But most of us probably still do more driving than we really have to. I’m from California, the U.S. state with the most cars per capita. Driving is what we Californians do (as you may remember from the movie L.A. Story). It often can’t be helped, given how spread out everything is there.

My simple suggestion, with this post, is that you should try to walk more. Take advantage of the fact that you’re not tied to a desk and a schedule, that nobody’s checking how long your lunch hours are. We can often take the time to actually walk to the grocery store when there’s no rush-hour mob scene, and smell the roses along the way. It’s good for body, soul and planet.

How walkable is your neighborhood? I recently stumbled on Walk Score, a cool site that ranks 2,508 neighborhoods in the 40 largest U.S. cities for walkability. I plugged in my old address to test it:

I never realized there was a hardware store so close by! Or a yoga studio. You can click on the icons for more detail, and also expand the view. I was surprised to learn that 35 percent of San Diegans lived in more walkable neighborhoods than I did. There are other features and plenty of interesting info on the site too. (It’s worth noting that the app isn’t flawless; under “Movie Theaters” it lists an adult book store.)

Now I live in Paris and, like most Parisians, I don’t even own a car. A few years ago, I couldn’t have imagined such a thing. But the big difference is that Paris is the ultimate walkable city. After all, it was built when feet were pretty much the only transportation option available to most. I can’t wait till somebody does a site like this for Paris.

What else can you do? Everybody’s talking about different ways to reduce carbon emissions, but the idea of creating walkable cities is not getting the attention it deserves from the powers that be. Take a few moments to learn what a walkable city is and what walking can do for you and your world. Become an advocate of the movement. Do it for your own quality of life and that of coming generations.

How walkable is your neighborhood?

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

The inherent resource-intensiveness of the western lifestyle is undoubtedly the reason why people become overwhelmed by the challenge of climate change. It’s the reason why we often feel as if we can’t do much as individuals to make a real difference.

Perhaps you need to upgrade your software for work, which, unfortunately, necessitates the purchase of a new computer. Essential devices like phones, PDAs, cameras and other peripherals are built to become obsolescent within a given timeframe. You may buy green energy and recycled paper and refill your printer ink cartridges, but the very concept of printing a document entails the use of resources and processes that emit carbon.

Yes, our web working lifestyles necessarily produce carbon emissions, but there is a way to help decrease your carbon footprint, and your contribution to global warming: buy carbon offsets.

Carbon Offsets 101

Buy a carbon offset from an accredited supplier, and you’re effectively paying the company to undertake a specific task to reduce the amount of carbon in the atmosphere. Some tasks aim to prevent carbon dioxide entering the atmosphere — like methane flaring or investment in renewable energy technology. Others, like planting trees, aim to lock up carbon dioxide that’s already present in the atmosphere. Most of the offset sellers I’ve looked at specialize in one or two areas.

Most offset retail sites provide calculators that allow you to enter the details of your shopping habits, transport usage, power and food consumption, and give you a rough estimate of the amount of carbon dioxide you may need to offset. Some sellers offer different calculators for individuals and organizations, so you can obtain closer carbon estimates for things like business consumables, travel, and waste produced through your work.

Once you have your total, it’s a simple matter of entering your credit card details to buy the offsets. The cost of offsets varies with your carbon footprint and the service you use, but as an example, the cost to offset the 3.34 tonnes of carbon produced by my commuting (30,000 miles last year) and driving the Australian annual average of 6,000 miles in my large, old diesel-powered car was $68 AUD ($62 US)  through one offset supplier.

Carbon Offset Controversy

Carbon offsetting is a controversial area, not only because the results are yet to be proven, but because some retailers promote offsets as a means by which people can live a carbon-neutral lifestyle. Many offset companies estimate the carbon that will be sequestered or prevented  from entering the atmosphere on the basis of statistical and scientific analyses, and some argue that these estimates are inaccurate, involve double counting of the possible environmental benefits, and so on.

It seems the best way to assess the value of a given offset activity is to find out about it, by reviewing the offset seller’s information, plus any information your government or interest groups may have produced on the market and seller. In Australia, for example, we have an independent offset rating site which aims to advise on the credentials and capabilities of different offset sellers. Doing your homework on offset sellers in your country is vital.

Carbon Offsets for the Web Worker

Try as we might, most of us are unlikely to achieve a carbon-neutral lifestyle. Even the most environmentally friendly lives in developed countries necessitate the use of technology, devices, transport and consumables whose production or usage contributes to global warming and climate change.

Carbon offsetting is not an answer to global warming, and it’s still in its infancy as far as results go. But even though it’s unlikely to have the same impact as making changes wherever possible to reduce your carbon output, offsetting the carbon emitted through your remote working lifestyle may be a means by which you can compensate in some way for your unavoidable carbon emissions.

Have you ever bought carbon offsets? Would you consider building offsets into your annual expenses?

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

Source: U. S. Department of Transportation http://www.climate.dot.gov/about/transportations-role/overview.html

Transportation is the second-largest source of U.S. greenhouse-gas emissions, accounting for 28 percent of the total. As web workers, many of us can choose where we work, and how we get there.

I’ve been lucky enough to have a career that’s allowed me to live and work in places where I don’t need a car. There are many such places, even in North America, where being car-less is possible and desirable. (Of course, in most of Europe, it’s much easier.)

If you are contemplating moving, consider finding a residence where it’s possible to live without a car, or reduce the number of cars your family owns. Many city dwellers rely on public transit, and use taxis for the occasional shopping trip. My company has a membership in Zipcar, which allows us to rent vehicles by the hour when we need them, at very reasonable rates.

In most cases, you can save considerable money by not driving. But transportation alternatives can require investments of time that busy web workers may feel we can’t afford to take. That’s why it’s important to find locations where transportation options are reliable and convenient. After many years of building highways while neglecting other modes, many localities are now realizing the importance of encouraging light rail, commuter trains, and bus rapid transit, while making improvements for traditional buses, pedestrians, bicyclists, carpools and vanpools.

Even in less urban areas, transit-oriented development is becoming popular. Housing with convenient access to transit may be priced higher, but will actually save you money. According to Malcolm Kenton of the National Association of Rail Passengers:

“As you get farther from the center of a city, housing gets less expensive, but transportation costs grow at a higher rate than the cost of a home drops. The opposite occurs as you get closer in. Residents of outlying suburbs who depend on their cars spend an average of 25% of their household income on getting around vs. 9% for those living in walkable neighborhoods with good transit connections.

If transportation costs were considered as a factor in the affordability of housing, the whole equation would change in favor of denser, less car-dependent neighborhoods.

Nationwide, only 20% of housing units lie within half a mile of a bus or train stop, but in many larger cities, that figure is over 60%–even in places like Houston, Salt Lake City and Denver. Transit-oriented development doesn’t necessarily mean high-rise apartment buildings. It can also include townhomes and small single-family homes that are close together and laid out well enough to encourage walking.”

Of course, not everyone is in a position to make major lifestyle changes. But here are a few simple things you can do to reduce climate change:

• Buy a fuel-efficient vehicle
• Maintain your vehicle
• Avoid speeding, rapid acceleration and braking
• Check your tires
• Combine multiple errands into one trip
• Lighten your load; remove roof racks and unnecessary cargo
• Check traffic before you leave to avoid getting stuck in a jam

And, of course, if you aren’t already working from home, try telecommuting at least one day a week. WWD has some great tips for working from home effectively.

No matter where you live and how you get around, you and your children will be affected by climate change. All of us need to make whatever transportation changes we can, be they large or small. We also need to advocate for more earth-friendly forms of transportation. Support national and local projects that increase transportation efficiency. Join groups that encourage such projects. Nationally, I’m a long-time member of the National Association of Rail Passengers; locally, I’ve worked on a number of transit projects.

How are you advocating for more earth-friendly transportation systems? How have you made your transportation more efficient?

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

As web workers, most of us don’t face the same daily commute that our cubicle-dwelling colleagues do, and it’s easy to think that we’re already “doing our bit” for climate change (although there is some debate as to whether web workers are truly green). Reducing transportation is great, but there’s still much more that you can do. Today is an opportunity to brainstorm some ways to reduce the resources you consume and the carbon emissions you’re responsible for.

We’ll be providing some tips for reducing your impact on the environment today, but we’ve already published quite a lot of posts on the topics of sustainability and reducing energy consumption for web workers. Here are some highlights:

• Resource Rationalization for the Home Office
• It’s Easier Than You Think to be a Green Web Worker
• Where’s the Power: Energy Awareness for Web Workers
• My Web Working Resolution: Be More Green
• Getting Green About Work Meetings

If you’re interested in technology and the environment, you should read our sister blog, Earth2Tech.

What steps are you taking to minimize your environmental impact?

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

One can’t blame them for leaving. Everyone wants to give their family the basic necessities such as education, shelter, food, and medical care. If other third world countries are just like the Philippines, or even worse, then there are few employment opportunities, low pay against a decent standard of living, and little hope for the average citizen. This is what forces most people to become overseas migrant workers. However, this solution to one’s personal poverty has several disadvantages.

The disadvantages of being an overseas contract worker

The most obvious disadvantage is one’s separation from family. Most migrant workers leave their children to the remaining parent or to other relatives if both parents leave the country. This means that children tend to grow up without the influence and guidance of their parents.

Another issue for most overseas workers is the higher standard of living in the countries where they work, especially if they are in North America or Europe. They have to spend more in living expenses in those countries, compared with how much they’ll be spending if they stayed in their home country.

There are also high costs that come with applying as an overseas worker. The immigration fees, agency fees, airfare, and other expenses amount to more than what the middle-class worker earns in a year. Also, there is no guarantee that your application will be accepted after you’ve paid for all the fees. Because of the money involved, there are even scammers and fake overseas employment agencies who are out to prey on the desperation of those who want to find work abroad.

Perhaps the most difficult of these advantages is the lack of protection and the level of maltreatment that these migrant workers face.

…an average of three Filipino workers escape from their employers each day due to maltreatment.

In addition to OFWs receiving lower than in-contract or delayed salaries or not getting paid at all, they have also been exposed to unfavorable working and living conditions, sexual harassment, and other discriminatory practices.

Source: The Daily PCIJ

These disadvantages are often overlooked or treated lightly because of the need to earn more.

What web working can do

I believe that web working and provide a better alternative for those who want to earn in stronger foreign currencies but don’t want to face the disadvantages of becoming an overseas migrant worker. In a way, web work will allow people from developing countries to experience the best of both worlds, gaining the employment and pay they want without leaving the country.

While it’s true that there are start-up costs attached to web work, they are only a small fraction of what skilled workers have to spend when going abroad. Internet access is also becoming more widespread, making web work a strong possibility for those living in major cities of developing countries.

The diversification of income is also more realistic when it comes to web work. Having multiple streams of income gives web workers a safety net, since they can earn from a variety of industries and establish several small online businesses.

Despite its advantages, web working isn’t a solution that applies to everyone. First of all, it only applies to entrepreneurs and knowledge workers. Manual laborers can’t have the option to work on the web because their physical presence is required.

Also, web working is a slow trend in developing countries. In most cases, the knowledge that web work is possible is limited to the tech elite. To develop widespread knowledge, local governments need to implement information dissemination about web working, as well as improve existing computer literacy programs. By doing so, web working will become a strong alternative and less skilled workers will choose to migrate.

Widespread web work in developing nations might not eliminate poverty completely, but it will give the citizens more options, help them increase their income, and allow them to be globally competitive. I know this because that’s what web work has done for me.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• The Future of Work Platforms: An Overview
• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce

When I hear that word, I think of Africa, a continent that has historically been, and still is, either criminally exploited (to put it mildly), or shamelessly neglected by the rest of the world.

When it comes to web working, Africa is one of the last frontiers. In most sub-Saharan African countries, people tend to use mobile phones more than the Internet for business-related activities and communications. Factors contributing to this are high illiteracy rates and linguistic diversity. In addition, the high cost of bandwidth and lack of infrastructure are a serious problem. Many African countries also lack workers skilled enough in information and communication technologies (ICT) for web working to be a viable option. These factors are obstacles to adoption of the Internet as a tool for business, but access to computers and the Internet would contribute greatly to overcoming the obstacles that hinder their adoption and use in the first place.

Humanitarian and international development organizations know this, and are making efforts to get the continent connected with the objective of reducing poverty, as illustrated by this strategy of the UN Economic Commission for Africa:

Access to Information > Knowledge and Capacity > Innovation > Productivity > Growth > Employment > Poverty Reduction

What can we web workers do to help implement the UNECA strategy and make a difference in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world?

Harnessing the power of youth

Access and knowledge, the first steps towards poverty alleviation, are the focus of the One Laptop per Child movement, whose mission is “to ensure that all school-aged children in the developing world are able to engage effectively with their own personal laptop, networked to the world, so that they, their families and their communities can openly learn and learn about learning.”

Kids are fearless and enterprising and they have boundless energy and potential. Take these Congolese boys, for example. They identified a niche market and started a micro-business selling paper, pens and cookies on a college campus. With laptops and access to the store of human knowledge, they could end up being tomorrow’s web workers and entrepreneurs.

This holiday season, why not contribute to OLPC? You can buy a kid a laptop for $200, or contribute an amount of your choice with a click or two.

Building virtuous circles

Despite the obstacles I’ve stated above, there are skilled web workers to be found in Africa. Many of us already work with teams and vendors all over the world. We are uniquely positioned to collaborate with partners in developing countries and have a direct impact on capacity, productivity, employment, and growth.

The French site ProgOnline is a matchmaking platform where freelancers can create profiles and companies can post project requests or directly contact service providers. Many of the freelancers on ProgOnline are from francophone Africa. Similar sites in English are rentacoder.com, getafreelancer.com, and getacoder.com. (Disclaimer: I have never used these sites. If you have used them, or know of other such sites in English or other languages, please share in the comments!)

Sowing the seeds of innovation

I’ve mentioned before that many of us web workers are working on our own entrepreneurial projects. Are you developing a platform or business model that could be applied or tweaked to help bring developing countries into the loop? Entrepreneurs may find themselves without funding sources soon, but that doesn’t mean they’ll stop having ideas or working on their projects. More than fame and fortune (which is looking unlikely these days anyway), I imagine most of us really just want our projects to see the light of day. There is a big world out there that could use our help.

For the entrepreneurially inclined among you, there are dozens of great ideas in the action plan that came out of the 2003/2005 World Summit on the Information Society. It reads like a wishlist for a wired world.

Here are just a couple of items from the plan:

C8.23.c. The preservation of natural and cultural heritage, keeping it accessible as a living part of today’s culture. This includes developing systems for ensuring continued access to archived digital information and multimedia content in digital repositories, and support archives, cultural collections and libraries as the memory of humankind.

C7.21.a. Ensure the systematic dissemination of information using ICTs on agriculture, animal husbandry, fisheries, forestry and food, in order to provide ready access to comprehensive, up-to-date and detailed knowledge and information, particularly in rural areas.

We all know that entrepreneurialism breeds entrepreneurialism. We’ve seen how new companies and entire new industries spring up around startups! Maybe your project could foster innovation in the developing world.

However, I don’t advise that you swoop in like Superman with your wonderful new gadget. Instead, do your best to coordinate with and engage local talent, business, government and NGOs in the project. You don’t want to put local people out of business and you do want to address real, not perceived needs.

One person can make a difference

Just a few months ago, Jonathan Gosier, an American software developer, writer and social entrepreneur, founded Appfrica International in Kampala, Uganda. He moved there with his girlfriend, who works in international development.

Appfrica’s mission is two-fold: to encourage western businesses and investors to engage African entrepreneurs, and to encourage the adoption of computers, programming and use of the Internet in developing parts of Africa. (More about Appfrica)

Jonathan tells me that local IT students at Makerere University can’t afford their own computers, Internet connections, or servers. To help them become developers, he has provided IT students in his area with LAMP servers on USB keys, which allows them to essentially run a web server off of the keys to work with applications as if they were online. The Internet connection at their university is flaky, so he also pays their public transport fares to his house, where they can use his connection to a locally hosted server. He’s loaded it with open source software that they can use to learn to develop. And his door is always open to them.

Jonathan funds Appfrica entirely from his own work as a web developer, but he will be seeking investors interested in helping the program flourish. In his view, “People should invest in the promise of Africa rather than donating out of pity for Africa.”

If you’d like to invest in some promise, and help Jonathan’s students transition from students to pros, or help him find funding, let him know!

We can’t all be Jonathans. It’s just not possible. But if you have a heart and a creative mind, you can find a way to make a difference.

We look forward to hearing more ideas from those hearts and minds of yours!

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks

Blog Action Day is an annual nonprofit event that aims to unite the world’s bloggers, podcasters and videocasters to post about the same issue on the same day. The aim is to raise awareness and trigger a global discussion. The theme for 2008 is Poverty.

The organizers of Blog Action Day ask that we “examine the issues from our own unique viewpoints and perspectives, look for solutions on the small and large scale, and ask how the individual and the collective can make changes.”

We hope you’ll join us in this worldwide grassroots action to sensitize people to the myriad issues and stories of poverty. If you’re not a blogger, don’t despair. There are several other ways to take part!

Please let us know in the comments if you’re planning to participate!

Blog Action Day 2008 Poverty from Blog Action Day on Vimeo.

Related research and analysis from GigaOM Pro:
Subscriber content. Sign up for a free trial.

• Why iPad 2 Will Lead Consumers Into the Post-PC Era
• The Near-Term Evolution of Social Commerce
• Content Farms: The Players, The Benefits, The Risks