Top Facebook Applications for Eco- and Justi-vists

August 29th, 2007 • Climate Change

I’m a big Facebook user, I check it virtually hourly during uni. A cool recent addition to Facebook is Applications. These little things let you add stuff to your profile page like games, questions, links, and other random stuff. Below I’ve got my Top 3 Facebook Justice Applications, picked by me based on their goodness, whether I’ll actual use them and other random criteria. Below the top three I’ve also listed some honourable mentions. What Facebook apps do you think are a must for an avid justice-facebooker?

The Top Three

(in no particular order)

1. Causes
   
   

   Make a difference, on Facebook! Causes on Facebook lets you start and join the causes you care about. Donations to causes can benefit over a million registered 501(c)(3) nonprofits.

   Causes is probably one of the most Facebook apps with over 3 million users. Chances are you’ve probably already got this one installed. The app adds a little badge to your profile page that lets you specify Causes that interest you. Not only does it let you show your friends what you care about but it allows visitors to your profile to make a donation to the cause quickly and easily. My only gripe is that the Causes to pick from are very US-centric, and so groups like Hooked aren’t included. Otherwise, this one is highly recommended.

2. Traveller IQ Challenge
   
   

   Compete to find where famous places, cities, and travel destinations are located. Your Traveler IQ is based on how close you clicked and how quickly you found the spot. Just install and go! Have fun!

   While maybe not directly green or justice orientated, this little app is a fun way to learn geography, which along with history, is an essential element to meaningful contemplation of global issues. Perfect for quick breaks between lectures or at lunchtime at work, you’ll soon have a better grasp of the geography of the world we live in.

3. Greenbook
   
   

   Facebook uses energy, which puts CO2 in the air. Greenbook reduces the CO2 in the air the more you use Facebook… so now you can feel good about spending 18 hours a day on Facebook! Basically, we use sponsorship money to buy Renewable Energy Credits (REC). These use the market to offset not only CO2, but NOX, and SO2.

   This app uses sponsorship money to buy carbon offsets for your profile’s energy usage. While I don’t think the amounts are directly correlated at the moment, it’s seems like a good way to offset some of your Facebook usage. I’m not 100% sure of their accreditation system yet, but the creator seems to quite legit in their intentions. At the moment it’s totally not-for-profit so all the money raised goes to paying for hosting and buying credits. Also, they don’t actually display any advertisements on your profile page, so that’s good, but I’m not sure what the sponsor gets for the money. So tread carefully with this one.

Some other notable mentions

• I Am Green
  

  Declare the ways that you are Green, or will soon be green. Let’s all encourage each other to be more green! …..
  Check off the different ways you are being “green” like riding the bus instead of driving a car. For each environmentally friendly thing you do, you grow a “leaf.” The number of leaves you have is your environmental score. You can see what othes are doing to be green and encourage them to keep on keeping on.

  A good way to show off your eco-friendliness and encourage others to be more green. Some suggestions are bit out there though.

• Petitions
  

  Create and sign petitions on issues you feel passionate about, such as the environment, animal welfare, endangered species, corporate accountability, health, human rights and more. SIGN A PETITION, CHANGE THE WORLD!

  Another app to show that you believe in something, and get others involved. Add a petition to your profile and make it easy for your friends to sign on their support.

• Irrepressible.info
  

  Undermine censorship by publishing irrepressible fragments of censored material on your profile.

  A fantastic app from Amnesty International, I have this on my personal blog too. This app displays fragments from texts that are banned in different countries around the world. A great way to raise awareness of censorship and human rights.

I haven’t been able to trawl and install through the thousands of Facebook apps out there so if you see one that you love let me know in the comments or via email. Also, I’ll be blogging about the best green/justice Groups of Facebook soon, so let me know which groups you think are required membership for any justivists out there.

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