In message  <[log in to unmask]> you write:
> From: [log in to unmask] (Duncan N Smeed)
> Newsgroups: scot.general,scot.environment
> Subject: RFC: John Muir Conservation Centre and the Internet
> Date: 30 Mar 1994 19:38:52 +0100
> Keywords: conservation,wilderness,Muir,national parks,Internet,Gopher,WWW
>
> Several people have suggested that I cross-post this from
> uk.environment,talk.environment and others.  The main reason for
> scot.general is because our site does not (yet) get
> scot.environment.
>
> The purpose of this posting is to canvass opinion/support/facts for the
> concept of using the Internet as an enabling technology for a
> conservation centre.  In particular, a conservation centre that
> promotes the life and work of John Muir and that will be established in
> his birthplace  - Dunbar, Scotland.
>
> In the first instance, I would like some immediate feedback - solely in
> terms of "I saw your posting [at least to this point]"-type e-mail
> response so that I can demonstrate to unbelievers that the Internet
> community is alive and well and 'out there'.  Even if you do not read
> any further, please send that e-mail now.  If you read further you'll
> eventually see an even neater idea for registering an acknowledgement to
> supplement the e-mail.
>
> If you _are_ reading further, here is some of the background to this
> proposal. Firstly, the local (East Lothian) district council have
> recently attempted to railroad through a 'John Muir Environmental World'
> on a green field site in the middle of a coastal area that happens to be
> designated as an area of Special Scientific Interest, several miles
> outside Dunbar.  Needless to say, conservation groups such as the John
> Muir Trust, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds, Sierra Club,
> National Heritage, and (most) local residents were vehemently opposed to
> the idea on the grounds that it was the complete antithesis of
> everything that John Muir stood for.
>
> Secondly, the district council withdrew their proposal in the face of
> these objections, leaving the John Muir Trust and local people to pick
> up the pieces and produce their own proposals for a 'John Muir Centre'
> (JMC) that would be worthy of the man.
>
> Thirdly, last week saw the first meeting of the new John Muir
> 'champions' and a steering committee has been established to oversee and
> advise the study team of the John Muir Trust - who have taken over
> ownership of the overall concept - and who will draw up the detailed
> proposals for the JMC.  This is where I come in.
>
> Having been converted to the conservation cause by the written works of
> John Muir and his influence in establishing the National Parks in the
> USA - not to mention the sheer awe felt when camping in Yosemite - I
> would like to make a small contribution to this project.  As a computer
> scientist, what small contribution I can make may best be focussed on
> 'selling' the potential of the Internet and developments like the World
> Wide Web and Mosaic as mechanisms that could be used to enhance the
> interpretive aspect of the JMC.
>
> Of course, having JMC connected to the Internet offers possibilities
> only limited by our imagination for disseminating his work, establishing
> a 'virtual community' of conservationists, and so on.  IMHO, it would
> also make the JMC an interesting and exciting centre to go and 'visit'
> in both a physical and a virtual sense and would relate especially well
> to the school and college students who are our future conservationists.
>
> There is little point in my second-guessing your imagination.  Suffice
> to say that I would be delighted to hear your thoughts and ideas.  When
> the JMC gets established I'll make sure that appropriate
> acknowledgements are made. I would be especially pleased if you have
> information on similar initiatives and innovative uses of the Internet
> in conservation.  For example, are there any Gopher or Web sites out
> there that have media of interest to a JMC?
>
> On a final note - and with thoughts on a PR/Exhibition/Acknowledgement
> angle - I would be most grateful if you could spare the time (and the
> stamp if posted outside the UK) to also drop me a postcard of your
> favourite local 'wildness'.  The purpose of this is, like the e-mail,
> to demonstrate the potential of the Internet for reaching as wide an
> audience as possible - don't forget to include (at least) your name.
>
>             Duncan Smeed
>             c/o FREEPOST JOHN MUIR TRUST
>             Musselburgh
>             Midlothian
>             EH21 7BR
>             Scotland, UK
>
> Thanks for reading this far and I would encourage you to distribute this
> posting as widely as possible.
>
> Duncan Smeed
> --
> Department of Computer Science                 Tel: (+44) 41 552 4400 x3587
> Strathclyde University                         Fax: (+44) 41 552 5330
> 26 Richmond Street                          E-mail: [log in to unmask]
> Glasgow G1 1XH
> Scotland, UK
>             "Do something for wildness and make the mountains glad", John Muir
>
>
>
There is a book that you may find useful:
 
RITTNER, Don
Ecolinking: everyone's guide to online environmental information
Peachpit Press, Berkeley CA, 1992
0-938151-35-5
 17.99
 
--
David Allen, Librarian
The Horniman Museum and Gardens
LONDON SE23 3PQ
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