tyger@well.UUCP (Richard A Childers) (01/29/86)
Source : 'Left Curve', issue 10
- an irregularly published journal of feminist perspective -
International Green Communications
Since November, activists from 20 United States locations,
London, West Germany, and recently Japan, New Zealand, and
Switzerland have been meeting by computer as the
International Green Network.
Our experience thus far shows that online teleconferencing,
electronic mail, and readily accessible bulletin boards are
valuable organizing tools on regional and 'national' as well
as the international level. An extensive network of
Community Terminals can provide :
1) Sharing of ideas, development of a common Green agenda.
2) An (eventually) daily international news service.
3) Midwifing and logistic coordination of tours,
demonstrations, and other projects.
4) A more truly democratic means of rapid decision making
than ever before possible, both for existing
organizations and the emerging Green presence.
Far-flung affiliates have equal access much more
cheaply than by sending delegates to too infrequent
in-person national conferences.
5) Emergency response network.
6) AIRHITCH ; a cooperative air transport service. *Very*
cheap to Europe.
7) Database for corporate / military and environmental
research. This is a longer term application due to
currently high, but rapidly falling, costs for
information storage.
The Green network is housed on Delphi (tm), a mainframe
computer owned by the General Videotex Corporation, a
relatively small independent company. They charge a one
time $ 29 membership fee for each user account, plus $ 6
per hour on line evenings and weekends, $ 16 per hour
weekdays ( to be avoided ). The cost of a long distance
carrier is included, so except in some rural areas there
is no additional long distance phone bill. Delphi can now
carry 40 users at once, soon 120.
Delphi offers several other useful services, mostly at
premium rates. The most expensive of these, Dialog (tm),
searches 40 years of the New York Times and 16 other papers
for references to a given name or event, at $ 75 per hour.
If your search criteria are carefully phrased most searches
take about 10 minutes.
Getting On Line
Any home computer can access Delphi if equipped with modem
( modulator-demodulator ), a device for sending data on
phone lines. The 300 baud Volksmodem is $ 48. Those
anticipating heavy use are well advised to invest more
( $ 170 ) in a Volksmodem capable of transmitting at 1200
baud, as there is no extra charge for the faster service.
Once you have your modem, you can join the network in a
matter of hours. Call Dave at Mass (617) 862-1139 or
(617) 864-4144, Stan at (215) 922-0227, or Brian or Ben at
(608) 257-5517. We will give you the local Delphi number
for your area, and instructions on signing on. We can also
advise you on equipment purchases. Experienced
telecommunicators can simple dial up Delphi, give USER ID
GREENSIGNUP, and PASSWORD GREEN to open an account.
Every affinity or working group who joins the net makes us
stronger, empowered by the multi-human powers of the
network. It really is a phenomenal feeling to be able to
be heard by people that make a difference and maybe chat
with an author or politico you have admired for a while.
As the other nodes become familiar with your group they
will ask you to do things for them and you have the right
to ask right back. This is a living network and it wants
to grow in your direction.
--
"The way to do is to be." -- Lao Tzu ... circa 500 B C ...
..{dual,glacier,hplabs}!well!tyger aka Richard A Childers