We’ve been talking a lot about the Webification of the Obama campaign, but there are also some interesting things going on in our own backyard. As Canadians gear up for our own Federal election this week, Vote for Environment – a pro-environment lobby group – is looking to use Internet-enabled, grassroots organization to try and game Canada’s multi-party political system.

The initiative is appealing to those that believe the environment is the single most important issue. It paints the Harper government as the anti-environment party, and then specifically targets 39 ridings where the Conservative party won in the last election by less than 10%. Visitors can search for their riding and are given recommendations on who to vote for based on poll data. The goal is to consolidate the vote around the party that was the runner up; regardless of who that might be.

The video on the site explains:

“To vote for the environment we need to beyond political affiliation; we need to vote to win. [...] If those of us who care about the environment don’t vote across party lines, the pro-environment vote will be split as it was in the last election and Harper will be re-elected. [...] We are the majority, but our electoral system hasn’t kept up with Canada’s changing political landscape. [...] Grassroots cooperation will mean that all pro-environment parties will win more seats. [...] By working together the pro-environment majority can win.”

This only works in multi-party systems, so it’s not applicable in the U.S., but I think it’s a great example of how grassroots movements can be emboldened by the Internet. Don is always saying how the environment is “the first truly global cause.” If that’s true, this is the type of non-partisan, grassroots collaboration that we’re going to need on a global scale.