What do I get for US$100?

This important question is often asked. I have been reluctant to answer this for a few reasons.

  1. To ecoconnect is an idea that touches people in different ways so explaining part of the value is only ever a part of the story. The value to an individual will depend on how that person responds to the connected species.

  2. Over-promising too early could disappoint. We might not have specific evidence yet or all the systems in place to help deliver this value.

  3. The value to the world and the richness of the ecoconnected community will emerge as a person is connected to every species.

However the question is important. So ignoring these risks…

You will get:

  1. A species chosen randomly from all the species with a name (by email). A friend.

  2. An interesting talking point to enrich your relationship with the person who ecoconnects you.

  3. Satisfaction knowing you are contributing to:

    1. an interesting project connecting a person to every species,

    2. taxonomy research toward naming the 70% of species that don’t have a name,

    3. citizen science programs to map species.

    4. the enormous task of understanding life on earth by breaking the challenge down and doing your manageable part.

    5. reshaping the economy away from consumption toward good relationships.

  4. The investment of US$100. This shows that this species is worth something. This investment in you and the world will motivate you to explore what your species is and get the value from being ecoconnected. No pain, no gain they say:-)
    We spend money on petrol and housing expenses with ease but often benefit from others investments in research and development.

  5. Mental health benefits from a specific long term connection with real life. This will be a compounding asset as you get a sense of how your species deals with changing seasons.

  6. An injection' of individuality making you more interesting, developing your ‘grit’.

  7. Self awareness through understanding yourself from the viewpoint of another species.

  8. To be part of a team of impatient optimists addressing a big world issue.

  9. Letters of introduction and thanks from our partners.

Pain points we might address for you

  • If I buy a gift I am filling the world with packaging and environmental impact. An ecoconnection is an intangible gift.

  • I have to drive to work on an asphalt road and sit in an office on a concrete pad, it’s what I do. I don’t know what impact this has on other species. It pains me to know I am part of the problem. Ecoconnections aims to expand the dynamic knowledge of each species, your little piece of knowledge will contribute to understanding impacts.

  • Estimates vary but 1000’s of species are becoming extinct every year. This pains me. It is lost opportunity, lost knowledge and tragic because life is rare in the cosmos. Ecoconnections aims to increase discovery rates before species disappear.

  • I know someone who is lonely. Ecoconnections can involve human connections as well as the species to take an interest in.

  • My life is busy enough I don’t have time for understanding the rest of life. We are breaking down and delegating this challenge. There is no ongoing obligation or time commitment. It is your choice what you do next, if anything. By telling people you are ecoconnected you have some higher moral ground and can encourage them too.

What could I give

Like most things in life you get out what you put in. An ecoconnection can work as a ‘slow burn’. As a guide, an ecoconnection at 0.1% of your consciousness would be 70 thoughts per day, based on an average persons 70K thoughts per day. Chances are that no-one else is thinking of your species, so make them count :-)

These conscious thoughts are the tip of an iceberg. Imagine what the collective unconscious could do.