Communities around the world recently voiced their opinions at Olympic Torch events in London, Paris and San Francisco - and their message was heard loud and clear.

But it doesn't take a global event for people to get heard world wide.

After a quick look at recent local headline-making events, each had an interesting website designed to take their local issues to a wider audience. Here's a look at some far-reaching sites.

Post office closures are affecting communities around the country at a very deep level.

Greenodd villagers have set up www.saveourpostoffice.net to make sure they draw attention to their plight. In a joint effort they sent in a video of their town hall meeting to The Westmorland Gazette, putting the full version on their site. The Gazette in turn filmed their protest at the opening of the A590 High Newton bypass. The wheels turn.

Speaking of the A590 bypass, the communities of High and Low Newton have a great website, http://www.a590.co.uk/home.asp that has followed this initiative from the campaign's big push to the completion of the bypass and celebrations including the opening. It is what a community issue website should be - informative, regular updates, links to key people. One criticism - there was no one individual to get in touch with. If you want to use the web for a people-based cause it's important for the public to have an individual to contact.

Watch our video coverage of the A590 grand opening.

http://www.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/news/kendalgazettevideonews/index.var.25192.0.0.php The Lake District National Park's plans to apply for World Heritage Site status has a number of sites - for and against. If you want to form an informed opinion try any of these sites.

Lake District National Park Authority: http://www.lake-district.gov.uk/index/looking_after/policies/whs.htm .

Lakes World Heritage Status: http://www.lakeswhs.co.uk/faqs6.html .

Gazette Forum Online: http://forum.thewestmorlandgazette.co.uk/viewtopic.php?t=264 Changes proposed by the University of Cumbria, www.cumbria.ac.uk, to end undergraduate studies in Ambleside at the existing St Martin's College campus raised concerns by many in the community of Ambleside, particularly students. A petition has been started online at http://www.gopetition.com/online/17912.html. Further information can be found at the "Against the Termination of Under-Grad Courses at Ambleside" group on facebook http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=11471427570.

Visit Ambleside website for more community information at www.amblesideonline.co.uk.

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