Q. What is the Online Global Poll on the Environment?
A. The first ever Online Global Poll on the Environment is being conducted in conjunction with the UN Earth Summit in Johannesburg to give the citizens of the world a way to participate, express their ideas and opinions and make their voices heard about the crucial issues that effect us all, both today and in the future. People from 144 countries have already voted and participated.

Q. How do people participate in the poll?
A On the internet go to www.NetPulseGlobalPoll.com and click on any region on the world map and begin to answer the questions. Also, the Online Global Poll can be accessed through many sites such as the UN Earth Summit, BBC, AOL, MSN and many others.

Q. What type of questions are on the Global Poll?
A. This in-depth online poll lets people register their opinions in three basic areas 1.) about current environmental conditions in their own country and globally, 2.) access what environmental issues are most important, 3.) evaluate possible solutions and policies. There is also a section where users can give demographic information so that there will be valid, useful results balanced by age, sex, regions of the world and other variables.

Q. Is the poll available in multiple languages?
A. The poll is in English and the questionnaire is available as a printable download in six other languages Arabic, German, Spanish, Portuguese, Turkish and Greek.

Q. Will the poll results be a perfect reflection of public opinion of all segments of the world's population?
A. No, no one expects that. Only a small percentage of the people in the world have access to the Internet, or even a telephone. Of the people who do have Internet access, only a tiny few will take the poll or even hear about it. And, with the problems of the 'digital divide' many groups will not even be represented at all. The poll will not be perfect but it will be the best possible given conditions today.

Q. With the digital divide, isn't any Internet based, online polling meaningless?
A. No, the digital divide is of course real and important - only about 10% of the world has access to the Internet. However, only half of the world has never made a phone call but that doesn't mean telephone opinion polling is invalid. Internet penetration is growing very fast and more people have used the Internet in its first 5 years than in the first 30 years of the telephone. This poll is the first of literally thousands of online global polls that will follow and we will learn from each as we go along.

Q. Given these limitations, why even have the poll?
A. Within the limits of what is possible today, the results of the poll will be valid and scientific. What is most important is that this Online Global Poll is a beginning - the beginning of gauging, measuring and understanding public opinion on a global level. We all know we live in a 'global village,' and we believe we should try to understand what the village as a whole thinks about the important issues that effect us all.

Q. What is the Declaration on Global E-Democracy?
A. This Declaration is a general, non-binding statement of personal support encouraging more use of digital technology to expand and enhance democracy globally. It recognizes the importance of using digital technology in finding new ways to provide for the people of the world to have a voice and participate in the global deliberations that affect their lives

Q. Why is this e-democracy important?
A. The Internet and other new communications technologies are radically changing the world. In every aspect of our lives - from commerce to entertainment to education to government - the new technologies are opening up exciting new possibilities. We must all be constantly searching for new ways to apply these technologies to old problems. We must experiment with new ideas in our own lives and also in the collective life of our planet. Many in governments have too often been slow to see the possibilities and opportunities. Too often we have not been willing to take chances and aggressively search for new solutions.

Q. How is this poll relevant to global e-democracy?
A. E-democracy is about using the new technology of the digital revolution to expand, strengthen and enhance democratic decision making and participation. Understanding global opinion about important public policy issues like the environment and sustainable development is an important first step in the process. Never before have people from 144 countries participated - in real time, in an important global deliberation like the UN Summit, as they have already done with this poll.

Q. Is this project about online polling or e-democracy?
A. In a real sense, it is really more about digital democracy than it is about polling. The radical new possibility afforded by the digital age is interaction - people can respond and participate in real time. This poll is but one example of political interactivity and many others are being tried (online debates, chat session, live web-cast, voting by mobile phones, SMS for political activity, etc.) There have been numerous experiments on the local and national level with e-democracy but, this is the first time a global political event has had a major global interactive component open to all - global e-democracy.

Q. So this poll itself is really an example of e-democracy.
A. Yes, this poll is what the new e-democracy is all about - giving everyone a way to participate (via this poll) and they in turn forwarding the poll to others and urging others to participate and so on. Literally thousands of others - NGOs, community groups, individual citizens, etc. have participated by taking the poll, sending the poll to their members, friends, community group, etc. and encouraging other to participate and be a part of the process.

Q. So where do we go from here, is this the end of the project?
A. No, it is a beginning. Everyone can't participate yet (digital divide) and we must constant strive to find ways to include everyone. Everyone couldn't vote and participate in early democracy in Ancient Greece either but democracy was then a radical new concept that has changed the world. We must constantly be striving to expand and 'perfect' democracy. That is precisely what this project is all about. This Online Global Poll is another important step in this process of democracy…e-democracy.

Q. Who developed the poll?
A. The poll was developed in accordance with accepted best practices for this type of new online opinion polling. The development of poll and the technical support is being provided by NetPulse Global Poll, a division of PoliticsOnline.com, UTS and Fredricks Polls. The Andreas Papandreou Foundation of Greece organized the project.

Q. What was the role of the media and other sponsors?
A. This poll is an important and serious project and has been recognized as such by the global media as evidenced by the fact that the three largest media companies in the world - BBC, AOL/Time Warner, Microsoft/MSNBC - were sponsors and helped promote participation around the world. They deserve out thanks for what they have done.

Q. When will the results of the poll be announced?
A. The results will be announced at a press conference at the UN Summit in Johannesburg on Sept 4. The site, www.NetpulseGlobalPoll.com will have the results displayed after Sept. 4 and will be a permanent site.

Q. How do I find out more?
A. Contact:
In Johannesburg, Andreas Papandreou, Papandreou Foundation, phone +30-10-363-9764, andreaspapandreou@hotmail.com
Phil Noble, NetPulse Global Polls, phone: +1-843-296 1490, phil@politicsonline.com