In the couple of weeks since we announced this project, the response has been deeply encouraging. We’ve had hundreds of emails from people for whom it strikes a chord, and all kinds of offers of support – in spirit and in kind. And all on the basis of the lightest sketch of what we hope to achieve.

Today, we are launching the Dark Mountain blog. This is a chance to open up a conversation with everyone who has taken an interest in this project. We’ll be discussing some of the ideas which will form the manifesto, sharing our hopes and schemes, as well as pieces of writing which have inspired or provoked us. We look forward to your responses and suggestions.

Thank you to everyone who has been in touch so far – and not least to those generous people who have already made pledges towards the costs of publishing the Dark Mountain manifesto:

• Brian McKenzie
• Mark Simpkins (geeKyoto)
• Tessy Britton (ThrivingToo)
• Edmund Harriss
• Lucy Pearson
• Andy Beckett
• Tom Stafford
• Josef Davies-Coates (United Diversity)
• Clodagh Miskelly
• Richard Frost
• Alex Templeton
• Richard Wilson
• Matthew Keer
• Robert Sauerbrey
• Monica Fernandez
• Tracey Todhunter
• Benjamin Major
• Manda Scott
• Robin Hine
• Harry Hine
• Colin Tate
• Gregory Norminton
• Mark Donnelly
• Rebecca Caroe
• Alexandros Pagidas

As of this afternoon, we have raised $1150 in pledges – but none of those pledges will be collected unless we reach our target of $1500 by the end of Friday. So if you haven’t contributed yet, but feel able to, now is the time to help us reach that target.

Whatever you can pledge, however small, will be received with gratitude – and we promise to do everything we can to live up to the trust you are placing in this project.

• To make a pledge towards our fundraising campaign, visit this link.

Posted by Dougald. Wednesday, May 6th, 2009 at 4:03 am.