and **so much** more news from mySociety
[link removed]
View this email in your browser ([link removed])
** News from mySociety
------------------------------------------------------------
Vaccines, climate action tools, fixing Civic Tech, changes to TheyWorkForYou... and more
** Information release
------------------------------------------------------------
** Vaccine sequences on WhatDoTheyKnow
------------------------------------------------------------
A significant moment for our FOI site this week: the nucleotide sequences of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines used in the UK were released in response to a Freedom of Information request made via WhatDoTheyKnow. Thanks to the request being made in public, they're now available to anyone. Read more here ([link removed]) .
** Climate
------------------------------------------------------------
** Be a Net Zero Local Hero
------------------------------------------------------------
While world leaders at COP26 debate policy on a global scale, it's easy for us 'mere citizens' to feel rather insignificant in the face of the climate emergency.
But we're here to remind just how much you can achieve in your own neighbourhood with our Net Zero Local Hero campaign ([link removed]) . If you're itching to play your part but you're not quite sure how, check it out!
** Event
------------------------------------------------------------
** Discover the Climate Action Plan Explorer – and tell us what you need
------------------------------------------------------------
We'll be at COP 26, albeit virtually — and you can join us this Monday. As part of the COP 26 Coalition People's Summit we'll be presenting CAPE, our Climate Action Plans Explorer, and asking you what new features you would find useful in holding your local councils to account on climate.
Do come along! Registration is free ([link removed] #climateaction) .
** Need climate tools?
------------------------------------------------------------
We're adding new features and tools to the Climate Action Plans Explorer all the time. If you'd like to know when there's something new to try out, subscribe to our Climate mailing list ([link removed]) .
Sign up for updates on our Climate work ([link removed])
** Case study
------------------------------------------------------------
** Friends of the Earth & Climate Action Plans data
------------------------------------------------------------
Friends of the Earth recently ran a campaign, encouraging supporters to ask their local councils for stronger climate action. To ensure it worked, they required one crucial piece of data — and fortunately, we were able to provide it. See more here ([link removed]) .
** Transparency
------------------------------------------------------------
** PACAC inquiry submission
------------------------------------------------------------
We've written about the Cabinet Office's 'clearing house' for FOI requests in our recent Reforming Freedom of Information report. Now a House of Commons inquiry is taking place and we've submitted evidence. All the details here ([link removed]) .
** Poo's in the news
------------------------------------------------------------
With untreated sewage top of the news agenda for a while there, it seemed like the perfect time to look at requesting information on the nation's sewerage and waterworks ([link removed]) via WhatDoTheyKnow.
** Event report
------------------------------------------------------------
** TICTeC Surgery #1: Public-private collaborations
------------------------------------------------------------
TICTeC continues to evolve, and our latest programme convenes experts to discuss and then build practical solutions to the most pervasive issues in Civic Tech. That's the plan, anyway, and it's certainly going well so far ([link removed]) .
[link removed]
** Democracy
------------------------------------------------------------
** Data, design and research on TheyWorkForYou
------------------------------------------------------------
Three things you should know about TheyWorkForYou this month:
* We've changed the way we calculate and display whether MPs vote in consensus with the rest of their party ([link removed]) ;
* We've updated some visual elements ([link removed]) , including the emails we send out, the API page and some of the more out-of-date photos of MPs;
* And, to inform part of this, we researched into how people use our alerts service ([link removed]) .
Did you know that you can subscribe to our special interest newsletters too? Get an extra monthly bulletin on Democracy & Campaigning, Freedom of Information, Better Cities & Councils, or Research. Pick and choose your mySociety newsletters here ([link removed][UNIQID]) .
** Vacancy
------------------------------------------------------------
** Perl/Python Developer
------------------------------------------------------------
Our commercial arm, SocietyWorks, continues its recruitment drive and is looking for experienced Perl and Python developers to work on our SaaS products for clients in local government.
Read the job description and see how to apply here ([link removed]) .
** What we're reading
------------------------------------------------------------
* Terence Eden on the failings of the Google info box ([link removed]) .
* The reminder designers regularly need: most people aren't great at using computers ([link removed]) .
* Academics at University College Dublin are developing algorithms to help the financial services sector detect greenwashing ([link removed]) .
* Thing you'd be able to spot if an FOI response was fake? The National, Scotland's pro-independence paper, ran an interesting story ([link removed]) .
* An FOI response revealed government was in a palaver ([link removed]) at responding to one of Adam Bienkov's tweets.
** Follow mySociety
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed]
Facebook ([link removed])
[link removed]
Twitter ([link removed])
[link removed]
Blog ([link removed])
[link removed]
Instagram ([link removed])
[link removed]
YouTube ([link removed])
[link removed]
LinkedIn ([link removed])
** Share this newsletter
------------------------------------------------------------
[link removed] Forward ([link removed])
[link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Fmysociety.org%2Fvaccine-sequences-released-on-whatdotheyknow Tweet ([link removed]: https%3A%2F%2Fmailchi.mp%2Fmysociety.org%2Fvaccine-sequences-released-on-whatdotheyknow)
[link removed] Share ([link removed])
[link removed] Share ([link removed])
============================================================
Image credits Vaccine ** Spencer Davis ([link removed])
; Greened car park ** Danist Soh ([link removed])
; Sewage farm ** Ivan Bandura ([link removed])
; Loudspeaker ** Possessed Photography ([link removed])
mySociety is a registered charity in England and Wales (1076346) and a limited company (03277032).
Through our trading subsidiary SocietyWorks (05798215) we also provide commercial services.
Copyright © 2021 mySociety, All rights reserved.
This is an email sent to you as an opt-in subscriber to mySociety's news list.
Our mailing address is:
mySociety
483 Green Lanes
London, N13 4BS
United Kingdom
** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
** update subscription preferences ([link removed])
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]
