Thanks for all your comments. We’ve decided to close comments on this post so that we can all move on. We feel very positive for Ecocho’s future. Thanks for all your continued support!!

Alex and the Ecocho team.

greetings, fabian

PS. [..] Ecocho was informed by Google that they would be denied the use of Google’s search technologies.[3] This event, ironically on Earth day, has been cause for much criticism[..]

I couldn’t say it better!

Fabian, Argentina

The answer is simple, become a charity and not use growing trees as an incentive if your making money off the side. So many companies are getting in on the ‘lets save the world’ attitude around right now.

How much of your earnings are profit and how much are given to trees? would be interesting to know

Keep your heads up.. Go ahead.. there are so many things you can do.
You do GREAT WORK for our enviroment.. maybe you could take some pictures from the trees and Pics from your company =) im very interrested in how it looks like ^^

ECOCHO RUULZ
and.. KEEP GOIN’

Greetz from AUSTRIA – DanL

Go on searching with Yahoo and good luck to the team behind Ecocho, keep up the good working!

Greets from Austria,
Markus

The more mighty a company becomes, the more we depend on them, don’t we? Let’s show google that the world is able to search the internet without them!

From now on, I’m going to use ecocho (yahoo) as my favorite search site.

Keep on searching for the environment !

Greetings from Germany and keep up the good work!

Keep on searching for the environment !

Ecocho is a little green in the grey internet.
Google please „Don’t be evil.”!

Cho Cho don’t cry!

They might say “don’t be evil” but it seems the subtext is “but its OK not to be nice either…”

Keep up the good work Ecocho – anything worth doing takes effort. This is just the first hurdle and its far from insurmountable.

Maybe if you list yourself as a charity they will back off?

But i get the whole incentive to search thing, if on my site i said i would buy carrots for the local donkey sanctuary for using my search engine, thats an incentive to use it, not because my site offers a better experiences. Its almost like doing cashback for search.

The same rules have to apply to everyone right?

I have informed some of my local institutions here in the US, ie, college and center for sustainable living; most people I have talked to are sending emails. I hope others can do the same.

It is great to see such a great response surrounding this issue.

PS. I see that the Ecocho wikipedia article was updated–awesome.

I think that the best way to solve the problem is by using Yahoo!
Maybe Google will be back one day…or maybe not…who cares by the way?
So….Good Luck Ecocho! Very good Job!

Ciao!

Nicolo’

Them doing this on Earth Day makes it an even better story

I can imagine google finished their support for the project now, because the site isn´t too popular yet. But use your contacts guys and tell people to use the site.

Canceled support on earth day, this is just ridiculous

I’ll replace Yahoo with Ecocho in my browser search :p

Hope negotiations go well!

A couple of thoughts:
1. Definitely, Google IS evil
2. Ecocho Yahoo! is kinda neat, actually…

Also, remmember that Google loosing money on Ad-sense, their profits has slowed down, you can read ir on any newspaper.

There must be an alternative way to accomplish the goals of ecocho:
The best way we can contribute to ecocho is to give them different ideas, to try no to depend on google.

Greetings, Fabian

Wie es scheint hat das vorhin nochmals erwähnte Suchmaschinenangebot nun ein Problem. Google hat den Dienst bei Ecocho eingestellt. Begründung dafür ist, dass Ecocho sich nicht an die AdSense-Regeln gehalten hat. Wie mir auch schon aufgefallen ist, hat…

My reply:
Actually I have read your helpdesk and it does not help me.

Please take my mail seriously and send me a serious reply..
You are denying this site from growing trees, those trees are there to produce oxygen for you.
You are breathing oxygen right now. Why do you want to stop breathing?

[Original message]
I am one of the many users that frequent http://www.ecocho.com, a site
recently denied the use of Google search technologies. I must express my
disappointment with this event. However disappointed, I understand the
value of the specific point of policy that is in conflict: “AdSense does not
currently permit sites that offer monetary or non-monetary incentives to
users to perform searches on click on ads.” I also understand the the
argument regarding the “inability to verify the accuracy of any charitable
claims and need to protect the user and advertiser experiences.”

This is equitable and overall good policy practice. I do, however, wish to
implore the altruistic nature and the user-demand for such a service. Due
to these reasons I ask, with a voice that echoes many others, that the time
needed to ensure and verify the legitimacy of this service is taken. We
are confident you will find Ecocho to be completely accurate and genuine.

We respectfully ask that proper attention is given to the wishes of the
Ecocho community and that a viable agreement with the
http://www.ecocho.com
staff be made promptly.

Sincerely,

Sander van Hulst

Isabelle

Dear Sirs,

my name is Alfredo — and I am writing to express my delusion about your decision not to support Ecocho anymore. I thought Echocho was a valuable way to protect and better our planet and had appreciated the fact that I could use google even to benefit our environment. I am now obliged to turn to yahoo, even though I liked your website more. I really hope you will change your mind and support Ecocho again!

Best regards,
Alfredo —
from Italy

I used to use google, and few days ago I discovered Ecocho (The best idea since Internet). The search engine which help the earth. I started to used it (with the google search engine). And today, which is the ‘Earth day’, Google decide to stop sponsoring ecocho. What does that mean? Do they think they are doing enough for the earth? What did they do? hummm I know, they changed their logo for 1 DAY, with nice trees, a nice river, and a nice sky. But is that really helping the earth… I don’t think so!
The thing is that the pollution issue is a problem for everyone on earth even Google, so if we are all doing an effort, it can help…
So I will continue to use Ecocho, even if Google is not on board anymore.

Don’t give up guys, because the pollution will not give up!

Dear Adsense Support,

I am one of the many users that frequent http://www.ecocho.com and used to frequent http://www.aidgle.com, sites recently denied the use of Google search technologies. I understand the value of the specific point of policy that is in conflict: “AdSense does not currently permit sites that offer monetary or non-monetary incentives to users to perform searches or click on ads.” I also understand the the argument regarding the “inability to verify the accuracy of any charitable claims and need to protect the user and advertiser experiences.”
However, I am somewhat taken aback at the Google response to the popularity of these two particular sites. As a forward looking, mold-breaking company, why can’t Google come to some kind of agreement that would allow users to support those important causes? One possible compromise would be to lower the revenue received and use the difference to pay a third-party investigative team or certification organization to certify that the money is going where they say it is. The site could even be required to have something like a pie chart created by the third-party organization that would tell exactly where the money is going. There are already similar certification organizations for organics and charities, so why not come up with a creative solution that lets everyone be part winner? Good publicity for Google, feel-good for the users, trees or aid to earthquake victims for the world?

Sincerely,
Randall Rubinstein

Seems like all of the charity-style search engines are using Yahoo now.

“Google’s Green Commitment
This current initiative is just the next step in Google’s continuing commitment to a clean and green energy future. We have been working hard on energy efficiency and making our business environmentally sustainable.

Last spring we announced that we would be carbon neutral for 2007 and beyond, and we’re on track to meet this goal. We’ve taken concrete steps to reduce our carbon footprint and accelerate improvements in green technology…..” ?!?!?!?!?!??!?!?!?!?!?!?!??!

You can find the whole text at
http://www.google.com/corporate/green/energy/index.html

“To: adsense-support, renewables
mostra dettagli 10.17 (2 ore fa)

Dear Google,

today, the earth day, I tried to help our Earth searching through Ecocho, using, as always, Google as “the” search engine. But… the same Google that today shows an earth logo on its homepage, has disabled search through Ecocho. This does not make any sense, at least to me. And I suppose it make nonsense also for other thousand of people that in last week discovered that wonderful service offered by Ecocho (3.290 trees = 3.290.000 searches… it’s not a small number). I do not know why Google has choosen to stop that service, I am sure Google had its own reasons as Ecocho had its own… but it is really not a great marketing campaign, nor a great step forward for your “Google’s Green Commitment” (at least, Google can think about implementing an Ecocho-like service), if it is not supported by an official, understandable and good reason.

My last question, is: how can you state “Last spring we announced that we would be carbon neutral for 2007 and beyond, and we’re on track to meet this goal” (from your corporate site) and then “Unfortunately, Google has decided to stop Ecocho from using its search technology” (Ecocho home page) without giving to your users any reason?

Sincerely, fpc”

Buuuuh, Google, do nothing evil^^

I can only see the “You search. We grow trees” statement as the incentive.

Perhaps if you remove references regarding the above they may take it a little easier, as petty and stupid as that may sound. At the end of the day, ecocho is using google technology, hence they do have to abide by the T&C’s. I’m sure it will get sorted out though.

Sure Googles decision is business driven, but surprise surprise, they are a business. If google wants a piece of the pie, then they will just buy ecocho, like they did with picasa etc.

Oh and before anyone says Google is now evil and wants to ruin search and kill trees and baby reindeer, take a look at google.org, they do put a lot of money to worthwhile causes.

PS – no i do not work for google.

PPS – as much as i would love to use ecocho, i’ll have to wait until google comes back on it. I find some of the things Yahoo does, particularly with regards to China, disgraceful and cant in good faith use them.

Good luck with getting Google back and with the site. I think it is a fantastic concept and a very worthwhile initiative.

Would hate to have to switch to Yahoo.

so tue.. kind of weird that they decided to stop supporting ecocho the day before earth day..

Google SHAME ON YOU!

Disenfranchised Google user and passionate Ecocho user

Paola

money, power and fame.
such a shame

I am happy I hear disappointing and angry comments on Google move. I believe in Ecocho’s plan and I think Google should trust the iniative as well. Asutralians have very nice ideas in general and in this occasion they just had a wonderful one! It’s good for the planet! I got the chance to discuss a bit with Alex few days ago and I had very good feelings!

Google, please, put your thinking apart, be intelligent.
cheers

______________________________________

Obj: Ecocho

Greetings,

I am an Italian user, and I have always used Firefox for my browsing and Google for my searchs. I was glad when I saw your policy of aiding this new service, that makes users search as they have ever done, but with an eco-knack. As a consumer, as a woman, as a future mother I strongly advise that you change your mind about the collaboration with the ecocho project, exspecially as today is earth day, as Google Italia displays. Otherwise I suppose I’ll have to use Yahoo for my searshs, Microsoft ties or not.

Best regards,

J

We’re disappointed. There are quite a few sites out there using Google technology and imploring people to search for cash incentive. We hoped that we had highlighted our accountability enough to distinguish Ecocho from those sites, by legitimately supporting the growth of trees and keeping our service above board and official (KPMG audit/government-issued credits).

Glenn, thank you so much for doing the petition form. We are going to feature it on our site and try to make it as easy as possible for people to use it.

Again, thanks so much for your support guys.

Alex @ Ecocho

————————————————————————————————————–
Dear Adsense Support,

I am one of the many users that frequent http://www.ecocho.com, a site recently denied the use of Google search technologies. I must express my disappointment with this event. However disappointed, I understand the value of the specific point of policy that is in conflict: “AdSense does not currently permit sites that offer monetary or non-monetary incentives to users to perform searches on click on ads.” I also understand the the argument regarding the “inability to verify the accuracy of any charitable claims and need to protect the user and advertiser experiences.”

This is equitable and overall good policy practice. I do, however, wish to implore the altruistic nature and the user-demand for such a service. Due to these reasons I ask, with a voice that echoes many others, that the time needed to ensure and verify the legitimacy of this service is taken. We are confident you will find Ecocho to be completely accurate and genuine.

We respectfully ask that proper attention is given to the wishes of the Ecocho community and that a viable agreement with the http://www.ecocho.com staff be made promptly.

Sincerely,

Ecocho and Google User
————————————————————————————————————-

PS- If people agree, I think an online petition should be started to prove the value of this service and the overall demand for it. (http://www.petitiononline.com/create_petition.html)

Alex @ Ecocho

We don’t feel that Ecocho is in the slightest ambiguous. We have been infinitely more accontable and verifiable with regards to our carbon credits than all of our competition (performing a similar function). Google has interestingly allowed to those sites to remain active. Glenn, please do what you can to express your feelings about this issue. Thanks.

Alex
Ecocho’s Web Producer

We have tried contacting Google to clarify and fix any issues together but we haven’t gotten a response yet. For the record, Ecocho has never encouraged users to click on ads. In fact, we’ve never even spoken about clicks. We don’t believe that Ecocho was sending fraudulent clicks to advertisers. If it had, Google would’ve immediately stopped Ecocho’s service on day 1 and given this as their main reason. To be clear, Ecocho absolutely condemns fraudulent clicks. To be a real success, Ecocho must have genuine benefits for everyone – from the users, right through to the advertisers and our search technology providers. We met with the Google Adsense team in Australia before launching the site and they gave the project the go ahead, so we don’t understand this action now.

As for governance, we’ve been clear about the important facts. And we’ve made every effort to be as accountable as we can, enlisting KPMG to audit our carbon credits and buying only government-issued credits. We don’t see what more we could do in this regard.

Please keep your comments coming.

Thanks,
Alex
Ecocho’s Web Producer

I ask, beyond the emails to adsense-support, what can we do as users? Online petitions? Pertinent information circulation? What? Google must revisit this decision and find a viable balance between Ecocho’s needs and Google’s policy. To not do so is unacceptable.

Kudos Yahoo! Boodos Google!