About

The Ottawa Public Library by BytownMuseum via Flickr

Earthpages.org is a noncommercial blog about dialogue, understanding and positive change.

The site first began as an idea. It was 1997 and I’d just finished my Ph.D. in Religious Studies at the University of Ottawa. Unplugged from the university computer room, I started doing e-mail in the public library. This was before 911 and the dot.com winter. The web was new and many believed it could change the world.

One day, on my way to the library, I got the idea to develop an interfaith, ‘global-village’ style web site where different viewpoints could happily find expression.

Not only that. I wanted dialogue. And not just from abstract specialists (who sometimes miss the forest for the trees) or famous self-help gurus but from everyday people who aren’t necessarily well known.

Over the years Earthpages has gone through many changes. We’ve transitioned to blog format and embraced the dual approach of Earthpages.org and Earthpages.ca. And we currently place less emphasis on world photos and the visual arts with the success of online photo sharing and social networking.

Amid all this change, we’re still calling for submissions on many different topics as we continue to believe that dialogue can make a difference.

Although Earthpages.org is closely connected to Earthpages. ca – Think Free, the two differ. The main difference is that Earthpages.org doesn’t edit copyrighted articles after posting them. The articles, themselves, might be progressive, alternative or possibly more traditional. Earthpages.org also features movie, DVD, CD, book and freeware reviews.

How we looked in 2006

Earthpages. ca – Think Free arose from Earthpages.org. Think Free is about interactive learning and questioning everything, right down to the notions of objectivity and balance often implied as valid and true at other educational venues.

Instead of squelching new ideas and opinions, Think Free encourages them. We believe that learning isn’t just about regurgitating yesterday’s stuff. It’s also about exploring new possibilities and helping to shape the future.

I hope you’ll enjoy Earthpages and, even better, help us grow!

— Michael Clark