Earth.org - Frequently asked questions

1. General information

1.1 What is the idea behind Earth.org?

Earth.org is a collaboratively written travel guide with a non-profit approach. Earth.org is very similar to a Wikipedia for travel; where travellers write and edit reviews and descriptions of cities and destinations.

1.2 What are the vision and the main goals of Earth.org?

It is very difficult for the average Internet user to find reliable and trustworthy travel information on the Internet.
Earth.org's vision is to bring responsible travel information that everyone can trust!

The vision of Earth.org will be accomplished by motivated users and volunteers. We offer them a collaborative tool to share travel information and they will be motivated by our non-profit approach, always operating in the interest of the user.

2. Basics

2.1 When was Earth.org founded?

Earth.org's pure idea dates back to the end 2004. Due to financial constraints and technical development we were not able to immediately put it on a professional level. Towards the end of 2007 the idea grew into a 100% remote environment of self motivated professionals - this was the crucial point and became a perfect fit for the project. In 2008 we established a full team working on Earth.org, able to cope with the enormous challenges of such a big project. Now, in 2009, with our team in place and stable and scalable software we have the chance to release Earth.org!

2.2 Why was Earth.org founded?

We have always had one thought in our heads: Can we build a house if everyone brings one brick, contributing one little piece at a time?

Wikipedia was then the ultimative inspiration - in two ways:

First - it is a beautiful idea to all work together to built this house. The collaborative editing of articles is a perfect approach to the accumulation of knowledge into what is called a wiki.
Second - we want a project that gives back - egoistically for our lives and holistically for our beautiful planet earth. This refers to the non profit approach.
So how do we reach this vision? Earth.org offers a collaborative travel guide with a non-profit approach, always operating in the interest of the user. That is our mission.
Third, fourth and fifth and sixth...just in every sense a beautiful project to work on.

2.3 Yes, we know that we are trying something totally crazy.

Well, we're trying something unconventional. But is there any reason why we should not try something crazy if we feel people would benefit? If, as a journalist, you write: "This is anyother crappy website which will fail for sure", it increases the chances that it will fail. If you write something positive, like: "Interesting theoretical idea, why not try and support it", you make Earth.org happen, you become part of it in this very moment. And if we all think the world will now in this financial crisis break apart, also this will happen.

3. The Earth.org GmbH

3.1 Who is behind the Earth.org GmbH?

A team of about 20 members - most of them part time, working remotely.
Two brothers with perfectly working family ties share the ownership of the Earth.org GmbH - small enough to assure the values of Earth.org.

3.2 Why is Earth.org a GmbH?

A GmbH is a private limited company. We use the GmbH as a vehicle to reach our ends. Complicated laws for all not-for-profit ventures in Germany prevent our founding of Earth.org as a non-profit. Still, even inside a GmbH you can promise to donate up to 100% of all profits to non profits. This is how we have a non-profit approach.

3.3 How is Earth.org financed?

Earth.org is funded with a limited amount of private money - money which has no expectations in terms of returns on investment.
We will try everything to make Earth.org sustainable, from hotel booking possiblities, limited advertising till a donation model or whatever works best.

3.4 What do we want to say with .ORG? - Even though we are a GmbH.

Earth.org is a collaboratively written travel guide with a non-profit approach. And although legally we are a GmbH, we do not have commercial interests as our goal. Instead we want to bring responsible travel information to everyone. Why? Because we think this will make the world a little bit better! We don't feel that a commercial .com domain would fit very well with such an approach. A .org is much more of a natural fit for Earth.org.

3.5 Corporate Identity

Earth.org GmbH
Nymphenburger Str.155
80634 München
Germany

Represented by: Mathias Stricker
For E-Mail inquiries click here.

Fax: +49 (0) 89 94399 2608

Entry in the Commercial Register of the Munich Court
(Amtsgericht München): HRB 162859
Turnover tax ID no.: DE249514712

If you want know more about Earth.org GmbH, send a mail to teresa(at)earth.org

4. Technology

4.1 Which Technologies and tools are used?

EDO was built on LAMP platform (Linux, Apache, mySQL, PHP). Apart from that the keystones in EDO achitecure are Solr and Squid. On the PHP side we used CakePHP rapid developement framework. jQuery is used for JavaScript. Base of EDO is RESTful API.
We use open source only. The only closed component we are using is Google maps.

If you want know more about our technology, go to Technology .

5. Partners

5.1 Which criteria must one meet to become a (business) partner of Earth.org?

Earth.org always works in the interests of the user - indeed this limits us from all partnerships:-) While we try to find partnerships and programmes with environmental, social or cultural friendly backgrounds, we are also open to working with normal partners, especially those with a touristic backgrounds.

5.2 How do our partners profit from a collaboration with Earth.org?

This very much depends on the partnership. Earth.org 's aim to become a not-for-profit worldwide travel guide is vast. We are happy to listen to any suggestions regarding cooperation. In the beginning we are naturally interested in all partnerships that can financially sponsor Earth.org and allow us to sustain project. In exchange we can offer a local sponsorhip.

If you want to know more go to Earth.org Partner or simply send an email to otto(at)earth.org

6. Projects

6.1 What kind of projects has Earth.org supported in the past?

We planted 237 trees in India - one for each country in the world. We went to a very small remote village in the Indian Himalaya's as the first tourists - and took pictures of the inhabitants. Afterwards we framed the picture, gifted them back to the villagers and saw a vision of pure happyness.
We support what is sustainable or culturally interesting. We are very open to sustainable projects, and one day hope to support a large variety of these projects.

6.2 How do we finance projects?

These days we fund them more with knowledge and engagement than with money. These projects also exist to transfer the idea of Earth.org. The profits currently do not exist to fund these projects on an advanced level - something we hope to change.

If you want to know more about Earth.org projects or see the pictures, visit the Projects section or simply send an email to teresa(at)earth.org.

7. Earth.org travellers

7.1 What is the relationship between Earth.org and its travellers?

Earth.org is trying something different - a not-for-profit, collaborative travel guide. Our motivation is not money, so we can work in the interest of the Earth.org traveller. We work for the same interests of the user as every printed travel guide out there, for which you pay money and you receive valuable travel information. And you love these guides, you trust these guides and you are fans of these brands.
We hope to develop that same trust with the Earth.org travellers and within a few travellers inspire the euphoria to push Earth.org even further. The information on Earth.org is created by the travellers for the travellers. We are nothing without travellers like you.

7.2 What is in for Earth.org travellers?

Earth.org has an idea - if achieved, this idea could change the way you travel. This idea will provide a reliable guide written by travellers working in the interest of other travellers.  When you travel, you can trust the information from Earth.org to be reliable and in your best interest. This is a community effort - and we know the first step is the hardest. The first Earth.org travellers, our pioneers have nothing but an empty world and an idea. A very very warm welcome to our Earth.org travellers.

8. Earth.org Volunteers

8.1 How does volunteering @ Earth.org look like?

Start with one word, one number, one small fact about your hometown, and you are an Earth.org volunteer. If that is all you have time for, great! It may be the one word which saves someone from missing their bus. It might be the difference between a disappointing and fantastic journey. It might just save the world! If you have more time or want to learn, use or improve a skill, look into our volunteer forum because we have lots of projects and roles that can use the skill of an Earth.org volunteer.

8.2 What are some of the things volunteers do at Earth.org?

Everything! Earth.org is a collaborative effort that wants to get everyone involved in everything. Write, program, market, promote, if it advances the mission of Earth.org then we will support a volunteer to do it. We have already had volunteers create videos and social media petitions, they create the travel guide pages, they have led to some great partnerships and keep us sane in the forums.

If you want to know more about volunteering at Earth.org, take a look at Get involved or simply send a mail to justin(at)earth.org.

9. Remote work @ Earth.org

9.1 What is remote work?

Remote work is new. Remote work is independence location-wise. It is working together from remote locations through the Internet. Be it your bedroom in San Francisco or the beach in Bali.
We have no office, but it works!

9.2 What means 100% remote?

Most of the team members have never seen each other. That's somehow strange. Some have seen some, many have seen only few, many have also seen no one, but no one has seen all!*?
And we do this to 100% - which means: No one is sitting next to each other. No one.

9.3 Why is Earth.org is a remote team?

This is a long story, and it started in the beautiful ancient country India. We love India and thought we might establish here an office, as the living costs are low. While people like to come to India, they also go back or go travelling after a few months. A stable international team we can not built under the sun of south India.
In the moment we understood this - there was the thought - we are going it 100% remote. This means, not two team members sitting next to each other. Internally we called it "We have no office, but it works!". As we do not like negative statements we do not use this term anymore.

Born out of budget limitations is has proven to be one of the fundamental descisions in the venture Earth.org. So the idea was born: Let people do whatever they want, wherever they want. Some wants to travel, some wants to surf, some work aside of their jobs, some one to take care of their children.

The main point is: We are pleased to work with the best all over on our beautiful planet earth.
So, who ever works for Earth.org can work from wherever he wants, be as ever he wants and work basically however it fits to him. The only thing required: A positive attitude.

9.4 How is it like working in an international team?

Currently we have 4 continents, and Australia makes really time zones difficulties. America, Europe and Asia are ok, but Australia! How do you want to organise a groupmeeting if always someone is sleeping:-)

We have such nice virtual contacts, and so nice virtual humour, fun to work like this. Nothing negative - all positive, because we all want this. Just very professional people, each one responsible for his/her section, and positivity seeds positivity. And those who are not made for this, they dropped out.

9.5 Is remote work a cultural problem?

Different people - different cultures - different approaches - different ideas - different knowledge - these are not the problems. With a positive view, which is a necessary element inside the Earth.org team, it is in the same way an incredible enrichment - which makes you aware of each of our strong cultural conditioning.

9.6 Are there any disadvantages?

Even if you work from a beautiful beach in Australia, and you have a surf in the early morning, at a sunny summer day with 30 degrees, while your European oder US team members are freezing in their winter, you might feel alone out there, you might feel social isolation. If you do not hear the others, your brain automaticaly thinks nothing is moving.

Working at home (or on that beach in Thailand) means no commute, no office politics, a hugely reduced carbon footprint, but also no watercooler. Offices often provide a major social network (not the facebook kind) for people in the form of the after work beer with co-workers to company sports teams. These suddenly dry up when you work remotely.
But many people have simple strategies for solving this. One is the above mentioned co-working facilities, other people have a room set aside specifically for work and make it known that when they are there, they are at work, others just up and head to that beach where the only people who bother them are selling massages and trinkets.

But it can also be the opposite, if you are e.g. a young mother, you are suddenly into a social network instead of sitting the entire day at home. If you are working only part time for Earth.org you experience your work normally as an enormous enrichment, due to the freedom you have.

9.7 Do you plan to meet each other one day?

We have the policy "Mi casa es tu casa" - which is an open house policy for everyone. A lot of inviations and sometimes someone meets someone.
Still, sometimes some people in the team would just like to see each other. We dream that we have one day a big Earth.org meeting, which starts with a masked ball, where we all see each other. We are patient.
This not seeing each other is a kind of an interesting topic - it allows us to keep free of prejudgement due to speach, or outwardness - we get to know the pure character, hehe

9.8 What are the big advantages of remote work for the team members?

Freedom - This is the big one, working from wherever you want and moving whenever you feel the need. For settled people this is a great way to save on living costs. For globally nomadic people, it means a steady income without a steady address. Get a global SIM card with a data plan, tether it to your computer, travel to Thailand and you’re working on the beach. A month later, head to Bali to check out the surf, hit up Singapore for a couple days and then Hong Kong for a while. Sure, you’re on a beach and doing work…but you’re on a beach doing work…it sure beats a cubicle. With GSM data getting more and more prevalent and with internet cafes everywhere, you can go almost anywhere and still reach the office.

9.9 What are the big advantages of remote work for Earth.org?

It is soo extremly cool for us to be able to work with experts all over the world. Everyone can support Earth.org - from everywhere. This is really the kind of work which fits to the Internet. And to the idea of Earth.org.
A manager in New York can support us with his extra hours. A surfer in Bali can work a few hours to support his simple life style at the beach. A mother can still be a 100% mother and work.
Often you see a project which you like - and you would not be able to move to another city or country to support it. Here at Earth.org we open all this barriers - and you can help this project from everywhere in the world.

9.10 How do you organize the communication?

There are options. With communications tools like Twitter , Yammer and Skype , the communications gap has really shrunk over the past few year and with the explosion of co-working facilities, you can still get the office gossip if you really get the itch.
Furthermore we structure all documents on Google Docs&Spreadsheeds, we use Google Calendar and Trac for tech tasks.

9.11 Successful remote work – how does it look like?

Professional people with good skills who you can rely on. People who are open and who do not mind having unusual working times. People who are interested in future working standards.

If you want to know more about remote work, go to the Remote work section or simply send a mail to teresa@earth.org

10. Additional information and sources

10.1 Where can I find additional information about Earth.org?

Visit the INSIDE Earth.org pages

Go to the Earth.org blog

Get the images on Flickr/Earth.org

Watch a short video on Youtube/Earth.org

Follow Earth.org on Twitter

Find Earth.org on Facebook and join the Earth.org Facebook group .

Find Earth.org on XING

If you still want to know more about Earth.org, send a mail to teresa(at)earth.org.