=================================================== N E T W O R K I N G N E W S L E T T E R # 6 2 =================================================== SUMMER 2005 (printed/distributed: 23.06.05) Welcome to the Summer's "Networking Newsletter" by email. A PDF version, complete with (colour) photos is available online either at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/62/networking-newsletter62.pdf (2Mb download) A web version of this newsletter will be available shortly at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/62 and the latest newsletter at any given time can always be found at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/latest.shtml For the very latest news remember to visit our "stop press" web page at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/stop_press.shtml and events updated daily at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Calendar and full dates of groups are at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Contacts Please pass this email on and encourage people to sign up to our various email lists by sending an email to signUp@networkingnewsletter.org.uk or visiting http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/feedback.html Enjoy! [Michael] ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2005) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - ********************************************* CONTENTS -------- 1. G8: STAND UP AND BE COUNTED 2. THE FUTURE... 3. PENSION FUND PROTESTS 4. MANCHESTER SOCIAL FORUM IN ACTION 5. SELFRIDGES GOES FUR FREE 6. NINE LADIES 7. DON'T BE GREEN 8. MANCHESTER WIPES OUT THE DEBT IN THE FOUNTAINS 9. CLIMATE CHANGE 10. NUCLEAR POWER? NO THANKS 11. REUSE NOT REFUSE 12. RIDE MANCHESTER 13: HOW CAN YOU INFLUENCE TRANSPORT POLICY? 14. HULME GREEN SPACES DAY 15. POLITICAL EDMs 16. CONSUMERISM AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE 17. A LOCAL DIRECTORY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AND LOCAL SERVICES 18. EVENTS LISTING 19. CONTACTS 20. EDITORIAL 21. WORTH WHILE WEB 22. STANDING ORDERS 23. COPYRIGHT NOTICE --------------------------------------------------------------- 1. G8: STAND UP AND BE COUNTED You probably have heard that there is a G8 summit in Gleneagles (just north of Edinburgh) in July. Many groups are organizing events mainly in Edinburgh, such as a MakePovertyHistory rally, a counter conference with People & Planet, Friends of the Earth etc, and anti-capitalist groups undertaking series of nonviolent direct actions. (For more on "why" and "what" see https://www1.indymedia.org.uk/en/actions/2005/g8/) Locally, DoSummat are running a series of G8 workshops and hope to take a couple of vans (http://www.dosummat.org.uk/G8page.htm and http://summat.sakeos.net/). There's also various cycle rides either starting from or passing through Manchester on their way to Edinburgh. A group of 10 cyclists promoting the MakePovertyHistory rally will be cycling on Mon 27 June from Piccadilly Gardens (nr Oldham St) between 8am & 9.30am before heading up Bury Old Road towards the next campaigning stop, Blackburn, cycling about 60 miles a day & staying in Youth Hostels en route, arriving in Edin-burgh on Fri 1 July. More info from Matt (0161 339 9296, mattpostlethwaite2002@yahoo.co.uk). The preceeding Friday 24 the Dissent (anti-capitalism) bike ride cyclists from all over the world who are cycling from Brighton to Edinburgh will be joining in the (semi-)regular Critical Mass (6pm, Central Lib) and picking up new riders bound for the G8 (http://www.g8bikeride.org.uk). If cycling's not your cup of tea then there's a Mcr transport & accommodation hotline (07734 423 050) & Make Poverty History needs volunteers to steward at the 2 July Edinburgh rally. This is the campaign's most significant action to date and it is a priority for us to get as many people involved as possible. Volunteers will travel up to Newcastle by coach on Friday 1 July and stay there for the night. The following morning you will go up to Edin-burgh to be a steward and a representative for the Make Poverty History rally. The event will be a fun day full of events, stalls & actions and will have a festival feel. More importantly, this is our chance as a movement to raise the stakes for the campaign and let world leaders know that there can be no more excuses. On Sunday you will return home after being a part of the country's largest & loudest call to Make Poverty History. All travel and accommodation will be paid for. If you want to help please email scaffarate@oxfam.org.uk. Finally, the annual Unity Festival held on the first Sat of July has been postponed to allow people to head to Scotland to ensure that Blair and other world leaders take this opportunity to stamp out debt and stop climate change. POST G8 There will be a briefing on Tuesday 19 July, 7.30-9pm in the Mechanics Institute. For more information contact Chris at Oxfam on 0161 838 5620. --------------------------------------------------------------- 2. THE FUTURE... I'm disappointed to announce that, after many months of internal debate, I've decided that I can not continue to publish the "Networking Newsletter" in its current paper format on a regular basis. Personally, whilst recognising that's it's easier to read a sheet of paper than a web page, I do think the time (about 20 hours solid - that's one weekend in four!) to produce each issue is too much for me alone. Furthermore, I feel it would be more eco-friendly to use electronic rather than paper print (much cheaper to produce too!). I've been thinking this for a couple of years now. But thanks to the occasional kind word (and the attempt to do a monthly issue!) I've pressed on; but now I think it's time for me to concentrate on my work (mesoscale modelling of aerosols and their effects on climate change and health, if you must know). So, what for the future? Medium term I'd like to offer up the production of paper issues of the newsletter to others, perhaps a small group with people concentrating on different themes. Meanwhile, I will produce the occasional paper newsletter that focuses on news but with pointers to the web site. Putting the calendar together to look decent on paper takes a while (and is outdated as soon as it is printed!) so in future I'll just put markers up for key events and point people to the web site and email lists for more comprehensive information - much in the same way as the contacts list (now up to 500 groups!) is only produced on the web site. Finally, by not having subscribed to the "action update" email list I'm sure several of you are missing out. It has about 3 new events circulating on it each week, along with notable news and calls for action. To subscribe visit the Networking Newsletter web site and click on the "join the action update email list" link. Your feedback on these proposals are most welcome. Thanks, Michael --------------------------------------------------------------- 3. PENSION FUND PROTESTS Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) has held three of its 10 protests against the weapons investments in UK & US arms companies by the Greater Manchester Pension Fund. The fund is financed by Council Tax and Council employees' pension contributions, providing pensions for all Greater Manchester Council employees & for a range of other public bodies. CAAT feels it is unacceptable that Council Tax should be used for this purpose and that these investments undermine the work of these Councils and their employees. CAAT has a website www.endArmsProfits.org.uk that details the Fund's investments and allows Fund members and Council Tax payers to forward a letter of protest to the Chair of the Fund. Profits are made from arms exports to repressive regimes, for example Indonesia, Saudi Arabia and Zimbabwe, to areas of tension or conflict such as Israel & Middle Eastern countries, India and Pakistan, Nepal and to areas with tremendous development needs eg South Africa & Tanzania. The Fund has also made profits as a result of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. Protests have been held outside the Town Halls at Bolton, Bury and Manchester and have received good media coverage. Leaflets on the Fund's investments were distributed and people were asked to sign a petition opposing them. Protests are yet to be held in July at Oldham Civic Centre & Rochdale Council Offices, and Salford, Stockport, Tameside & Trafford council offices in October with Wigan in November (full details on Networking Newsletter online calendar). All welcome for as long/little as you can manage. DEFENCE SYSTEMS & EQUIPMENT INTERNATIONAL (DESI) Every 2 years, arms dealers converge on London's Docklands for Defence Systems & Equipment International arms fair, an important event in the inter-national military equipment sales calendar organised in association with the government's Defence Export Services Organisation. Governments of some of the worst human rights abusing states, including Colombia, Israel & Saudi Arabia were invited to DSEi 2003. Their presence at DSEi not only gives them access to tools for further human rights abuses, but also lends them political support & legitimises them. The international arms trade fuels conflict around the world encouraging even the poorest countries to spend money on weapons systems rather than welfare. CAAT is organising protests at DSEi 2005 (13-16 Sept) which will be 30% bigger than last time with "products and services related to Homeland security, anti-terrorism, access control, and personal security", as well as the usual rockets, tanks and machine guns. If you want to join in activities opposing the Docklands arms fair, please visit www.armsfair.com where details of the protests against DSEi will be posted as they are organised. Come along and oppose the arms trade! Mike Kavanagh, Manchester Campaign Against Arms Trade (0161 224 6042, mkavanagh@astor.demon.co.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------- 4. MANCHESTER SOCIAL FORUM IN ACTION A report back from the 3rd People's Assembly held in April. The full version of this report is on the Networking Newsletter website. Use solar electricity to split water into hydrogen and oxygen then burn the hydrogen (giving water) as fuel - no pollution! This fuel cell technology was demonstrated at 3rd Manchester People's Assembly by the Campaign for a Hydrogen Economy. The technology could supply limitless energy, giving even the poorest countries access to free energy from a renewable power source, removing the monopoly of the multinational oil companies. The fuel cell is a reality and is already available for use in vehicles and for electricity generation. A clean energy source which favours the global south: campaigners had a glimpse of an oil-free future. They also explored the future of campaigning with workshops on environment, community struggles, anti-war, asylum seekers, freedom to work, health, gender and sexuality, psycho-geography and transforming the experience of the city. These brought campaigners and interested members of the public together in a non-party-political atmosphere to discuss radical alternatives and look at ways campaigns can work together to better understand how complex issues are interrelated and how the campaigns themselves can benefit from mutual aid and resource sharing. The Campaigners' Fair in the afternoon, involving 30 different campaigns, started with films of local protest actions and photos of a year of Social Forum anti-war work & campaigning, then stall holders explained their aims and distributed information while brief microphone spots gave further publicity to those who wanted to speak. The event ended with reports from the workshops, calls for action & other useful info. Sometimes the small things matter most. For example, refreshments were on offer throughout the day, with Fairtrade tea and coffee from the Unicorn cooperative grocer's in Chorlton and an excellent vegetarian/vegan lunch. No supermarkets made any money out of the event! Food and drink were paid for by donation, which meant that people on low or no income ate for free, and the rooms at the Friends' Meeting House were likewise funded by collections. How we live today tells us how our lives will be tomorrow. Ethical, environmentally-responsible living is the only way to guarantee our survival on this planet. Cooperation is no longer a luxury - it is now an essential necessity. Pete Field, Manchester Social Forum (mcrsocialforum@hotmail.co.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------- 5. SELFRIDGES GOES FUR FREE Selfridges have stopped selling all real fur following Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (CAFT)'s long campaign! They had been selling rabbit fur, claiming it was a "by product" of the meat trade, but following weekly (and sometimes daily) protests outside the stores in Manchester, London and Birmingham they have finally come to their senses. This is yet another major victory as Selfridges are one of the most influential names in fashion. This success follows on from CAFT campaigns against Harvey Nichols and Zara, to name but two! Coalition to Abolish the Fur Trade (0845 330 7955, 07939 264 864, caft@caft.org.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------- 6. NINE LADIES The media seems to be saying that the area around the Nine Ladies stone circle on Stanton Moor in the Peak District has been saved by a High Court verdict that the quarries there are now (or still) officially dormant. But the recent verdict actually means that the quarries cannot re-open until the Peak District National Park Authority have agreed a set of working conditions for them. Stancliffe Stone still have the permission to quarry from 1952 and the Peak park still have the power to revoke the permission or to impose such restrictions that the re-opening of the quarries would be financially unviable. The protest site must and will continue to exist in order to protect our beautiful hillside (in the second most visited national park on the planet), as it is still quite possible that this awesome natural heritage of ours could be destroyed. Please don't let the media convince you that this is a victory on our behalf. Please do send your comments on the proposals to re-open Lees Cross and Endcliffe quarries to The Peak District National Park Planning Authority, Aldern House, Baslow Road, Bakewell DE45 1AE and Lord Edward Manners of Haddon Hall, Bakewell, Derbyshire DE45 1LA (who owns the land) or come and visit the protest community. Site mobile (SMS only): 0700 594 2212 --------------------------------------------------------------- 7. DON'T BE GREEN Various concerned environmentalists, being fed up with numerous unfounded claims of sustainable responsibility from the likes of local councils and other major employers in the region, are standing up and shouting "we're not that green!". Or rather, "you're not that Green and we aim to expose your claims as myths". The "radical green voice of Manchester" will use electronic communication methods to raise awareness of greenwash in the area. Their website http://www.greenManchester.org.uk looks embryonic but we understand they will develop it shortly, particularly in critiquing Manchester City Council's plan to be "the greenest city in Britain" (see previous Networking Newsletters), and examining closely how the new "super" University is (or rather isn't) sticking to its environmental statements (and never has... remember Bluebell Woods?). There will also be an opportunity for green minded people working inside public bodies to (anonymously) blow the whistle on their employer to expose greenwashing. For more info, to get involved or to raise awareness of other greenwash, email eco@greenManchester.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- 8. MANCHESTER WIPES OUT THE DEBT IN THE FOUNTAINS Commemorating World Debt Day, Mancunians signed petitions and energetically set about wiping out the debts of the poorest countries in the Piccadilly fountains. The petitions called on the Finance Ministers of the world's rich countries to wipe out all the debts of the poorest countries as part of this year's MakePovertyHistory campaign. The Wipe Out Debt stunt in the fountains was great fun symbolising the millions of children whose lives have already been made happier through health care and schools funded by debt cancellation. Campaigner Eileen Hayes said "It's a great excuse to act like kids and enjoy ourselves whilst making the point that after all their promises a billion people are still living in poverty which we could afford to end!" World Debt Day, 16 May marks the day in 1998 when 70,000 supporters of the Jubilee 2000 campaign surrounded the G8 in Birmingham and brought the meeting to a halt. Action is still needed since poor countries in Africa are still giving banks $10bn/year which should be used for poverty reduction. Dave, World Development Movement (0161 428 9929, dave@davepearce.me.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------- 9. CLIMATE CHANGE The Government needs to be doing more to tackle the issue of climate change. That was the message that came through loud and clear when campaigners from Manchester Friends of the Earth took to Manchester's streets in June and surveyed 547 shoppers. Asked "Is the Government is doing enough about climate change?", an overwhelming 93% of respondents said "no", 4% didn't know and just 3% said "yes". The poll followed the launch of Friends of the Earth's national campaign, The Big Ask which calls on the Government to bring in new legislation to tackle climate change by setting legally binding targets to cut emissions of carbon dioxide (the main greenhouse gas) by three per cent per year. This would ensure that the UK meets its national target of a 60 per cent reduction by 2050. Tony Lloyd, Labour MP for Manchester Central, has pledged to support a climate change bill and has signed EDM (Early Day Motion) 178. He says: "Climate change is one of the most pressing challenges, not just for this generation, but for future generations to come. It is highly important that at the G8 Summit, world leaders take action and make a commitment to stem climate change, so the earth is not damaged irreparably for future generations." Although the Government has already committed to reducing carbon emissions by 20% by 2010, little action has been taken and emissions of carbon dioxide actually rose between 1997 and 2005. Passing a law mandating annual emission cuts will ensure critical measures to address climate change are made now, rather than being left for a future government to deal with. Manchester Friends of the Earth (0161 834 8221, info@manchesterFoE.org.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------- 10. NUCLEAR POWER? NO THANKS In May the University of Manchester held a breakfast debate entitled "Time to take the Nuclear option?" The team leading the debate argued that the risks of generation, waste treatment and storage would be outweighed by the benefit of halting climate change. But they didn't go unchallenged - protestors were outside and several attended the debate. Jacqui Burke of Greater Manchester & District CND said "to get a nuclear power station up and running entails the burning of fossil fuels in mining and refining the ore and creating concrete and steel containment. All activities result in the emission of carbon dioxide due to the combustion of fossil fuels, either directly in the activity itself or indirectly during the provision of goods and services consumed by the activity." The pro-nuclear industrial establishment knows full well that public opinion is enthusiastic in support of renewable energy and hostile to new nuclear build. For example, a public opinion study was conducted in February 2005 for the Institution for Civil Engineers (ICE). ICE actually favour building more nuclear power stations, but despite that, the survey found that 77% of the public support the construction of wind farms while only 25% support the construction of new nuclear power stations. Greater Manchester & District CND (0161 273 8283) --------------------------------------------------------------- 11. REUSE NOT REFUSE The Wesley Community Furniture Project, now based at 56-58 Lloyd Street South, on the border of Moss Side & Fallowfield, is a project well known to many in inner Manchester. Since 1993, when it was set up at the Wesley Church, Hulme, it has been providing cheap furniture, white goods, clothes, bedding, baby wear and household items to young families & those in need. The Project collects donations of reusable items from the public, and delivers peoples' purchases with its fleet of vans, crewed by its team of volunteers. Most of the work of the project is carried out by the volunteers (and some New Deal trainees) who, traditionally, mostly come from Hulme and Moss Side, but can come from as far as Wythenshawe. The men and women either work in the shops, on the vans, in the offices, or at their new warehouse facility in Ancoats. WCFP is keen to attract new staff who can volunteer from a morning to five days a week, or trainees via the New Deal Voluntary Sector option (contact your local New Deal adviser at the Job Centre). Working at Wesley is particularly suitable for those with young families who want to get some work experience (there is some training offered) whilst doing something worthwhile. Volunteer expenses are paid and the project can accommodate those with school children to collect. There is also the perk of staff discount on what are already very cheap items! Call into the project or ring 226 9051(also the number if you have items to donate) and speak to Transport Manager Alan Goldsmith, who says, "We are here to help people in need, to provide volunteering & training opportunities and jobs, and to do our bit for the environment by cutting wasteful landfilling of items that could otherwise be used. There is a great demand on our service, but we are growing to try and meet that demand. We always need new people to help us do this." Give them a call, drop in, or check out the website http://www.thewesley.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- 12. RIDE MANCHESTER A new bicycle recycling project has started in Levenshulme. Ride Manchester wants to improve the lives of Mancunians using the bicycle as the tool. They collect unwanted or unused or discarded bicycles, recycle them in their workshop and then either sell (very cheaply) or give them to people as part of our "earn-a-bike" scheme whereby you can earn a bike by volunteering in the workshop. They hope to provide free bikes to marginalised groups in the future, if we get enough funding. For now, they provide cheap bikes to the people of Manchester, and give them the skills to maintain them. Due to their non-commercial nature, they can offer the sharing of our skills, the use of our resources, and genuine impartial advice and information. But they also need bikes. So if you have an old bike or old bike parts collecting dust in your cellar of shed they'll take them off you and give them to people who want them. Nothing refused! Adam & Huw, Ride Manchester (0161 249 0332, mail@ridemanchester.org.uk) http://www.ridemanchester.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- 13: HOW CAN YOU INFLUENCE TRANSPORT POLICY? Part of an occasional series focussing on different campaign areas in the region. This issue we take a look at transport: Are you a voluntary or community group in Greater Manchester with concerns about transport? Do you know how to find help? Would you like to be involved in contributing to transport solutions? There are a number of organisations working for the voluntary and community sector both in particular areas and across the whole of Greater Manchester who can help you directly or give you ideas of how to achieve your aims. The Greater Manchester Transport Resource Unit (TRU) is one such organisation, providing a direct link between the voluntary and community sector across the ten districts of Greater Manchester and the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Authority (GMPTA). The TRU works to provide information, support, advice, and skills to aid the development and effectiveness of voluntary and community groups. Membership of the TRU network is free and benefits include: regular updates of information about transport issues affecting your community, invitations to GMPTA events, regular opportunities to contribute to consultations plus the opportunity to have your say on transport policy. If transport is a significant issue affecting the work of your organisation or your local community and you want to contribute to influencing transport policy, please contact Filipina Moore, Development Officer at the Transport Resource Unit (0161 277 1024, filipina.moore@gmcvo.org.uk) In the Manchester local authority area the Community Network for Manchester Transport Thematic Pool exists to increase community involvement in transport planning and provision and to contribute issues and projects to the Manchester City Council's Thematic Partnership. The Transport Thematic Pool consists of participants from voluntary and community groups who are involved in relevant communities of interest and geographical networks. The Pool holds regular meetings to discuss issues and new members are always welcome. The next meeting will be on Thursday 7 July, 12:30-2pm at the Friends Meeting House, Mount Street. Current issues under consideration include modal shift and the road users hierarchy, however any issues are welcome for discussion. If you are based in Manchester and you would like further information about the Transport Thematic Pool, please contact Bill Harrop, CN4M Transport Co-ordinator (0161 273 1736, transport@bridge-5.org) In the Longsight community of Manchester, the Longsight On the Move Transport Project has being going for over one year now. It is a partnership between ALL Community Group Network and Friends of the Earth, who are both interested in providing a stronger voice for local people on transport issues. In 2003, Friends of the Earth carried out an extensive (and award-winning) research project in Longsight to find out exactly what local people think of their roads, bus services and so on, and a conclusion of that work was that a local group needed to be brought together to take issues forward. ALL Community Group Network said it would be interested in being part of this and so the Transport Project was born. If you would like further information about the project please contact Kirsty Ogle, Transport Project Worker at All Community Network (0161 248 4248, kirsty@allnet.org.uk) Another example of community working is Talking Transport, a project looking at transport issues within the Manchester community. The project is designed to develop community consultation skills, targeting the direct problems affecting everyday neighbourhood transport. Two community areas have been selected for this project with consultation training beginning in the areas of Whitemoss, North Manchester and Northern Moor, Wythenshawe. At the completion of the consultation training members from these respective communities will engage their neighbourhoods, collecting data and information before facilitating findings to the relevant local authorities and transport operators. Once the initial project has concluded, community groups may continue to use these existing consultation methods and tools which have been developed to address further issues in their communities. For more information on the Talking Transport program and to get involved in the project please contact Rob Lowe, GMTRU (0161 277 1022, rob.lowe@gmcvo.org.uk) So, it can be seen that the voluntary and community sector contains many knowledgeable and skilled individuals who can help you with transport issues and there are many ways that we work together to influence transport policy and make changes to benefit whole communities. Filipina Moore, TRU (0161 277 1024) --------------------------------------------------------------- 14. HULME GREEN SPACES DAY In mid-April, around 50 people popped by to the event on the green space site opposite Hulme Post Office. There was loads going on. We collected ten bin bags worth of litter from the site and planted a dozen herbs and small plants. We ran two Urban Explorer walks around Hulme where people learnt about the rich and varied history within the local area. We took a delivery of woodchip and laid it along one of the many paths on the site. We also ran a stall and opinion board where people could add their thoughts on Hulme Green Spaces. The most popular suggestion was that we give the site a name because that would provide an identity for everyone to rally round. We had loads of suggestions but we'll most likely run a competition where people can vote for their favourite. Such a good turn out shows that people are keen to work to protect what green spaces we have left. We'll be running events all summer so if you want to get involved please email us at hulmegreenspaces@riseup.net --------------------------------------------------------------- 15. POLITICAL EDMs A new(ish) regular feature: using your MP to change things for the better. Suggestions of EDMs for future issues are welcome. If your MP has not signed up to the below EDM (see http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=28317) then please ask them to. To find out who your MP is go to the web site http://www.locata.co.uk/commons/ "UK AND THE NUCLEAR NON-PROLIFERATION TREATY That this House welcomes the opening statement from the UK delegation to the Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference at the United Nations on 5th May of 'our unequivocal undertaking to accomplish the elimination of nuclear arsenals'; recognises that such a worthy commitment is incompatible with plans to build a successor to the existing Trident nuclear missile system; and calls upon the Government to abandon any such plans." --------------------------------------------------------------- 16. CONSUMERISM AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE In its climate change special issue, the Ethical Consumer magazine urges individuals to realise the important contribution they can make to alleviating the massive environmental problems facing the world today. The four products areas covered have been specially chosen as representing those where the right choices can most effectively reduce our individual fossil fuel consumption: cars, solar and wind energy, lightbulbs and electricity suppliers. Ethical Consumer's latest essential tips for reducing your impact on climate change are to get an electric car (using renewable electricity), install solar panels (not as cheap as I'd hoped - ed), switch to green electricity and to buy low energy light bulbs. (I guess switching off electrical applicances and walking instead of taking the car should also be highlighted - ed again). The Ethical Consumer's "Ethi Score" web site (www.ethiscore.org) gives a numerical rating designed to allow consumers to compare companies across a range of corporate responsibility issues, including the environment, human and animal rights (the higher the score, the better a company's ethical record) and provides a campaining element whereby a "I like" or "I don't like" email can be despatched directly to the company, either rewarding positive ethical behaviour, or criticising their corporate activities. Evidence so far has shown that companies are responding seriously to this activity. Free press copies of the special climate change issue of Ethical Consumer magazine are available to members of the press (I'm sure they'll give you a copy for your group's newsletter to review - it's got some good info in such as Green & Blacks being taken over by Cadbury's - Ed) Ethical Consumer (0161 226 2929) --------------------------------------------------------------- 17. A LOCAL DIRECTORY FOR LOCAL PEOPLE AND LOCAL SERVICES The Longsight Directory is a joint project of Health First Longsight and ALL Community Group Network. The first edition came out back in 2001, and an updated second edition has just been published. The purpose of the directory is to provide information to people in Longsight about the statutory and voluntary services they can access in the local area. Copies of the directory are available free to people in Longsight from the time of publication until we run out. If you haven't got one yet, find out where you can pick one up by contacting ALL Community Group Network (0161 248 4248) or Health First Longsight (0161 225 9274) or visit it online at http://www.longsightdirectory.net/Changes... --------------------------------------------------------------- 18. EVENTS LISTING Since the events listed is updated so often and a mailing containing latest dates was sent out to the netNews-action list very recently, we've not repeated the information here. The latest dates are on web site http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Calendar or email us and we'll send them to you. REGULAR EVENTS ARE LISTED SEPARATELY Please see the online listing at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Calendar/regular.html --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- 19. CONTACTS Space is too limited to list all our contacts here, so we humbly suggest you visit our web page http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Contacts An email or paper copy is available upon request by emailing contacts-request@networkingnewsletter.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- --------------------------------------------------------------------- 20. EDITORIAL As I said last month, increasing popularity of the Networking Newsletter means increasing amounts of work. Unfortunately for lovers of patchment I've had to prioritize the electronic forms of the newsletter (see "2. THE FUTURE..."). I've also had to trim the time I spend stuffing envelopes and sending out reminders so it'll be two reminders and you're out. Hopefully most readers will use the web site more and more but I shall continue to distribute paper copies around Central and local libraries, Friends Meeting House, MARC the printers, Bridge 5 Mill and at networking events. However I'd encourage you all to join the email lists (send an email to subs@networkingnewsletter.org.uk) to ensure you stay in touch. If you're not got a computer or not on the Internet, then don't worry virtually all libraries now let you access the Internet for free. Please pass this newsletter on when you've finished reading it to let others know of the Networking Newsletter. SEND US YOUR NEWS! Articles for the next newsletter should be sent by Fri 23 Sept to 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS, email info@networkingnewsletter.org.uk. Articles should be 50-200 words, preferably with a picture or other hi-res colour graphic & include full contact details. You may send contributions at any time and I will do my best to put them on the "Stop Press" page of the web site immediately. --------------------------------------------------------------- 21. WORTH WHILE WEB The Networking Newsletter web site, with over 180 visits (that's over 1000 hits) each day, on average, is well worth while visiting. Not only does it have updates on news and events but it has a very comprehensive resources list - with details as varied as free laptops, meeting rooms, media tips, reviews and recycling fridges - and contacts list with over 350 groups listed. So, if you have Internet access, why not make your home page: http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------- 22. STANDING ORDERS The Networking Newsletter has moved to The Co-operative Bank so you can now join by electronic transfer or standing order. Our sort code is 08-92-99 and account number is 65159721. If you wish join by standing order please let us know how much and the frequency. --------------------------------------------------------------- 23. COPYRIGHT NOTICE ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2005) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - *********************************************