreation areas;
• Recycling rounds-up area recycling centers for everything from junk mail to motor oil to used batteries;
• Gardening supplies facts about native plants and monthly gardening tips.

ForMyWorld also provides content for the Animals & Environment section of the AOL Time Warner Foundation web site Helping.org, the most comprehensive e-philanthropy portal in cyberspace. Helping.org links AOL's 27 million members and others to giving and volunteering opportunities.

Major ForMyWorld funding comes from the Packard Foundation and the Surdna Foundation. The site contains no banner ads or e-commerce. Environmental Defense has created web banner public service announcements (PSA's) with The Advertising Council, the nation's largest producer of public service ads. These PSA's, which are being developed pro bono by volunteer ad agency McCann-Erickson/New York, are part of a comprehensive Environmental Defense PSA campaign aimed at providing information about everyday steps that can be taken to help preserve the environment. Radio and television PSA's are also in development.

"The Internet is the ultimate expression of 'think global, act local,'" said Krupp. "The web gives Environmental Defense and the National Wildlife Federation the unique chance to offer pooled resources in a way we'd never be able to do offline."

"People look to our organizations to give them the information they need to discover and care for the world around them," said NWF President and CEO Mark Van Putten. "The Internet gives us an ideal opportunity to give people the information they want and the opportunity to make a difference for their community, their nation and their world."

ForMyWorld features:

Peter Benchley, author of "Jaws," introduces and narrates a three-dimensional animated map of the Channel Islands marine sanctuary off the California coast and provides an overview of the growing movement to protect and preserve marine sanctuaries around the world.

Wildcam, live, streaming video of wildlife, including elephant seals off the coast of California, Steller sea lions, a seabird rookery featuring puffins in Alaska, and brown bears in Alaska feeding on salmon.

Eco-Trip Contest, users can register to win one of two eco-trips -- to Yellowstone National Park in Montana or to Canyonlands, Utah, one of the world's premier mountain biking and hiking areas.

Environmental Defense acts as managing partner of ForMyWorld. Content providers include eNature.com, recently acquired by the National Wildlife Federation; Gardening.com; Earth's 911; and many others. A group of editorial advisors comprised of distinguished environmentalists, scientists, public policy experts and journalists helps guide our development. A full list of the advisors is available at www.formyworld.com on the web.

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