Introduction by Danielle Siembieda

Moving forward into changing networks, ecosystems and technology all can be combined, intertwined and complimentary. Using the concept of the network, the profile and the dialogue Curtis Baffico has created a visualization of personal responsibility by webbing the need and the have while visualizing networks of users through the interface of the personal collector, one that turns personal network into a commodity to fund the efforts of the environmental NGOs working on the ground thus making change effortless yet impactful.

At the same time this creates a sense of gifting of the network link adjoining their personal networks to create a system of mass participation. This network is similar to that of the direct action movements of the 1960's where participation was created by forms of media that linked people at the point where there personal contribution, as minimal as it may be, was a part of a larger network that would fund and call attention upon a common value. Both this sort of movement and the work of Baffico revisit the dialogue of value, community and action.

*Stands up*. "Hi, my name is Curtis and I'm a dreamer." "HI CURTIS!"

This is a little snippet about my life path, a shameless plug if you will about me getting myself off my own butt and "doing" something about my love of places. Last year, I touched foot on my 30th country and 5th continent. I should have been beyond thrilled to check off another place on my to-do-in-life-list, especially since Australia is so magical. I wasn't. Ever felt like you have every reason on earth to be happy about something but feel something really important is just missing? For me, carbon offsets, financial and volunteer contributions, treading lightly/leaving no trace, and endless talk about how much I love travel and places no longer quenched my soul. I wanted to do more. I needed to do more. I even felt obligated to my unborn children and all those who will come after I'm long gone. I know I'm not alone in my legacy thinking.

A handful of years ago, I found myself in a conversation with an older man at the beach. The topic was an easy one as the shores surrounding us were littered with those scary orange signs that read "DANGER. CONTAMINATED WATER KEEP OUT." As a surfer, this breaks my heart. I must have expressed some sort of pessimism for this man to tell me a story that years later really inspired me to chase a dream. Maybe you've heard it before:

One early morning a man was walking towards the beach. Off in the distance he could see someone going back and forth between the surf's edge and the dry sand.

As he got closer, he saw a young man collecting starfish and throwing them back into the sea. The man looked down the long stretch of white sand and saw that stranded starfish scattered the shore for as far as the eye could see.

He approached the young man and asked "What are you doing?"

The young man paused, looked up and replied, "Throwing these starfish back in the ocean."

"I guess I should have asked why are you throwing these starfish into the ocean?"

The young man replied, "The sun is coming up and the tide is going out. If I don't throw them back they'll die."

"But there are far too many starfish than you can ever save before the sun is up. Surely you can't expect to make a difference."

The young man bent down, picked up another starfish and threw it into the sea and said, "I made a difference to that one."

This simple story reignited my belief that little actions can truly add up to make a big difference, even if they don't actually solve the entire problem. I was inspired to take what I'm hoping will be a permanent leave of absence from the corporate rat race to finally pursue my dream of creating a lasting, people-powered revenue source for our planet's caretakers; the organizations fighting on the front-lines to protect and preserve the beauty we all claim we love. Personally, I can't imagine not giving back (or paying it forward) for being so fortunate to see such amazing, far-off places and vibrant cultures beyond my wildest dreams. I guess you could say I'm determined to leave the planet in better condition than I found it.

My idea is One Buck for the Planet (.org). It's the first and only green social networking website of its kind that provides individuals and businesses the opportunity to grow an endless ripple of giving for our planet's top caretakers.

It's simple. It's ridiculously cheap (US$1). And it's a fun and innovative way to give back to the planet in a way found nowhere else. It's also a super cool way to show your greenness in whole new light. My favorite part is that you can watch your ripple (a.k.a. your personal giving network) grow, and see (and take ownership in) the difference you create---one buck at a time, one person at a time.

Behind the scenes? To capture every level of giving by you and the people in your ripple (and the people in their ripple, and beyond), we've built special Multi-Level Giving Software. It tracks and reports each new person in your ripple, allowing you to watch the positive difference you and your giving network create. There are no limits to how big your ripple can grow or how many dollars it can raise for the planet. Telling just one person can literally create an endless ripple with the potential to reach millions globally. It's not rocket science, just the law of viral marketing and the feel-good-factor working hand in hand. And, it's 100% people-powered.

Whether you love the oceans, wildlife, nature, or want to fight global warming, One Buck for the Planet cultivates real dollars for a handpicked group of environmental movers and shakers, all with proven track records of getting things done. Each believes in tackling problems at the roots, because that's how long term changes are made. Creating a lasting difference and lessening my footprint on the environment is what drives me and the One Buck concept.

So, is there a power of ONE - despite the seemingly small and insignificant impact? I wholeheartedly answer "yes," and challenge all who say they care to please take this one simple action---or another environmentally helpful one that feels right to you.

The power of ONE