Mersey Basin Campaign Blog

Cleaning up the Hautapu

We've just had a message from Michael, a blogger from New Zealand, who is documenting his and his friends' campaign to clean up their local river, the Hautapu. Michael's from the small town of Taihape, which according to Wikipedia is the Gumboot Capital of the world - home of World Gumboot Day. Check out the project's blog to find out how they're getting on with their clean up - good luck everyone!

The Mend of the World is Near!

The 35th annual World Environment is fast approaching!

The Environment Agency are working hard to get businesses involved with this years World Environment Day on 5th June. The aim of the campaign is to find out what businesses are doing to combat climate change, and understand what is stopping them from doing more.

So, calling all businesses who happen upon this blog post, all you have to do is answer three questions! Visit the Mend of the World website to find out more and to answer the all important questions www.mendoftheworld.org

mbc blog makes friends in high places...

Just a quick post to note that this blog received some very positive feedback from Guardian Northern correspondent Helen Carter at an event in Manchester last night - thanks Helen, it's great to find out who's reading our blog - and it's always good to hear what you make of it. See what media blog PR in a Jar thought about the evening here.....

If you've got any comments / suggestions / constructive criticism about this blog, don't hesitate to let us know. That's what makes the blogging world go round........

blogs can be beautiful...

Just thought I'd draw your attention to a lovely little site that shows your website / blog site map as a graph. Thanks to the blog 'Mmm, pretty' for the tip.

Here's our website, and this blog:

Do you know a local hero?

Nationwide Building Society have developed the Awards for Voluntary Endeavour with charity partners including the Heritage Lottery Fund, and are celebrating the tenth year of the awards this year.

Entry is open to anyone under and over 18, whose voluntary work or community activity has made a significant contribution to their community. This can include work for charities, community groups or other organisations providing a valuable community service.

The deadline for nominations is 30th April 2007.

Click here for more information and a nomination form.

funding fun

Just a quick note to say that we've added a new category to the blog - Funding resources. We'll post up here whenever we come across a source of funding that might be useful. Hope it's helpful.

eco-hub blogging

Exciting developments here at the eco-hub - our neighbours Groundwork Northwest have established a new blog. Have a look and see what you think. I'm off to add it to our blogroll.....

Manchester is my planet

Our friends at Manchester Is My Planet have recently launched a Climate Change Survey to find out what people in Greater Manchester feel about the issue, and how far they're prepared to go to fight it. You can complete the survey online here - and you'll be in with a chance of winning a DVD of Al Gore's 'An Inconvenient Truth'.....

Go on, have your say!

Marine Reserves Now!

The Marine Conservation Society (MCS) has launched a high impact campaign to gather public support for a network of protected areas in UK seas to safeguard Britain's marine wildlife.

Less than 0.002% of the UK's territorial seas is afforded full protection, but recent research by the University of York indicates that the public is not aware just how little our seas really are protected. (www.lancashiremcs.org.uk)

You can add your voice to the call for "Marine Reserves Now!" by going to the MCS online video and petition at:

www.marinereservesnow.org.uk

Blogging in our own backyard?

It looks as though Manchester could become the Northwest's (and Britain's) first digital city as early as next summer. A scheme has been launched to give Mancunians free WIFI access across 400 sq miles of the city, with a possible pilot in place by summer 07. Such a mammoth WIFI network would bring free wireless internet access to about 2 million Mancs (90% of Greater Manchester), and would be the biggest in the UK.

The idea has been modelled on cities like San Francisco, Seattle and Amsterdam, and could see a network of small transmitters hidden in things like street lamps. Who said that Manchester's days as a city of revolution were behind us?

And will that mean a proliferation of new Mancunian blogs as more and more residents get online? You can find out more about the proposed plan by reading this article at Times Online.