Protect Communities and Rainforests in Colombia - A message from Reinhard Behrend chairman of Rettet den Regenwald (Save the Rainforest)

Please take part in an urgent email action, to protect communities and rainforests in Colombia from agrofuel expansion. The Colombian government continues to promote the expansion of vast oil palm plantations, including in Chocó. This is one of the world's most biodiverse regions, with large areas of rainforest now facing destruction.

The Chocó rainforests are home to 7,000 to 8,000 species, including 2,000 endemic plant species and 100 endemic bird species. Even before the current palm oil and agrofuel expansion, 66% had been destroyed.

Communities who have returned to their lands, which had been illegally appropriated by palm oil companies, face threats and intimidation. There have been assassination attempts and threats against community leaders. To take part in this new email alert, please go to www.regenwald.org/international/englisch/index.php Please let friends and family know about this alert, too. Many thanks!

News, - The Network Summer Event
	Do you love TV? Want to know more about what it takes to get a job in television? If so, The Network FREE summer event is for you. You will take part in exclusive master classes and workshops, gain invaluable careers advice and network with the biggest and best people from the television industry. Past speakers have ranged from celebrities such as Vernon Kay. Read more...

News, Environment - Leeds University gives in to GMO Genetically Modified Organisms or God Move Over for PROFIT. By Mo.
	On the 10th May The Yorkshire Post reported Leeds University given go-ahead for open field trial of GM potato crop. The potatoes have had their genes tweaked by Professor Howard Atkinson to give them resistance to a parasite. The move was announced yesterday by the Department of Environment, Farming and Rural Affairs (Defra), headed by Leeds MP Hilary Benn. Read more...

News, - Russell Howard Returns for Festival
	Organisers of Hull Comedy Festival have announced that Russell Howard will be returning to open this year's festival with a show at Hull City Hall in October. Russell Howard will be bringing his new show, Dingledodies to Hull City Hall on Thursday 23rd October to kick-start Hull's second comedy festival. Russell joins a list of headliners Read more...

News, Arts - Wherefore art thou budding film-makers? The Royal Opera House runs competition to create 40 second Romeo and Juliet
	Could you create your own Romeo and Juliet in 40 seconds? The Royal Opera House and BP are looking for budding film-makers of all ages and experience to produce their own 40 second version of Romeo and Juliet. A judging panel from the Royal Opera House and BP will choose a selection of the best films to be showcased on the Read more...

News, Arts - Free Art by Gavin Turk
	Gavin Turk, the artist famous for using his own name in his work, has re-designed that famous old Hull icon, the Jacksons carrier bag. Hull Time Based Arts is giving away free 'Gav bags' as part of its weekend festival of live art - Time and Tidal Flow. Get yours by visiting the shows this weekend -programme details below. Read more...

News, - Civil Servants Set to Join Teachers
	Over 1,000 civil servants in the PCS Union from 10 Government Departments across East Yorkshire are set to join teachers and lecturers by striking on April 24th in protest against the imposition of pay rises well below the current rate of inflation. Speaking at the Scottish TUC conference on Monday immediately after PM Gordon Brown's address, Read more...

News, - Green Party Calls Time on Hull CLAC
	Threat to independent advisors: Hull CAB and HIHAC. The Green Party does not welcome moves by Hull City Council to hand over advice provision in the city to Action for Employment, known as A4E. Under pressure from the national Legal Services Commission (LSC), Hull City councillors set up a bidding process to create a Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC). Read more...

News, - Thursday 17th April 08 - Hull Says Hands Off Our CAB By Michelle Dee
	Save Hull CAB! People Not Profit! Hull Says C.L.A.C. Off! Citizens Advice Bureau - the charity for your community. Today in Hull there was a protest march to save Hull Citizens Advice Bureau from being closed and a profit making council based organisation put in its place. Hundreds of people turned out to support the staff volunteers and users of the free independent service. Read more...

News, - Comedy Stars Set for Festival
	Paddy McGuinness, Frankie Boyle, Pete Firman and Russell Kane are amongst top comedians that will be bringing laughs to Hull's second comedy festival in the autumn. Hull Comedy Festival promises over two weeks of mirth and entertainment as audiences are entertained by local talent and big names from the world of comedy. Read more...

News, - Hull Citizens Advice Bureau at Risk of Closure By Emma Smith
	You may have seen in the media that Hull Citizens Advice Bureau is at risk of closure due to the introduction of a Community Legal Advice Centre (CLAC). This will be funded by the Hull City Council and the Legal Service Commission which aims to deliver advice in the city primarily through the councils own customer service centres. Read more...

News, Charity - HERIB and The Great North Run - Sunday 5th October 08
	Calling all runners and aspiring runners, HERIB, your local charity for blind and partially sighted people, have 15 GUARANTEED PLACES for The Great North Run and are looking for volunteers to undertake this inspiring challenge! The Great North Run is the most popular half marathon in the world, and one of the most exciting events in the sporting calendar. Read more...

News, - ACE Opportunity for Young People to Make a Difference!
	ACE, Achieve Contribute Experience, is a brand new exciting project that is calling young people, 16-25, in Hull to get involved in volunteering and realise they can make a difference to both themselves and the community. What that difference is...well... the choice is theirs'. The innovative new scheme, run by Hull & East Yorkshire Mind, Read more...

News, Education - Courses - Managing Redundancy
	PERS has many years experience of advising voluntary sector employers and designs its courses taking account of the real problems that voluntary sector managers and trustees face, based on the problems they deal with on their advice line every day. They are currently running a Managing Redundancy Course and Volcom would Read more...

News, - Ofcom Announces New Bidding Round Under Community Radio Fund (UK)
	The Office of Communications (Ofcom) has announced that the first round for funding applications under the Community Radio Fund in 2008/09 will open on 10 April 2008. Under the fund, Community Radio Stations can apply for funding to support their core running costs. These core costs can include, management; administration, financial management & reporting, Read more...

News, Arts - Beneath the Surface - Exhibition at Artlink
	Artlink is currently holding an exhibition called Beneath the Surface. The exhibition is a collection of work by 14 female artists from around the UK to mark International Women's Day. This exhibition is Artlink's ninth annual Women's Work show, held in support of International Women's Day. This years' exhibition has been titled Read more...

News, - Sustainable Development Planning
	Hull City Council has prepared a draft Sustainable Development Supplementary Planning Document (SPD). It is available for public consultation for a period of six weeks between 27th February and 8th April, inclusive. The aim of the document is to improve the sustainability of new development. It aims to make applicants more aware of key issues Read more...

News, - Young People in 24 Hour Fast -Cottingham Road Baptist Church By Rev. Richard Jevons
	8 young people aged 11-17 along with three leaders take part in a 24 hr fast to raise money for Homeless people in Hull. Having fasted for 24 hours the group has so far collected over £550 in sponsorship money. The young people decided that they wanted to help those less fortunate than themselves as part of the Churches Hope08 initiative Read more...

News, - First Day of DWP Strike Sees 85% Turnout
	Today saw the Members of the Public and Commercial Services Union (PCS) working for The Department of Work & Pensions (DWP), take the first day of a two day round of national industrial action. The strike adds to the pressure on the government following recent similar action across the Civil Service as a whole. The DWP has refused Read more...

News, - Springhead Music Pub Saved From Closure
	Leading venue's legacy continued by entrepreneurial local pub duo The Winking Beaver Pubco today announced that they would take over the lease of the popular Springhead Music Pub, saving it from extinction. The Springhead Music Pub is an award winning hull-based music venue hosting live bands seven nights a week. Based in Hull Read more...

News, - Photography Competition
	Hull United Residents and Tenants (HURAT) Federation are holding a photography competition for photographs taken outside in Hull during 2007 and 2008. The photographs can be of anything from your neighbourhood - parks and gardens, events and activities, your local tenants and residents association or even the summer floods. Read more...

News, - More Children Die in Gaza
	In two days last week, 33 Palestinians in Gaza were been killed by the USA funded Israeli army. One quarter of those killed were children, ages ranging from 5 months old to 14 years old. I've seen hardly any news coverage of this- a little on the BBC website, a little on the channel 4 news- can you imagine the coverage if it had been 33 dead Israelis or 33 dead Europeans? Read more...

News, Environment - There Will Be No GM Spuds Planted In Hedon This Year
	The Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has confirmed that there will be no blight resistant GM potatoes planted in Hedon this year. In an reply to a query from Friends of the Earth National GM Campaigner Clare Oxborrow regarding trials going ahead this year, Dr. David Sherlock of the GM Team stated, ''BASF will be using Read more...

News, - Van Available For Hire
	Ings Community Resource Centre wish to remind people that they have a van which is available to hire for half days, whole days or longer periods of time. The van can seat 14 people (plus driver) and has wheelchair access at the rear of the vehicle. The vehicle can be hired with a driver or for self-drive. Read more...

News, Current Affairs - Green Party Conference 2008 In Reading By Martin Deane
	We're down in Reading for the Green Party Conference rubbing shoulders with Caroline Lucas, listening to the Venezuelan Ambassador tell us about the 50 million lightbulbs they've changed! ("How many Venezuelans does it take to change 50 million light bulbs?" Chavez!) and the like! Blimey the days are long! I'd forgotten. You turn up at 9.00 for the Read more...

News - University of Hull Placements
	The University of Hull's Geography Department are looking to place some of their students on free, part-time work placements in the voluntary sector as part of their Applied Project module. The University hope to place students with external organisations for 10-12 weeks to work part-time on a self-contained project, defined by the organisation. Read more...

News, Education - Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Forum is launched in North East Lincolnshire
	The Grimsby Institute of Further and Higher Education's i-Bar will be playing host to the launch of LGBT Forum for North East Lincolnshire, on Thursday 28th February 2008 at 5pm.Guests will be joined by Dan Bryan (Big Brother 5) who will officially launch the event with music from a local DJ. The North East Lincolnshire LGBT Forum; Read more...

News, - Befriending May Draw to a Close
	For some newly arrived asylum seekers and refugees in the city, the befriending project at ARKH (Asylum Seekers and Refugees of Kingston upon Hull) has been a great boost to help build towards integration between different community groups. Over the past year and a half, the project has worked with refugee women and young people from over 10 different Read more...