Firstly a reminder that '360 - Changing the World by Degrees' is a new BBC website - the 'h2g2 baby' which is dedicated to seeking out people and projects that are making the world a better and safer place to live. There are four main categories - the environment, disease, conflict and poverty and we are looking for stories from all over the world.

This week on 360 I met Henrietta Spink who lives in London. She's a mum of two boys who were born seriously disabled. She also lost two other babies. Most people would just give up - but Henrietta has campaigned for the best possible care and education for her children and she's discovered that their problems stemmed from mercury poisoning. They were poisoned in her womb from the mercury in the fillings in her teeth.

Now she has a good idea how to help them - magnesium has a great effect, apart from other things - and she's started a foundation for people with children with special needs (The Henry Spink Foundation) and she intends to do everything she can to change the world so that such things don't go on happening.

I also met Tony Whitton who works for the World Bank. They're usually being pilloried for all sorts of things - but they have a huge department promoting sustainable development and conservation. Tony is passionate about Mongolia - and his story is on the 360 site with Henrietta's.

Thanks to all of you who've got onto the site. 'Meg' went and found us a story on
Afghanistan from the Internet. Shazz told us about a project in the
Netherlands and there was lots of encouragement.

If you've read the conversations about this in The Post you'll see that we really believe that we all can 'do something' even if it's just the smallest thing. To do nothing means that nothing is done.
And a little carrot... once the site is properly up and running (hopefully in the middle of next month) we will be looking for amateur film of projects and people - and the best ones will go up on the site. They may even go forward to have TV programmes made about them.

Have a wonderful, prosperous and peaceful Christmas season - whatever your faith - and if you get a little spare time with nothing to do, come and visit - and let us know what you think.

Cheers

MaggyW

Changing The World By Degrees Archive

20.12.01. Front Page

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