O2 Global Network

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Not to be confused with the British telecommunications company O2 plc networks

o2 Global Network is an international network for people interested in sustainable design. The network is made up of the o2 Global Network foundation, regional hubs, local groups, liaisons and individuals (called o2's). It has currently more than 70 country contacts.

1 History
2 Objective
3 Members
4 See also
5 External links

[edit] History

o2 ("Oxygen") was founded in 1988 in Milan by Niels Peter Flint, Thierry Kazazian, Jorgi Scheicher, Jeremy Quinn and others. o2 Groups in Denmark, France and the United Kingdom followed. Six years later (5 July 1994) Iris de Graaf and Willem Hanhart founded the o2 Global Network foundation, or in short, the o2 Global Network. o2GN, as it became to be known, was set up as an independent organisation. Its first home page appeared in November that year, and by August 1995 the network had hosted its first web broadcast, live from Rotterdam.

[edit] Objective

For nearly two decades o2 has pioneered solutions to a central problem of the made environment: how to foster sustainability while having a good quality of life. The people in this forum have been wrestling with the problems of a throw-away culture, formulating non-polluting production methods, sourcing nontoxic, sustainably managed materials, innovative sustainable product services, sustainable lifestyles, behaviour and consumption, and crucially, passing on the knowledge.

The basic idea of the o2 Global Network is "global thinking and local action". Global information and knowledge is exchanged and discussed. Local groups, mostly non-governmental organizations, or o2 individuals organize lectures, projects, workshops and distribute newsletters to promote, educate and implement design for sustainability with all of its facets in mind.

[edit] Members

The network involves people with a background in design, industrial design, architecture, graphic design, arts, fashion, innovation, as well as people from academies, universities, public authorities, companies or knowledge centers. The o2 Global Network's primary method of communication is by means of electronic media such as the home page and an electronic mailing list where information and knowledge can be exchanged. o2 Hubs, o2 groups and o2 liaisons can be found worldwide.