[Foundation-l] WMF-projects: Carbon neutral/low/aware website?

[effe iets anders]

Yes, because in the end you can summarize all ethics under "feelgood".
As I said, I read that in the broadest sense of the word. So stopping
dumping chemicals is feelgood. Of course besides that there is also a
legal aspect that should be taken into consideration, and that is
different between these two cases. because dumping chemicals in a
creek is illegal, and 'dumping CO2' not. So Required by law might have
to be added to the list too yes, it is possibly the strongest
argument. Just not very well available here... But we are talking
about an organization here, and feelgood is for sure a very good
argument, let's not neglect that. The donators i would have summarized
under 'Good PR'. But of course it could just as well give 'Bad PR', so
maybe that has to be added too.

I was not trying to give a solution, or an answer, I've not made up my
mind yet, but I am only trying to summarize the real arguments and
make the discussion a little better to follow. So if I'm correct, the
list is now:

* What are the benefits for the Wikimedia Foundation?
** '''Legal Requirements''' (i.e. we have to obey the law...)
** Good Feeling
** Good Publicity

* What are the disadvantages for the Wikimedia Foundation?
** It costs money
** It might damage the neutrality of the projects if announced publicly
** Possibly problems with the tax status (might have to be checked)
** Possibly bad Publicity

BR, Lodewijk

2007/7/10, Peter Halasz <email op pengo.org>:
> You frame the situation in an odd way. As going carbon neutral is
> somewhat altruistic, it would take a fairly superficial or image
> conscience organisation to seek direct benefit. Let's frame it a
> different way. If you were a board member of a chemical plant that
> dumped heavy metals into the local creek you could also be asked
> "what's in it for us to not do this? Why should we stop polluting?
> Just to feel good?"
>
> Well we are dumping chemicals: greenhouse gases into the atmosphere.
> So do we walk away from the mess we've made? We need to act
> responsibly and reduce our emissions. The cost of electricity does not
> factor in its environmental impact and we need to consider that. It's
> part of the WMF's triple bottom line.
>
> As discussed, to begin with we can ask donors if it's ok to use part
> of their contributions to offset our emissions.
>
> Peter Halasz
> [[user:pengo]]
>
> On 7/8/07, effe iets anders <effeietsanders op gmail.com> wrote:
> > {{OFF-TOPIC}}
> >
> > Instead of discussing whether the greenhouse effect is really based on
> > CO2-emissions, what renewable resources are, what the latest
> > developments are for nuclear plants, I think we should consider the
> > following questions:
> >
> > * What are the benefits for the Wikimedia Foundation?
> > ** Good Feeling
> > ** Good Publicity
> >
> > * What are the disadvantages for the Wikimedia Foundation?
> > * It costs money
> > * It might damage the neutrality of the projects if announced publicly
> > * Possibly problems with the tax status (might have to be checked)
> >
> > If anybody has to add possible advantages or disadvantages, please do
> > so. I capture the future for our children etc under "Good Feeling",
> > please read that in the broadest sense of the word. (we are talking
> > about an organization here, so it might be about feelings of it's
> > board, staff, volunteers etc)
> >
> > Thanks for the move to on-topic.
> >
> > BR, Lodewijk
> >
> > 2007/7/7, Peter Halasz <email op pengo.org>:
> > > If people are still interested in looking into providers of carbon
> > > offsets, "Clean Air-Cool Planet" has evaluated 30 offset providers.
> > > (CA-CP is a science-based, non-partisan, 501(c)3 non-profit). Looks
> > > like a good starting point.
> > >
> > > http://www.cleanair-coolplanet.org/ConsumersGuidetoCarbonOffsets.pdf (1
> > MB)
> > >
> > > Peter Halasz
> > > [[User:Pengo]]
> > >
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