Welcome to June's "Networking Newsletter" by email. A PDF version, complete with (colour) photos is available online (2.9Mb download) at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/55/nn55.pdf A web version of this newsletter is available at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/55/ and the latest newsletter is 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] ========================= NETWORKING NEWSLETTER #55 ========================= JUNE 2004 (printed/distributed: 28.05.04) - pls respect the "copyright" notice - ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2004) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - ********************************************* CONTENTS -------- 1: VICTORY FOR CITY PARKS OVER CAR PARKS 2: RECYCLING ROUND UP 3: SWINTON SOS ANSWERED? 4: MAD PICNIC FOR A MAD WORLD 5: NO HORSING ABOUT 6: ID PARODY 7: PARTY PREPARATIONS 8: TIME TO GO 9: VEGANFEST: VERILY A TREAT 10: WORLD DEBT DAY 11: CALENDAR 12: COMMON RESOURCES 13: GREEN FISH FACTPACK 14: WORTH WHILE WEB 15: EDITORIAL 16: STANDING ORDERS 1: VICTORY FOR CITY PARKS OVER CAR PARKS After residents' groups and local councillors, as well as the Networking Newsletter, raised the public's awareness of planning applications from the local NHS to build a 416 place car park on Platt Fields and a 191 place car park on Whitworth Park, the applications are finally withdrawn. Apparently, council leader, Richard Leese, never knew of the plans and once he heard he had a quiet word with the NHS trust and ensured they were pulled. Mind you, various councillors of various political parties are claiming credit too but as somebody heavily involved in the grass roots campaign said, "it seems pretty clear to me that the local feeling and vast number of concerned letters and e-mails was the deciding factor." Both the car parks were to be temporary for 2 years for NHS staff with the Council will be taking them over after this. It is unclear whether the Council would have returned the car parks back to their natural state. To celebrate the return of Platt Fields, there will be a picnic on Sunday 13 June (see page 5) but please keep your eyes and ears open for similar, unsuitable, planning applications in your area. If you know of any, let us know and we'll spread the word. Let's keep what's left of Manchester's green spaces! Finally, South Rusholme Residents Association would like to add is "a huge, huge thank you from everyone in the SRRA for the wave of support from people all over the city and beyond." See below for more (potentially) good news on other green spaces being saved. Michael, Networking Newsletter South Rusholme Residents Association (southrusholme@hotmail.com) --------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2: RECYCLING ROUND UP Perhaps a tale of two halves. On the one hand, the Household Waste Recycling Act was passed in 2003 requiring local authorities to provide every household in England with their own collection of at least two types of recyclable material by 2010. That might seem like a long, long time for LAs and waste authorities to get their acts together but a Friends of the Earth survey, conducted in early 2004, found that less than 10% of LAs in the North West currently meet the minimum targets of the Act. (nationwide it's a higher figure of 26%). In Manchester, 39% of households have their paper, glass and cans collected but the other 61% have no collections at all! (See http://www.manchesterfoe.org.uk/waste for more stats!) Manchester FoE are therefore taking to the streets on Saturday 5 June (World Environment Day) to ask residents to write a call for improved recycling. Each message will be put into a plastic bottle which will then be delivered to the council. More details of the event on page 5 or contact Colette, Manchester Friends of the Earth (0161 834 8221, recycle@manchesterfoe.org.uk) Meanwhile, local recyclers Emerge have expanded into Trafford and are now carrying out weekly kerbside box collections in the Old Trafford and Gorse Hill areas. They have replaced the paper only service, and now take textiles, cans, foil, glass, and all grades of paper for recycling on a weekly basis. However, they need your help! They have launched a community recycling champion scheme in the area to actively engage local residents, to gain local input and ongoing feedback, in order to continually improve the service and increase awareness and participation. If you would like to volunteer with any spare time you have Emerge would be glad to have you on board - contact Hellal (0161 223 8200, Hellal@emergemanchester.co.uk) Emerge have also recently secured funding to provide recycling facilities and promote the 3Rs (reduce, re-use and recycle) to Manchester schools. They are offering indoor, easily managed recycling containers, collections tailored to schools' requirements, advice, ideas, and support for delivering 3Rs education and workshops for pupils and teachers. The scheme is funded by the New Opportunities Fund CRED grant and delivered by Emerge for free to schools for 3 years thus assisting schools in achieving EcoSchools and Healthy Schools targets. For more information about the schools recycling programme contact, Sarah (0161 223 8200, Sarah@emergemanchester.co.uk) ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 3: SWINTON SOS ANSWERED? On Wednesday 19 May, Swinton Open Space organised a protest outside Swinton civic Centre against the proposed mixed use development of the former Swinton Sewage Works (see last issue for background) . A well supported demonstration, they pressed their case to retain the site as informal open space . There were dramatic developments at the council meeting following the demonstration: a major climb down by the ruling Labour Group. Cabinet member and lead member for Development Services Councillor Derek Antrobus announced that the Council had decided to withdraw its proposals from the UDP in respect of the housing development on the site. The ruling Labour Group have retreated in the face of determined and strong opposition from the local community in Swinton South. The sustained campaign undertaken by Swinton Open Space has achieved a remarkable success and forced the Labour Council to back down in the run up to the local elections in June when all 60 seats are up for election in Salford. Nevertheless, SOS will maintain the momentum of its campaign because the issue has not been decided once and for all. United Utilities will almost certainly object to the withdrawal of the proposals regarding the houses and the road from the UDP. The City Council has not indicated that it will confirm the designation of the site for informal open space and recreation in the new UDP. Therefore, SOS urges local people to support a further protest outside Swinton Civic Centre on Wednesday 2 June at 12.30pm prior to an emergency Council meeting at 2pm when the Council will formally vote on the withdrawal of MX3/4 (mixed use including housing) and A9/5 (road) from the UDP. SOS demands No Roads, No Houses and No Deals. Barry Woodling, Swinton Open Space (barrywoodling@yahoo.co.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------------- 4: MAD PICNIC FOR A MAD WORLD Manchester Anarchists and friends celebrated May Day with a picnic on Piccadilly Gardens. It was a lovely day with the Manchester Samba Band playing. The picnicers gave away free popcorn (wrapped in leaflets letting people know about the selloff of Piccadilly gardens) and lots of cake. People drew pictures, wrote poems and lazed around in the sun. There will be another Mad Picnic for a Mad World in Piccadilly soon and on other bits of ripped off land as the summer goes on. From IndyMedia Manchester --------------------------------------------------------------------- 5: NO HORSING ABOUT Manchester Animal Protection held demos outside the travelling "Spirit of the Horse" show at the Trafford Centre in April. Lots of support was shown from the passing public & some people turned away from the event! Unfortunately this circus attracts lots of 'horsey people' who claim to love horses but obviously don't mind seeing these amazing animals subjugated and coerced in to performing unnatural and degrading tricks and routines for these people's "entertainment". What kind of love is that? Spirit of the Horse calls itself "equestrian theatre" and tries to dress itself as anything other than a horse circus, making money out of exhibiting performing horses. At the end of the day, it is a travelling show with performing animals - if that's not a circus, what is? We could argue semantics all day, but whether theatre or circus, the issues are still the same: the horses are travelled around the country (here and abroad); stabled in tents with little exercise apart from in the ring; and when in the ring they are coerced into performing tricks for people's amusement. Training issues are also dubious: horses and especially stallions (not known for their compliance!) cannot be encouraged to perform unnatural and dangerous tricks by offering them a loving stroke! Supporters of Spirit of the Horse are fooling themselves if they believe the horses are trained in a different way to that of other circuses. This show does not treat "their" magnificent animals with respect; instead they are exploited to make money for the show's owners. MAP call on the public to boycott this circus and any other circus with performing animals. See http://www.captiveanimals.org/circuses/index.htm for more details on animal circuses Manchester Animal Protection (0845 456 2492, info@mapsoc.org.uk) --------------------------------------------------------------------- ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2004) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - ********************************************* 6: ID PARODY If you're concerned about the introduction of identity cards, check out http://www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2004/05/291048.html which gives useful quotes and links to other resources. The official consultation documents can be seen at http://www.identitycards.gov.uk and any comments should be submitted to Robin Woodland, Legislation Consultation, Identity Cards Programme, Home Office, 3rd Floor, Allington Towers, 19 Allington Street, London SW1E 5EB, fax 020 7035 5386 or by email to identitycards@homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk (including the phrase "consultation response" in the subject title) before Tuesday 20 July. --------------------------------------------------------------------- 7: PARTY PREPARATIONS This autumn will be the tenth anniversary of the first Networking Newsletter. During the decade, the newsletter has gone from strength to strength - there's now so much news and events we cover that we've gone from quarterly, to bi-monthly, to monthly. And there's still not enough space to print everything we know of every issue. (Luckily we have as much web space as we want!) To acknowledge this passage of time, we have two questions we'd like you to ponder and answer: What would be a fitting celebration? How would you like to see the Networking Newsletter evolve? Please send your replies to happyBirthday@networkingnewsletter.org.uk or by post (preferably with a present such as a small donation to help with our costs!) to Networking Newsletter, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS. A selection of the most original and whimsical, as well as any serious or useful replies will be published in the next issue. So write in now or we'll have to resort to getting lots of horrid companies to pay us lots of blood money for adverts wishing us well! --------------------------------------------------------------------- 8: TIME TO GO Spring Bank Holiday weekend's GO Manchester event was the last one for the foreseeable future. Like many projects in the public and voluntary sector, funding for GO Manchester was time limited and has now ended. CSV, GO's head body, is currently investigating different funding opportunities in the hope of reviving GO Manchester, so they hope to return in a new and improved form at some point in the not-too-distant future. Since it began in February 1999, GO Manchester has organised over 200 hands-on volunteering events all over Greater Manchester, from Wythenshawe to Withington, from Blackley to Burnage, and from Cheetham to Chorlton. They've recruited over 3,200 volunteers, painted countless murals and completed a wide variety of conservation projects. GO Manchester has made a visible impact on a huge number of voluntary and community groups' premises, carrying out fantastic work that would otherwise have been impossible. They've introduced hundreds of people with busy lives to the world of volunteering, many of whom have gone on to donate their time to other worthwhile causes. Matt Collins, Project Co-ordinator, CSV GO Manchester (0161 833 0245) http://www.csv.org.uk/go --------------------------------------------------------------------- 9: VEGANFEST: VERILY A TREAT The NorthWest Vegan Festival held in Manchester at the beginning of May was fantastic! About 2,000 people walked in through the doors, and having spoken to the various stall holders, people handing out leaflets, free food, and raffle tickets. The organizers, Realfood, estimate that about forty percent of the people who attended were not vegans, but interested meat eaters and veggies. If they can get between six and eight hundred people to come and have a look at what veganism has to offer then they must be doing something right! This was the first ever free vegan festival, and not having to pay to enter seems to have really encouraged people to see what was going on. That and the free butties, of course! According to people taking pictures and filming on the day, the rooms had about four to five hundred people milling around for the best part of the day. (Photos on the Realfood web site shortly). Realfood commented, "To those of you who were there, hope you had as good a day as we did. To those who couldn't make it, see you at the next one!" Realfood (0845 458 0146, nwvf@realfood.org.uk) http://www.veganfestivals.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------- 10: WORLD DEBT DAY World Debt Day, May 16th, celebrates the day in 1998 when 70,000 campaigners surrounded the G8 meeting in Birmingham demanding that the unpayable debts of the poorest countries should be cancelled. Although that ultimately led to a historic promise to cancel $100bn of debt, progress has failed to meet the desperate needs to these countries. World Debt Day is celebrated to remind leading politicians of their failure to keep their promises and to demand that meeting the Millennium Development Goals takes precedence over debt re-payments. For this year's anniversary, Manchester Jubilee Debt Campaign staged an event in Piccadilly gardens. Whilst the highlight of the event was the JDC Rappers telling the saga of the destructive policies forced on countries by the World Bank and IMF, the rappers got their own back by hurling wet sponges at IMF Bankers in the pillory. Gerald Kaufman came to lend his support and he underlined the importance of sustaining the campaign and supporting the Government's efforts to secure more commitments from other members of the G8 (who alone dictate IMF policies). Campaigning does eventually yield success, as witness in April when, after sustained political lobbying, America eventually relented and approved the debt cancellations for Ethiopia and Niger including their 'Top-Up' relief worth a further $1bn, (which would take a long time to collect in charity collection tins!). However there is still a long way to go, poor countries still pay $23bn every year in debt repayments, which would make a substantial contribution towards meeting the Millennium Development Goal to halve poverty by 2015. Info: Dave Pearce, Manchester JDC (0161 428 9929, wdm-manchester@jdc-web.org.uk) http://www.jdc-manchester.org.uk --------------------------------------------------------------------- 11: CALENDAR Since the events listed is updated so often, here's just what's on in the next week or so. Please go to our web site (http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Calendar) for the latest details. Saturday 29 MAY International Day of United Nations Peacekeepers A tribute to all the men and women who have served and continue to serve in UN peacekeeping operations, as well as to honour the memory of those who have lost their lives in the cause of peace. Saturday 29 African Festival Day noon-5pm, Zion Arts Centre, Stretford Road, Hulme. African Explosion will be first 'Africa Day' celebrations to take place in Manchester. The festival is an opportunity for cultures to be united in a celebration of freedom and independence. It aims to bring together cultures and traditions within local communities, raise awareness of the origins of Africa and show the cultural diversity that is present today. The exciting line up includes DJ Hot Pepper from ALL FM 96.9 and artists including the CAN Choir, Britannia Rumba, La Vida Loca, Osagyefo, Hohodzaband, Vahera Survival and Abasindi. There will also be African bands and music, dancers, fashion and food, information and trade stands, face painting and hair braiding. There will be workshops and demonstrations including Capoeira Angola, Afro-Brazilian art form incorporating martial arts, Brazilian singing; Zehara and the Urban Gypsies - north African Tribal Belly Dancing; Salsa and Merengue and Straitjacket Circus Skills. Info: Pedro (0776 185 4479) or Sue (0771 585 3975) ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2004) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - ********************************************* Saturday 29 Be football-cagey in Ashton 11am-3pm, Oxford Park, Ashton. Oxford Park is a flourishing community park run. The 5-a-side pitch is used in the summer to host community football tournaments for the young people of Ashton-under-Lyne. Recently vandals have been dismantling the cage. This is being tackled by welding the cage together. Now they need GO volunteers help to paint over the graffitied cage and help liven up this great community resource. Info: Matt, GO Manchester (0161 833 0245, gomanchester@csv.org.uk, or 07947 781 154 on the day) Sunday 30 Birds after Breakfast 8:30am, Dunham Woodhouses, Henshall Lane, Small car-park at old level crossing (200 yds from Rope and Anchor pub). Bring binoculars if you have them to look for lesser-known farmland birds eg corn buntings. Info: Bollin Valley Partnership (01625 534790) Sunday 30 Community Festival Platt Fields Park. Info: Platt Fields Park (0161 224 2902) Sunday 30 Unity Festival: Unite Against the BNP Moved to Liverpool due to police banning previous venue due to secret dossier claiming violence will occur... Entertainment with The Music, Badly Drawn Boy, Metz & Trix, Bloc Party, Haven, D Double E, plus speakers food & drink and stalls. Info: Unite Against Fascism (020 7837 4522, unite@natfhe.org.uk) Monday 31 - Sunday 6 June Big Green Week Hebden Bridge, W. Yorks. Week of green events and promotions. Info: Polly, Hebden Bridge Alternative Technology Centre (01422 84 21 21, polly@alternativetechnology.org.uk) Monday 31 Parklife Festival 2-6pm, Alexandra Park, Glodwick, Oldham. Free music festival. Unite Against Fascism will be leafletting. Info: Oldham UAF (07736 105 995) JUNE 2004 ********** All Month From Butties to Bhajis Pump House People's History Museum, Left Bank, Bridge Street M3. Working people's food in Great Britain and how this has changed and developed over the last 200 years. Info: People's History Museum (0161 839 6061) Tuesday 1 - Monday 7 Volunteers' Week http://www.volunteersweek.org.uk Tuesday 1 Manchester Anarchists 7:30pm, Friends Meeting House, Mount Street M2. Info: (manchester@af-north.org) Tuesday 1 Werneth Low Flora Walk 7:30-9pm, Lower Higham Visitor Centre. Norman and Alan Bamforth set out on an evenings stroll in search of Lords and Ladies, Mugwort, Milkwort and if there's Thyme the beautiful Navelwort. Info: (0161 368 6667) Wednesday 2 Mottram's 3 Hills 7-9pm, Lymefield Visitor Centre. Mottram boasts three hills, and boast it is as it's one hill with three names really! So climb one and you've climbed the lot. Info: (01457 765 780) Thursday 3 Windchimes for World Environment Day 12.30-6.30pm, The Shrewsbury Street Centre, Shrewsbury Street, Old Trafford M16. Say it quietly, but loads of old has-beens are coming to Old Trafford this summer. To be more precise, Old Trafford in Bloom invite you to take part in their competition to make the best windchime out of recycled materials! There will be prizes for the 2 best entries. Info: Lorna Powell (0161 912 4671, lorna.powell@harvesthousing.org.uk) Friday 4 - Sunday 6 The Garden of Delights Fri 7-11pm; Sat 1-11pm; Sun 1-6pm, Platt Fields Park, Rusholme. Welcome back to Platt Fields for another wild weekend.. the lakeside, woodland and grassy areas transformed into a magical environment. Take off on a "Flight of Fancy" - sculptures, tents, colourful structures and decorations, hidden in, behind or around trees, along pathways, in glades and on the water. Seek out dozens of Hanging Gardens, along with a menagerie of Fabulous Beasts, made by community organisations and artists. You'll also find a packed programme of outdoor theatre, music, puppets, dance, side-shows, circus and fireworks. This year over 120 different organisations will be taking part - twice the size of last year! Of these over 50 are local groups from across Greater Manchester. Info: Streets Ahead (0161 224 2652, anne@streetsahead.org.uk) Friday 4 Defend the M&S Picket 9am, Crown Court, Crown Square, Manchester. Long awaited appeal against the convictions of "depositing a stall on the highway to the interruption of any user of the highway" and "affixing placards to Council property", allegedly during protests against M&S' implicit support of Israel. Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 Nepal Himalayan Festival Mancheter Town Hall. A celebration of Nepalese culture, featuring talks on conservation, mountaineering, ecology, textiles and other features of Nepalese life. The festival will also feature demonstrations, market stalls, dance, music and delicious food. Info: Mr. Puspa Shrestha, Nepalese Assoc. (0161 881 1518, himalnepal@hotmail.com) Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 National meeting for the Local Social Forum in UK From 10am each day, Bridge 5 Mill, 22A Beswick Street, Ancoats. National meeting for the Local Social Forum in UK, hosted by Manchester Social Forum who welcome the participation of people from Local SFs from other countries in Europe. The agenda, the workshops and the layout of the meeting will be discussed at the beginning and a possible outline might be: introduce and meet each other; the work of each social forum so far and their plans for the future; the methods we use for making decisions; network of the LSFs in UK and internationally; collective discussion about our involvement in the ESF so far as social forum groups based within the area in which we live/work and act; and proposals as LSFs for the European Assembly in Berlin and the ESF in London (15 - 19 October 2004). Please, if interested, reply to the UK list (email uksocialforum@lists.riseup.net (to subscribe: http://lists.riseup.net/www/info/uksocialforum)) Saturday 5 & Sunday 6 Really Wild Weekend National Trust, Dunham Massey, Smithy Lane, Dunham. Workshops, walks/talks and hopefully a showcase feature focussing on wildlife, nature conservation etc. Info: 0161 941 4986 Saturday 5 Greyhound Derby Day of Action On the day of the William Hill Greyhound Derby Final, a large number of bets are placed on the dogs. A percentage of the money wagered will go to support greyhound racing. Greyhound Action supporters will be picketing betting shops (esp. William Hill) in order to educate punters about the death and suffering of dogs at the hands of the greyhound racing industry and to persuade them that if they must gamble to bet instead on activities which do not involve animals. "You bet... they die" fliers and posters available for free. Info: Greyhound Action (01562 745778, greyhoundaction@blueyonder.co.uk) Saturday 5 World Environment Day The 30th World Environment Day (see http://www.environment-agency.gov.uk/wed/) and the year's most important occasion for focusing worldwide attention on the environment. World Environment Day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Since then, it has been held every year, always on the same date, and with an ever growing list of participating countries. World Environment Day is a people's event with global participation. It has previously been celebrated in many ways, with people all over the world getting involved in street rallies, bicycle parades, concerts, school activities and tree planting as well as recycling and clean-up campaigns. The day is also marked by a global summit attended by important environmental and governmental representatives, each year held by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) at a new host city. This year, it aims to raise awareness of the plight of the world's oceans. The UK Environment Agency is giving away wildflower seed packs to local schools so that they can create their own wildflower areas (email: stacey.powell@environment-agency.gov.uk for yours!) Saturday 5 Sail Your Boat 2-4pm, Simon's Bridge car park, Didsbury. Local celebrations for World Environment Day: making your own little sail boat and launch your pledge for World Environment Day out to sea. Info: Mersey Valley Wardens (0161 881 5639, 0161 905 1100) Saturday 5 Litter Pick 11am to 5pm, Hulme Community Garden Centre, 28 Old Birley Street, Hulme. Local celebrations for World Environment Day: a community litter pick up around the perimeter of the Garden Centre, with as much of the rubbish as possible going on to be recycled. Info: Hulme Community Garden Centre (0161 227 8198, info@hulmegardencentre.org.uk) Saturday 5 Recycling 11am-3pm, St. Ann's Square. Day of action to put pressure on councils to implement the best practice kerbside schemes possible. City centre stall with shoppers putting messages in plastic bottles which will then be delivered to Councillors. Info: Manchester Friends of the Earth (0161 834 8221) Saturday 5 Give the Rochdale Canal Some Loving Care Rochdale Canal, Manchester. Manchester Waterways Action Team are inviting volunteers to come and help with weeding, painting and litter picking along the Rochdale Canal. Info: Mersey Basin Campaign (0161 242 8212) ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2004) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - ********************************************* Saturday 5 Balsam clearing in Middleton Alkrington Woods, Middleton. Irk/Roch and partners, including United Utilities and the Environment Agency, are working to clear balsam from Alkrington Woods. Don't know what balsam is? Here's your chance to find out... Info: Mersey Basin Campaign (0161 242 8212) Sunday 6 - Wednesday 9 Bird Spotting #50 deposit. Norfolk, transport from Manchester. Twitching trip to Blakeney, Titchwell, Cley and Salthouse Heath on the Norfolk coast for avocet, terns, nightingale, bearded tit and waders. Bookings: Manchester RSPB (0161 428 4570) Sunday 6 National Day of Action Against the BNP Unite Against Fascism are calling for everyone who wants to stop the fascists to come together and join in with mass leafleting on the days. Be creative - think of any stunts that can gain publicity in local press. We want the fascists to know that up and down the country local communities are organising against them and they will not make an electoral breakthrough on June 10th. Info: Unite Against Fascism (unite@natfhe.org.uk) Sunday 6 Urban Wildlife 9.30am-12.30pm, Portland Basin Car Park, Portland Street South, Ashton. A gentle stroll to explore the wildlife and history of Ashton. Info: (0161 330 9613) Sunday 6 Your Countryside Needs You! 11am-3.30pm, Park Bridge Heritage Centre. Come and meet some of the volunteers for the Tameside Countryside Service and see how you can be involved. An exhibition will be on show all month. Info: (0161 330 9613) Sunday 6 Peak District Bike Ride Buxton. Enjoy the spectacular open scenery of the Peaks and raise money for Help the Aged. 45 mile ride starts and finishes in Buxton, taking in hills and dales and two traffic-free cycle paths - the High Peak and Tissington trails - on its circuit back to the Finish in Buxton. Bike Events (0870 755 8519, mail@bike-events.com) Monday 7 Health Walk 2pm, Urmston Meadows, Torbay Road, Urmston. Join the wardens at Urmston Meadows for an early summer stroll at an easy pace. Info: Mersey Valley Wardens (0161 881 5639, 0161 905 1100) ******************************************************************** * This events listing was prepared by the "Networking Newsletter". * * http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk Tel: [pls use email] * * Please circulate with this notice intact and credit our hard * * hard work if you list any of the above info in your publications * ******************************************************************** REGULAR EVENTS ARE LISTED SEPARATELY Please see the online listing at http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk/Calendar/regular.html ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 12: COMMON RESOURCES Common Resources has been developed to benefit not-for-profit organisations existing between the private and public sectors, reducing their costs and increasing company flexibility. The Common Resources tool has four connected strands - coordinate, communicate, collaborate and capacity - and demonstrates the strength of collective ventures within the social economy. Their web site enables organisations to access their own virtual office, complete with company calendar and messaging service. Allowing employees and volunteers to work from home, this web tool may lead to social benefits such as pollution reduction prompted by a decrease in commuter traffic. Online forums and notice boards allow Common Resources members to co-ordinate funding bids, share knowledge and pass on advice. Common Resources will negotiate the best prices from suppliers as it buys in bulk for members. Pooling the collective purchasing power of associate organisations, the scheme will agree significant discounts on printing, telephony and office supplies. Members can apply for grants from the Common Fund, a financial resource built from 1.5% of revenue generated by Common Resources, which aims to develop the capacity of voluntary and community organisations on a practical level, covering costs such as conference tickets and training fees. Common Resources (0161 228 2783, rowan.atkins@nornir.co.uk) http://www.commonresources.co.uk ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 13: GREEN FISH FACTPACK The Green Fish Partnership - a loose collection of Community Accountancy Service, Community Technical Aid Centre and Voluntary Action Manchester, who are moving into shared premises on Oldham Street at the end of the summer - has published an updated version of its highly successful factpack for voluntary and community groups in Manchester. The factpack contains 25 factsheets covering many aspects of interest to voluntary groups, from how to set up a group, through employment and financial issues, to how to make sure your building is accessible. And they come boxed in a durable plastic folder (but is it made from recycled plastic? - ed). Voluntary and community groups based or working in the City of Manchester can obtain the factpack free of charge by contacting Green Fish - a full list of the factsheets and an order form is available from the Green Fish website at http://www.green-fish.org.uk Green Fish (0161 236 3206, greenfish@vamanchester.org.uk) ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 14: WORTH WHILE WEB The Networking Newsletter web site, with over 150 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 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ 15: EDITORIAL Victory - take a few moments to enjoy the taste, we don't get it often! Platt Fields and Whitworth Park, green havens in busy South Manchester, were threatened with tarmac but, thanks to local campaigning are now saved (see page 1). And it looks like open spaces in Swinton may be saved too (page 2). But the Networking Newsletter is about much more than environmental issues - the region's first vegan festival was a roaring success (page 2), and whilst London failed to host an annual May Day event, the sun shined on picnicers holding one in Piccadilly Gardens (page 3). Rather than give away the rest of the contents of this packed issue, I'll let you flick through and inform & inspire yourself! Talking of environmental issues, you can now save paper by getting the Networking Newsletter and updates delivered without paper (or visit the web site, see below). We can either email you a text-only version of the newsletter or a PDF as soon as it comes out. To take advantage of this, send an email to subscribe@networkingnewsletter.org.uk saying which format you prefer, and whether you wish to go on the "actions" list. The latter allows people to swap information on forthcoming events. SO WHAT IS THE NETWORKING NEWSLETTER? The Networking Newsletter has a 10 year history of helping campaigners in and around Manchester to work together more effectively. The focus is on those who are working for positive change on issues of peace, development, environment, human rights, animal rights and other areas of social justice. Copies are send out to subscribers, local libraries and outlets such as the Friends Meeting House, MARC the printers and MERCi. When the budget allows, copies are also sent to those whose subscription has expired so use the form below to ensure you keep getting the newsletter! SEND US YOUR NEWS! Articles for the next newsletter should be sent by Monday 21 June to 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS, email info@networkingnewsletter.org.uk or fax 0161 834 5797 (marked FAO: Networking Newsletter). Articles should be 50-200 words long, preferably with a picture or other hi-res colour graphic, and include your full contact details. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 16: STANDING ORDERS To set us a standing order for your subscription, send us a signed letter with your bank details saying you wish to set up a standing order to "Networking Newsletter", Abbey National, 130 Market Street, Piccadilly Gardens, Manchester M60 1AY whose sort code is 09-00-00 and account number 0005-0005-K3240267BON. Please state clearly the amount and how frequently you wish to pay. ********************************************* -- (c)Networking Newsletter Project(2004) -- -- http://www.networkingnewsletter.org.uk -- - Permission to reproduce any info is given - -- subject to full inclusion of this notice - *********************************************