1. About CT EarthNetCT EarthNet is an interactive, web-based network designed to support and further empower the efforts of local groups across Connecticut to protect, improve and sustain the environmental quality of the state. The network tracks and indexes environmental issues against the resources, activities, tools and experience made available by a large number of diverse organizations active on local, state and regional scales. Today, there are well over 1,200 community, state, regional, national and global groups working in Connecticut to solve a full spectrum of environmental problems. Such groups commonly provide essential learning and expertise and fill gaps in governmental services that might otherwise go unmet. Studies show that such community-based approaches to managing environmental issues hold great promise for bringing about positive change, but often struggle to meet fundamental needs. Familiar and longstanding problems, such as a lack of funding, staffing and political clout, are a few of the barriers standing in the way of local groups' efforts and greater success. For the promise of community-based initiatives in Connecticut to be realized—with time short and much riding on local groups’ success or failure—there is a great need for a resource that local groups can use to serve fundamental needs and further enable the pursuit of their missions. CT EarthNet is designed to create a virtual “Environment for the Environment” that provides a place where the diversity of local initiatives can be seen and explored and where local groups can share ideas, information and priorities in ways that inform environmental decision-making, practices and policies statewide. The network is to be used to generate greater public awareness and understanding of environmental issues affecting cities and towns and the goals and activities of groups working to inform related decision-making. CT EarthNet is provided as a resource that groups can use to share information, learning and experience, muster support and collaborate toward the accomplishment of shared objectives. CT EarthNet is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit organization. CT EarthNet is a strictly nonpartisan organization. It neither supports nor opposes candidates for office at any level of government. CT EarthNet remains true to its fundamental purpose: to make information about environmental management available to support decision-making about relevant issues. CT EarthNet does not promote, encourage, recommend or otherwise urge web site visitors to use any information, links or user-provided content to get information about specific officials or candidates or about their positions on specific issues. CT EarthNet does not provide any links or information to directly or indirectly communicate any message that would be a violation of any law. |