NO2ID News No. 75
5 July 2007
TIME TO DEMAND REAL CHANGE
The new Prime Minister has promised change. He wants to re-establish trust. He
needs to hear that the best way for him to demonstrate a break with the past is
to drop the current ID scheme.
Both the Commons and the Lords are conducting inquiries into 'surveillance
society'. Despite all the posturing and tough talk, very little has yet been
done. NOW is the time to act.
Please take the time to write to your MP. Today. If not today, this week.
If your MP is Labour and/or in favour of ID cards (you can check your MP's
voting record at http://www.theyworkforyou.com - ID cards are one of the key
issues listed) you must challenge their misconceptions. Show them that support
for the scheme is falling, not growing. It may not take just one letter. Be
patient and polite, but insist that the scheme be dropped.
If your MP already opposes ID cards, ask that they demand a fundamental
reconsideration of the ID scheme and data sharing at every opportunity. The
database state is being constructed a piece at a time and ID cards are not the
only problem.
DON'T FORGET TO DRAW YOUR MP'S ATTENTION TO UPCOMING VOTES, e.g. on the
over-broad data sharing measures in the Serious Crime and UK Borders Bills, and
on the 'ContactPoint' (formerly known as the Children's IS Index) Regulations.
For the latter, it's also worth writing to peers.
--
*LOBBYING GUIDE*
Your letter can be much more effective if you follow these simple guidelines:
1. Make sure you know who your MP is and only contact that person - use
http://www.writetothem.com MPs have no choice but to pass on letters from
non-constituents to their own MPs.
2. Be polite. Write as you would wish to be written to. If you are rude,
snotty and sarcastic or ascribe the worst possible motives to the MP then
you have immediately lost the argument.
3. Don't exaggerate, be insulting, or arrogant or invent conspiracies. And
don't make threats - especially "if you support this, I won't vote for
you". It doesn't work.
4. Write your own letter. Don't cut and paste. 10 individual letters on ID
cards will carry far more weight than 100 identical ones it took 20
seconds to copy, paste and send.
5. Be specific - focus, e.g. on the costs or the amount of data stored, the
risks and inconvenience or unworkable technology. Show you know your
subject, don't just have a general moan.
6. Keep it short. One or two pages. An absolute maximum of three. No more.
7. If you don't get a reply after about 3 weeks, send a polite reminder. Some
MPs have huge amounts of casework that must take priority. Don't assume
you are being ignored.
- Adapted from NO2ID's lobbying guide, a full version of which can be downloaded
here: http://www.no2id.net/downloads/print/NO2ID-HowtoLobby.pdf [21KB PDF file]
What's next?
Local groups news
We have local groups all over the country and in 36 of the 69 locations of ID
interrogation centres (see www.no2id.net/getInvolved/idCentres.php). If you can
help to set up a local group in one of the remaining towns then please contact
us at (office@no2id.net). A full list of local groups can be found at
www.no2id.net/localGroups
Manchester NO2ID calls for "Students against ID" volunteers
Manchester NO2ID are looking for people who are interested in helping out with a
Students Against ID society in the next academic year, both at Manchester
University and at other universities across the North-West. It won't involve a
lot of work - just organising a presence at Fresher's Fair (last year the stall
was manned entirely by NO2ID volunteers), maintaining a list of contacts (the
Student's Union should provide a facility for this) and organising a termly
meeting. The National Identity Register is likely to hit students early on -
either because they're more likely to need a first-time adult passport, or
because they'll need an ID card to get a student loan. There are other things
we'd *like* a student society to do, but just to get the basics right would be a
start and not much work. If you're at all interested, whether you'd be prepared
to shoulder the responsibility yourself or just help someone else out, please
drop an e-mail to manchester@no2id.net
Still showing - "Taking Liberties" documentary film featuring NO2ID at
cinemas around the country
The documentary which features NO2ID is still showing at cinemas across the UK.
The film is described as "a shocking but hilarious polemic documentary that
charts the destruction of all your Basic Liberties under 10 Years of New
Labour". More info at http://www.noliberties.com/cinema.htm
Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stall
Every week, weather permitting, you will find our campaigning stall at the east
end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel. Do drop by for a chat. New
volunteers - please contact John(edinburgh@no2id.net), and for more group
information see http://www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/
Most Saturdays 2pm - NO2ID Glasgow Street Stall
Most Saturdays there are stalls in Glasgow city centre (usually Buchanan Street)
from about 2pm. Volunteers are always welcome, please contact Geraint if you
would like to help: glasgow@no2id.net.
Saturdays 10am - 12pm - NO2ID Waltham Forest leafleting
The Waltham Forest NO2ID group will be going out every Saturday to the
Walthamstow Town Square to leaflet from 10:00am – 12:00 pm. Contact
waltham.forest@no2id.net for more details
6th, 7th and 8th July: Taking Liberties at Glasgow Film Theatre (with
discussion on 7th)
Following the 2:30pm showing on Saturday 7th July, there will be a panel
discussion including: Nicky Moss, the film's producer; Aamer Anwar, a prominent
human rights lawyer; Naomi McAuliffe, Amnesty International; Osama Saeed, Muslim
Association of Britain; and Geraint Bevan, NO2ID.
7th July - Tonbridge/Tunbridge Wells NO2ID stall
Saturday, 7th July11am - 1pm in Tunbridge Wells at the pedestrian precinct,
between Boots & The Body Shop, outside The Royal Victoria Precinct. Just an
hour or two volunteer effort makes a lot of difference & there's plenty of
company. Please email if you'd like to help (tunbridge.wells@no2id.net
) and drop by anyway if you can't.
7th July - Southwark NO2ID at Southwark Park - Tour de France
Saturday, 7th July 12 Noom to 10pm in Southwark Park. Confirmation has just been
received that NO2ID has been allotted a stall at this well publicised event. A
condition of being accepted as a stall holder, is that the stall is continuously
manned between noon and 10pm. We want to ensure that we take the opportunity
this event offers to collect as many signatures as possible for the NO2ID
petition. Could anyone with an hour or two to spare on July 7th please contact
Judith Hitchin at southwark@no2id.net advising her of the hours they could be
available to assist on the stall.
10th & 24th July - Glasgow NO2ID Meeting
Tuesday, 10th & 24th July, usual place, usual time: 8pm at Mono (Map:
http://www.glasgow-no2id.org.uk/meeting.html) our fortnightly meeting, all welcome!
14th July - Manchester NO2ID Flyering
Saturday, 14th July, 1pm - 3pm at St. Anne's Square. We'll be running a Saturday
afternoon stall in St. Anne's Square. The main objectives of the afternoon will
be to raise awareness among the public, engage people in discussion about the
NIR, and collect petitions for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with
the campaign. We'll meet in the square itself at 1pm to set up shop; feel free
to join us to lend a hand or just chat. You don't need any experience or
equipment, just a bit of time to spare and a friendly smile!
15th July - RISE Festival - NO2ID volunteers needed
Sunday, 15th July 12pm-8.30pm at Finsbury Park. Volunteers needed for the RISE
festival an all day anti-racism music event...and its free. If you are
available that day and you fancy handing leaflets out to some fab music then
please contact Caroline - highbury@no2id.net. The food is great too!
18th July - Manchester NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 18th July, 7.30pm - 9pm in the upstairs function room of the Town
Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not
wheelchair-accessible, please contact us if you have accessibility needs. We
will be discussing film nights, websites and other things of interest. Feel free
to join us! (The Town Hall Tavern serves reasonably-priced, good quality food
until 8pm so you don't need to pop home for tea - you can even order your meal
brought up to the function room.)
24th July - Leicester NO2ID meeting (Normally last Thursday of Every Month)
Tuesday, 24th July in the Phoenix Theatre's bar after their showing of "Taking
Liberties". After July Leicester NO2ID will be holding meetings on the last
Thursday of every month at 7.35pm at The Blues pub on Severn Rd in Oadby.
26th July - Glasgow NO2ID, music at Barfly
Thursday, 26th July: "NO2ID presents ...", music at Barfly, 260 Clyde Street,
Glasgow. For more details see
http://www.barflyclub.com/glasgow/whatson/event/11431.aspx
28th July - Manchester NO2ID at Taking Liberties Premiere
Thursday, 28th July. We will be flyering and taking petition signatures at the
Cornerhouse Cinema, Oxford Road at the Manchester premiere of the new film
"Taking Liberties".
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
What just happened?
The fight against ID cards gets musical
A new myspace group, NO2ID Music (http://myspace.com/no2idmusic) has been set up
to bring together musicians, fans and campaigners who want to support NO2ID. If
you are interested in performing, please e-mail Jaq at no2idmusic@talktalk.net
Hackney NO2ID salutes Clarence Wilcock
Last week Hackney NO2ID celebrated Clarence Willcock Day with an evening of
poetry and hip hop at the Hackney Empire. The event, which was a great success,
was staged to remind people how the resistance of the individual can overcome
the oppression of the state. Horizontal Life from Oxford headlined and other
talented artists gave their time for free, some travelling from Lewisham and
Birmingham to support the cause. Martin Twomey of the Hackney NO2ID said: "We
believe the event brought more people an awareness on the issues and the
feedback was enthusiastic." Hackney also has a new coordinator with Steve
Brownjohn taking over from Martin Twomey and the monthly meeting are set to go
forward with our next one on Tuesday 3rd at the Pembury Tavern on Amhurst Rd E8
at 7:30 everyone living locally on the newsletter list in invited and people are
always needed to with ideas and a bit of time to help with the campaign.
"Taking Liberties" takes effect in Edinburgh
At their meeting on 25 June, Edinburgh NO2ID group members were told that a
local band leader was so outraged after seeing "Taking Liberties" that he had
contacted the coordinator for NO2ID leaflets to give out at his next gig. The
weekly stall on Princes Street continues to attract attention and this year will
carry on during the Festival. Membership is growing steadily and members are
encouraging the formation of a new group in Stirling. Meanwhile the video of
the group's demonstration on ID-Day has appeared on YouTube at
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PQMtrq8BQ8w).
Manchester NO2ID at the Beech Road Festival
On Sunday(1st July) Manchester NO2ID enjoyed a great day out at the Beech Road
Festival in Chorlton, Manchester. The group ran a stall at the community event
and gathered a record number of signatures for NO2ID's petition opposing the
National Identity Register and the database state. Manchester co-ordinator Dave
Page said: "The National Identity Register will affect us all at the heart of
our communities, so it's important for us to have a presence at events like
this. The overwhelmingly positive reception we had shows the level of opposition
to a database state at the grass roots level."
Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID at Earls Court street fair
On Sunday(1st July) Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID held a stall at the Earls Court
street fair. The group received a lot of interest and collected a number of
signatures for the petition. Group co-ordinator Jill Manasseh said: "We also
received support from our MP, and a future Conservative candidate for a Glasgow
constituency and good will from various people including our Mayor. However
there were a number of IHNTHIHNTFs(If I Have Nothing To Hide I Have Nothing To
Fear) together with some people from other countries who were used to the concept."
Committee hears further evidence on the surveillance society
Last Tuesday(26th June) the House of Commons Home Affairs Committee held an
evidence session as part of it's 'A Surveillance Society?' inquiry. Dr Chris
Pounder, editor of 'Data Protection & Privacy Practice', spoke about the
imbalance of trust with relation to new data sharing powers proposed by the
government. Dr Pounder said: "The public has to trust that the data sharing is
limited in accordance with the rules, the public have to trust that staff who do
the data sharing are properly trained and follow the rules, the public have to
trust that the procedures for authorising the data sharing are properly
maintained and the public have to trust that Parliament does not enact
legislation that provides for function creep. All this trusting is in one
direction."
The session can be watched at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Player/?Meeting=7622
The Big Issue on-line ID card poll shows emphatic opposition
The Big Issue is running an on-line poll asking: "Would ID cards for all help
prevent terrorism?" At the time of going to press 100% of visitors to the Big
Issue website have voted "No". The latest issue of Big Issue Scotland also
features an article about the protest held at the the Glasgow ID interrogation
centre by the local NO2ID group under the headline: "Glasgow councillors armed
with bolt cutters joined a protest against ID cards at the weekend". The on-line
poll is at www.bigissuescotland.com/get-involved/big-ask.html
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ID" in the news
Bio info to enforce club smoking ban - Morning Advertiser 5/7/07
Fingerprint-based technology is being offered to clubs and pubs to help them
keep track of people going out for a cigarette. People will be scanned with
biometric technology when they enter the club and will be rescanned when they
return.
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=46628
Stand by for the Orwellian metaphors about ID cards - The Guardian 5/7/07
Over the next few months, opponents of identity cards will be deploying a full
set of Orwellian metaphors to try to persuade the new prime minister and home
secretary to have second thoughts about this apparently Big Brother scheme.
http://technology.guardian.co.uk/weekly/story/0,,2118161,00.html
Brown and Cameron clash over ID - BBC News on-line 4/7/07
Mr Brown is taking part in PMQs for the first time
Gordon Brown and David Cameron have clashed over plans to introduce identity
cards in their first prime minister's questions encounter.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/6267656.stm
BMA votes for non co-operation on central records - E-Health Insider 29/6/07
Doctors have voted for a public inquiry into NHS Connecting for Health (CfH) and
have called on the BMA to advise doctors not to co-operate with the centralised
storage of medical records. The National Programme for IT was the subject of
strong criticism at the association’s annual representative meeting (ARM) this
week where doctors claimed the NHS IT project was doomed to failure unless a
grip was taken on the project and that patient information held on the NHS Care
Records Service (NCRS) was not secure and confidential.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=2827
US Senate reins in ID card act - CNet News.com 28/6/07
The US Senate took a preliminary step on Wednesday towards reining in the
controversial Real ID Act, which is scheduled to become America's first federal
identification card in a few years.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39287772,00.htm
ID scans to secure UK borders by 2008 - Contractor UK 28/6/07
Hi-tech scanners that read biometric passports will be installed in all major
British airports by the end of the year, in line with government plans.
http://www.contractoruk.com/news/003320.html
The Blair IT projects - ZDNet UK 27/6/07
To mark the end of the Blair era, ZDNet.co.uk proudly presents 10 of our
favourite tech-related government gaffes. Some might make you laugh, others
might make you cry — but all hold lessons for anyone involved in IT.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/itmanagement/0,1000000308,39287739,00.htm
Publication details: © NO2ID 2010 - This document may be freely redistributed
in one-to-one communications or physical copies as long as it is reproduced
in its entirety including this notice. It may not be mass-mailed without
the prior permission of NO2ID.
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