In an effort to unite people with the ideas of a greener existence and by giving them the sources needed to change their everyday habits, two Cornell graduates, Steven Skoczen and Jeff Gunther, have created a networking site based around just that. The site is called Six Links, a reference to how change is only as strong as its weakest link.
By creating an account, users can log in and have access to information about saving the environment that goes beyond simply changing a light bulb and recycling. Skoczen explains that “What [we] want to tell people are the big things– [those that] are the best uses of their time.” Though, he argues that simples changes such as those are helpful towards saving the planet, it will not bring about the bigger change that is needed to really make an impact on the aspects that are threatening our world today.
Both Skoczen and Gunther have a long history of working with and in environmental issues with Skoczen having spent summers working in Peru which developed his passion for the subject while Gunther’s former jobs have shaped his from working in a zoo to building a solar powered house.
“We took a look at the biggest issues and what could one or two people do about them? We knew if we could get a lot more people motivated, we could accomplish a lot more,” Skoczen explains. With that, the two have pooled their passion and resources together to focus all of their energy on their new website.
By logging on, people can find resources that better explain energy- how its made, how it can be made and what needs to change to better the environment and provide for a greener existence. On the smaller level, the site also explains the basic needs of people and how they can go about obtaining what they need to exist without wasting and thus, further damaging the planet. Outside of the information provided, users can use the site similar to other social networking sites such as Facebook or Myspace and really get into a dialog based around not only the greener living information provided on the site, but their own personal ideas and views on planetary changes and the need for sustainability as a whole.
Funding for the site has been made possible through ad links and the option to buy a premium user account when registering. In the future, they hope to add various site features, different site accounts and soon will have a “Sustainability Showdown” that will occur weekly every Sunday.
For more information regarding Six Links or to create an account, please visit their website. Further information including contact info for Skoczen and Gunther can be found here.
