The Web includes a wealth of useful information, if you know where to look. The links listed here suggest alternate paths covering topics such as sustainable energy use, electronic publishing, optical disc technology, and sites that excel at organizing and presenting products or services that correspond with our philosophy.

Resources for Energy and the Environment

Earth Island Institute (www.earthisland.org) consistently produces some of the most clearly focused, hardest hitting environmental journalism around. They also oversee specialized projects and citizen action campaigns that help galvanize public support for key environmental issues and programs. For more information on their programs, click the following banner.

The Union of Concerned Scientists (www.ucsusa.org) brings citizens together with the scientific community to seek environmental solutions to serious global problems. This organization spearheads renewable energy programs and advocates improved energy efficiency in industry and private residences, examines the threats of worldwide climatic changes, evaluates safety concerns in nuclear power and weapons programs, and reports on many promising new technologies that offer improvements beyond petroleum-based energy systems.

The Rocky Mountain Institute (www.rmi.org) offers a practical and restorative approach to resource use and energy consumption. Their Web site includes fascinating perspectives on rapidly evolving technologies, such as Hypercars and sustainable energy principles, as well as a large number of position papers that carefully document and substantiate their unique position of life-sustaining business practices. The co-founders of RMI, Amory Lovins and L. Hunter Lovins, also co-authored (with Paul Hawken) the ground-breaking work, Natural Capitalism.

Tree-Free Paper

Vision Paper (www.visionpaper.com) works with U.S. farmers to produce tree-free alternatives to paper fiber. Their chlorine-free, kenaf-based papers have been used by printers, corporations, and organizations around the globe. Kenaf requires less chemicals and energy during paper manufacturing, and offers a viable solution to clearcutting forests for pulp with the added benefit of providing a high-yield crop for farmers.

ReThink Paper (www.rethinkpaper.org), a project initially instituted by the Earth Island Institute, offers tips and guidelines for reducing and eliminating paper use throughout the world. They also provide guides to various paper types, ranking them in terms of content and manufacturing byproducts, and directories of resources to everyone interested in changing their paper consumption habits.

Optical Disc Technology

The CD-Info Company (www.cd-info.com) founded by Katherine Cochrane includes articles, links, and industry directories to everyone interested in publishing to disc.

The Digital Video Professional's Association (DVPA) focuses on providing tools and resources to digital video producers, including those involved in creating and publishing DVD titles. Their site includes member-only areas, accessible by paying a modest membership fee. Members gain access to a full range of tutorials covering hardware and software products used in digital video production, as well as many other member services, such as discounts on cameras and computer equipment, and free Web hosting.

Socially Responsible Business Practices

The socially responsbile business movement has strong roots in Vermont. Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) has been at the forefront of the movement to make business a positive force in communities across the state, as well as keeping businesses abreast of sustainable environmental practices, legislation for health and safety in the workplace, and provide livable jobs for employees. As a member of VBSR, Lightspeed Publishing LLC upholds these principles and practices and invites other organizations to take the sustainable path in their business development.