The Icelandic environmental accreditation organisation Beluga has geared itself up for an international audience. Unlike the focus in Iceland, which concentrates on providing environmental accreditation for companies and institutions as well as accreditation in a combined environmental, quality and safety standard, the English-language site is more individual-centred and focuses more on environmental education and information on topical environmental issues. One section is devoted to children while another focuses on what individuals can do to become more environmentally aware. There is a comprehensive news section, the focus of which will change every two months, and a separate page about Iceland, its nature and environmental research. And, true to its name, information is also provided on the beluga whale and beluga whale research. The URL of the site is  http://www.beluga.is .

Although much of the Beluga site will be open to everyone, some material will be only accessible to members. Members are expected to pay £24 a year, for which they will be able to access all news articles, get a discount on a trip around Iceland (and even win a trip) and be entitled to a limited amount of free environmental consulting.

15% of membership fees will go to research organisations working on beluga whales in the St Lawrence river in Canada, where the whales are suffering from pollution-caused problems such as cancer. Another 5% will be reserved for Beluga staff for maintaining and updating the pages on Beluga whale research.

For more details contact Lowana Veal on  lowana@beluga.is