Hopefully everyone has remembered this is one of the biggest reasons of making our suite. Here's what Bero said in the "i will do" topic: Also, shouldn't we get someone to actually write something about global awareness? I mean people should be learning about what's happening and what are the solutions and steps we can take to prevent things from happening. I was thinking like t-shirts and fund raisers or something. Something more than just a bunch of readmes explaining what global warming is. Anyone have any ideas for what we'll do for this part of the suite?
Everyone willing and with writing talent, should make an entry in their own blogs, and then we choose the best writings to be the welcome text into the gaia subsite.
Anyways, the text should include: Global awareness + we as community + GAIA
I think it would turn a lot of people off. A short readme in the pack or on the preview is good, a long diatribe is boring. Sure you want to raise awareness and everything, but seriously, people want a skin and that's what they're going to expect.
Well, some people might be reading the readme of something (this is especially for non-members) and would just overlook the parts about nature and stuff. If this suite is based on global awareness we should say some more things than just a short lesson about the earth in the readme.
i was thinking of something along the lines of: http://www.liveearth.org/ like, since we're getting gaia.customize.org we could have different sections of the site dealing with it's own point.
Could have a page about who collaborated in the project. what some of the problems the earth is facing today. sponsors, persons profiles. Also, have sections for solutions to problems such as switching to eco-friendly cars and recycling.
I think it's a good idea to base this project around global awareness itself rather than focusing on releasing a huge sweet "inspired" by nature, we should use the suite to bring attention to global warming, greenhouse gases etc. using custo's popularity.
bero and plain-doh, I'm glad you guys are bringing this up.
I was thinking everyone who submits could put their favourite energy saving tip in the description of their work. And then we could put a special badge that linked to the main GAIA page (gaia.customize.org) with the information bero described (contributors, why we did this, links to liveearth.org and similar site, etc). It would also be a mini-site that displays the suite "in style". The mini-site wouldn't need a 'badge' because the whole mini-site could have tips, banners etc. Does that make sense?
ego, thats a neat idea. Everyone could write about how global warming affects them and what changes they are going to make. We could link to those blog posts from the mini-site as well.
how about putting something like this in the notes of each submission - kinda like a disclaimer type thing at the end of them?
"in recent years, the awareness of global warming and its consequences has been gaining more and more prominence in social, scientific, and political forums. as part of the effort to raise global awareness, members of customize.org have come together to present the gaia suite in conjunction with a mini-site dedicated to information on what global warming is and what we as individuals can do to help. this work is part of that suite. please visit gaia.customize.org for more information and to find out how you can help."
thats cool. I just don't want people to read the little disclaimer, think "oh thats terrible" after reading information about whats happening and instead of doing something about it, they just go back to what they're doing and be completely distracted by the suite. I'd like this to get people thinking about their environment and actually persuade them to make a difference.
@egolatra I am with you on this. I think that that is an excellent idea.
@Bero_ I agree with you too. Once Imrik finishes the base concept, we need to figure out how to make the suite itself convey the message we want in addition to whatever else needs to be done. So yeah, I think we need more than just a readme.
I was thinking of similar things, you all make fantastic points. I still think like I said before why should reopen the Custo Shop somehow, and sell stuff sporting the GAIA art on it.
