NO2ID News No. 117

19 February 2009

+ THE CONVENTION ON MODERN LIBERTY - ACROSS THE UK +

The Convention on Modern Liberty is taking place in London on Saturday, 28th February [1]. But there may be an event closer to you than London - and you won't have to splash out for a ticket to attend!

NO2ID, working with others including Amnesty International and the UN Association, has organised simultaneous satellite Conventions in Belfast, Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Manchester [2].

Each of the satellite Conventions will feature live video feeds of the plenary debates and keynote speeches from London, as well as having their own debates and workshops. More details of individual events are listed in 'LOCAL GROUPS NEWS' below.

A couple of the satellite Conventions would appreciate a few more volunteers to help out with stewarding on the day, so please do get in touch with the organiser if you can lend a hand - bristol@modernliberty.net or cardiff@modernliberty.net

All but the Belfast satellite Conventions are free to attend - though donations will be gratefully received. There are still a small number of tickets available for the London Convention at the Logan Hall.

The Convention on Modern Liberty is a call to all concerned with attacks on our fundamental rights and freedoms under pressure from counter terrorism, financial breakdown and the database state.

What are the threats?
What can be done about them?
Why should everyone care?

GET INVOLVED. Help create our modern liberty. Saturday 28 February 2009.

--
References

1) See http://www.modernliberty.net
2) See http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions

What just happened?

+ Lords Constitution Committee releases Surveillance Report +

On Friday, 6th February the House of Lords Constitution Committee published the final report of their Surveillance and Data Collection Inquiry. The committee is critical of unwarranted surveillance and data loss and lays out 44 recommendations. One recommendation is that "the Government should undertake an analysis of public consultations and their effectiveness, and should explore opportunities for applying versions of the Citizens? Inquiry technique to surveillance and data processing initiatives involving databases". Another recommendation relating to the National DNA database (NDNAD) suggests that "the Government introduce a bill to replace the existing regulatory framework, providing an opportunity to reassess the rules on the length of time for which DNA profiles are retained, and to provide regulatory oversight of the NDNAD".
The report can be read / downloaded at http://www.parliament.uk/parliamentary_committees/lords_constitution_committee.cfm

+ MP tables motion against ID cards pilot +

John Leech MP for Manchester Withington has tabled an Early Day Motion (EDM) in the House of Commons against the proposed pilot of ID cards in Manchester. The EDM notes: "the rising levels of public discontent over the scheme; and calls on the Government to halt the identity card scheme without delay". You can write to your MP using http://www.writetothem.com and ask him or her to sign EDM 672.
See http://edmi.parliament.uk/EDMi/EDMDetails.aspx?EDMID=37723

+ Coroners Bill Committee Stage Update +

The Coroners and Justice Bill continued its Committee Stage in the House of Commons last week. The Information Commissioner Richard Thomas, who along with Mark Walport produced a data-sharing review that opened the door to the data sharing measures in part 8 of the bill, told the committee: "Life has changed dramatically. There has been a fundamental shift in the past few years in awareness of the risks of data-handling. Where there is poor data-handling, there are considerable risks for individuals and society at large". Having identified the dangers so clearly, he then strangely added that, "I have some reservations over the wording of part 8 and that must be improved. If that is done, the measure will be in the public interest". The committee will meet next on Tuesday 24th February
Read transcripts of the Committee Stage at http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmpublic/cmpbcor.htm
NO2ID's Briefing on the Coroners & Justice Bill is at http://www.no2id.net/IDSchemes/

+ ID Card Abolition Day +

Saturday 21st February will mark the 57th anniversary of the day in 1952 when the abolition of wartime ID cards was announced in the House of Commons. As part of Churchill's "bonfire of controls", the government abolished national identity cards with much support from the population. Now we see that the lessons of the past have been forgotten.

+ World War Two poster sums up mood of civil liberties campaigners +

A poster produced in 1939, as Britain prepared for war and the year ID cards were last introduced in the UK, is summing up the current mood amongst civil liberties campaigners. As the Coroners and Justice bill makes its way through parliament the poster, entitled 'Freedom is in peril', strikes a chord with anyone concerned about the threats to privacy that confront us today. The full text says "Freedom is in peril defend it with all your might" and it was part of a series supposed to convey a message from the King to assure the people that all necessary measures to defend the nation were being taken and to stress an "attitude of mind". However the poster was deemed ineffective because of ?the abstractness of the words, not one of which had any popular appeal?. Criticism had been raised that "Freedom" was rather an abstract concept and was "likely to be too academic and too alien to the British habit of thought". Perhaps sadly the same could be said of a large number of people in the UK today.
Search for "Freedom is in peril" at http://www.iwmcollections.org.uk/

What's next?

+ Volunteers with accountancy skills needed +
NO2ID needs volunteers with accountancy skills to help us with bookkeeping and reconciliation. If you can help please contact office@no2id.net

+ 28th February - The Convention on Modern Liberty +
On Saturday 28th February NO2ID, along with other UK civil liberties organisations, will be hosting Convention on Modern Liberty events across the UK and in London. The main event will take place at the Logan Hall but simultaneously meetings with live video feeds from London will take place in Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Manchester, Cambridge and Bristol.
More details here: http://www.modernliberty.net

+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +

To see if there's a group in your area check our list at http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
Or, if you're interested in starting a group yourself, please contact Matty on local.groups@no2id.net to discuss what's involved and what we have in place to support coordinators and their groups.

+ Belfast +

+ 28th February - Modern Liberty satellite Convention +
Saturday, 28th February from 9am at Room 212, Peter Froggatt Centre Queen?s University Belfast. Presented by Amnesty International NI and Queen?s University Belfast, School of Law. Registration for the Belfast convention will open in January 2009. For further information please contact: (nireland@amnesty.org.uk). See (http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions/belfast). Entry to this event is free.

+ Birmingham +

+ 24th February - Birmingham NO2ID Meeting (Last Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 24th February 7.30pm in the boardroom in Bennett's Bar, Bennett's Hill, B2 5RS. NO2ID Birmingham holds regular monthly meetings on the last Tuesday of the month. February marks our first anniversary and we'll be looking at what we've achieved so far and setting some targets for 2009.

No stall this month due to the Convention on Modern Liberty.

+ Bolton +

+ 13th March - Database State Talk +
Friday, 13th March 8pm at Bolton Socialist Club. Dave Page, North-West co-ordinator for NO2ID, will be appearing to talk about the Database State.

+ Bradford +

+ 28th February - Bradford NO2ID Meeting +
Saturday, 28th February 1pm at the Nags Head, 78 Highgate Rd, Queensbury, Bradford, BD13 1ES. All members and interested parties are welcome. The pub is located on the outskirts of Bradford so is easily accessible from both Bradford and Halifax, and is on a direct bus route (576) from each. Contact bradford@no2id.net for more details.

+ Brighton +

+ 24th February - Brighton NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 24th February 7.30pm upstairs at the Caroline of Brunswick - National Coordinator, Phil Booth will be joining us. There?ll be a short film and the opportunity to quiz the National Coordinator.

+ 21st February - Brighton NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 21st February on Upper Gardner Street. Feel free to contact Alice, the local coordinator on brighton@no2id.net or 07766918387 for more info and/or general questions.

+ Bristol +

Dave Gould steps down as Bristol Co-ordinator
Many thanks to Dave Gould who has stepped down from his role as co-ordinator of Bristol NO2ID. Dave has worked hard in Bristol for many years and we wish him every success in the future.

+ 28th February - Modern Liberty satellite Convention +
Saturday, 28th February at New Trinity Hall we will be holding a Modern Liberty satellite convention in conjunction with An Adventure in Technology. The event will include live video feeds of keynote addresses from London, a panel discussion with speakers from the Trade Union movement on liberty and working life and film-maker Juan Manuel Biai? will present the trailer for his upcoming feature-length human rights documentary, 'Article 12'. More details at (http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions/bristol). This event is free to attend. Contact bristol@modernliberty.net for more information.

+ Cambridge +

+ 28th February - Cambridge satellite Convention on Modern Liberty +
Cambridge NO2ID is helping to organise the Cambridge stream of the Convention on Modern Liberty on Saturday 28th February at the Cambridge Union, 9a Bridge Street, Cambridge CB2 1UA: (http://www.cus.org/where_we_are/) , (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/HYSSNEOA)

We will see a webcast of the London opening and closing plenaries, and in between run panel sessions with local experts on civil liberties topics. From 2pm there will be a Union-style debate featuring: Bill Rammell MP (Minister of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs), David Howarth MP (Liberal Democrat Shadow Secretary of State for Justice), Tariq Sadiq (Labour Parliamentary spokesman for South Cambridgeshire), Prof. Andrew Gamble (Professor of Politics, University of Cambridge).
Attendance free (donations welcome!). Doors open 0900. Check the Modern Liberty web site for updates as the Cambridge programme develops: http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions/cambridge

+ 4th March - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each month) +
Wednesday, 4th March 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd, Cambridge CB1 2DW (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/CYXNES29). For more details contact cambridge@no2id.net, or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624.

+ 7th March - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 7th March at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge Guildhall. Location Map: (http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS). Please contact Andrew on 07710 469624 if you'd like to help.

+ Camden and Islington +

+ 3rd March - NO2ID Camden & Islington Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 3rd March 8pm at The Castle, 54 Pentonville Road. For more info email camden@no2id.net or join the mailing list at: (http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.camden). All welcome.

+ Canterbury +

+ 5th March - Canterbury NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 5th March 7.30pm at the Hobgoblin on Canterbury High St. Main agenda items are making final arrangements for our stall on the 14th, planning a second NO2ID benefit gig for the Spring and working on ideas for other events for the spring and summer.

+ 14th March - Canterbury NO2ID Stall +
Saturday, 14th March 10am til 1pm on Canterbury High St

For more information on either event, if you would like a NO2ID presence at any local events, or if you would like to go on our local mailing list please e-mail canterbury@no2id.net or phone Caz on 07792 567087.

+ Cardiff +

+ 28th February - Cardiff satellite Convention on Modern Liberty +
Saturday 28th February at St. David?s Hall, Cardiff. There will a live webcast of the London plenaries and keynote speeches as well as panel discussions on 'Human Rights, Democracy and Governance' and 'The Future of Freedom'.
More details at http://www.modernliberty.net/satellite-conventions/cardiff

+ Cheltenham +

We have a new Cheltenham group. They are just in the process of getting started so please email the coordinator Lynda Warren on cheltenham@no2id.net if you'd like to be involved.

Please also join the Cheltenham mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.cheltenham

+ Dorking +

If you want to get involved with Dorking local group please come along to our monthly get-together at the Lincoln Arms, near Dorking mainline station, every first Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm.

+ 21st February - NO2ID Dorking Street Stall, Crawley +
Saturday, 21st February in Crawley. Contact dorking@no2id.net for more details.

+ 3rd March - NO2ID Dorking Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 3rd March 7.30pm at The Lincoln Arms, near Dorking mainline station. Come along if you are local, we always need your help.

+ Edinburgh +

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/

+ 24th February - Edinburgh NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 24th February at 6.30pm in The Bow Room, Quaker Meeting House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. Guest speaker: Bill Aitken, Conservative MSP and convenor of the Scottish Parliament Justice Committee. Further details are at http://forum.no2id.net/viewtopic.php?t=26014 All welcome.

+ Epsom +

Come on Epsomians ? why can?t we start a group in Epsom? You could be great warriors in this battle for civil liberties. If anyone wants to get involved in the Epsom area, please email or phone NO2ID South East Regional Coordinator Geoff Cox on south.east@no2id.net or call 01306 631377.

+ Glasgow +

+ 28th February - Scottish satellite Convention on Modern Liberty (in Glasgow) +

The Scottish Convention on Modern Liberty will be taking place on Saturday 28th February (9:30am to 5:30pm), in parallel with other conventions across the UK. Its focus will be "Surveillance in Scottish Society". There will be speakers and debates on related topics, as well as live broadcasts of key note and plenary sessions from the London event.

The venue is the Institute for Advanced Studies, James Weir Building, University of Strathclyde, 75 Montrose Street, Glasgow G1 1XJ, which is less than 10 minutes walk from the main bus and train stations in the city centre.

Entrance is free but donations would be greatly appreciated to cover the costs of a buffet lunch and drinks. To reserve a place, please contact Geraint at Glasgow@ModernLiberty.net

The event is being organised jointly by NO2ID and the Institute for Advanced Studies (www.instituteforadvancedstudies.org.uk)

Speakers in Glasgow include:
Dr Ken Macdonald - Assistant Information Commissioner for Scotland
Patrick Harvie MSP - Co-Convenor of Scottish Green Party & member of the Scottish Parliament for Glasgow
Prof Mike Nellis - Professor of Community and Criminal Justice Strathclyde University, Institute for Advanced Studies,
Dr Richard Jones - Lecturer in Criminology University of Edinburgh, School of Law, Dr William Webster - Lecturer in Public Management University of Stirling, Stirling Management School
Other speakers are to be confirmed.

+ Great Missenden +

+ 26th February - ID scheme talk, Chesham +
Thursday, 26th February 6.30 - 8.00 pm at Chesham High School, Whitehill Road, Chesham - presentation on the ID card scheme hosted by the Liberal Democrats. The evening will finish with a question and answer session. All welcome.

+ 11th March - NO2ID Great Missenden Meeting +
Wednesday, 11th March 8.00pm at The George Pub, Great Missenden. All welcome.

Email Katherine on great.missenden@no2id.net if you would like any information.

If you are interested in the work of the Great Missenden group, please join their mailing list on: http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.great-missenden

+ Manchester +

+ 19th February - NO2ID on 'Under the Pavement' +
Thursday, 19th February 11pm-1am Manchester NO2ID co-ordinator Dave Page will be on anarchist radio show Under the Pavement to talk about the upcoming Convention on Modern Liberty. The show broadcasts on ALL FM 96.9 or online at http://www.allfm.org/ and Dave will be on towards the start of the show.

+ 28th February - Manchester satellite Convention on Modern Liberty +
Saturday 28th February, 9:00am- 7:00pm

Manchester NO2ID is organising a breakout convention alongside the main event in London, featuring live video feeds of the keynote speeches and panel sessions, during which the Manchester audience will be able to relay questions directly to London for the panels. There will also be two sets of discussion sessions covering different aspects of civil liberties in which our guests are encouraged to participate.

Our breakout Convention takes place at Manchester University Student's Union, Oxford Road, Manchester on Saturday 28th February from 9am to 7pm. For more information, see http://manchester.no2id.net/modernliberty

If you're a Facebook user, you can join the Manchester Convention at http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=62803497703

Full details at http://manchester.no2id.net/

+ 13th March - Database State Talk +
(see Bolton above)

+ 14th March - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 14th March 2pm - 4pm in St. Ann's Square to raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about the National Identity Register. We'll be collecting signatures for the NO2ID petition to keep people in touch with the campaign. We'll meet in the square itself at 2pm 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!

+ 18th March - Manchester NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 18th March 7pm in the Town Hall Tavern, Tib Lane, Manchester. Sadly, this venue is not wheelchair-accessible; please contact us if you have accessibility needs (e-mail us on manchester@no2id.net or call us on 07982 814441). At our monthly meetings we discuss the state of the NO2ID campaign, what we've been up to recently and where we're going in future. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. See minutes of our previous meetings at http://manchester.no2id.net/taxonomy/term/5

+ Norwich +

+ 7th March - Norwich NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 7th March from 1pm until 3pm at The Haymarket on Gentleman?s Walk. Anybody is welcome to attend, so come along to spread the word and try to enlist more people to the cause!

+ 10th March - Norwich NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 10th March at 7pm at the function room of The Gardeners Arms (formerly The Murderers Arms) on Timber Hill. The room is wheelchair accessible and parking can be found nearby at The Castle Mall or Rouen Road carpark. We hope to build on the success of the relaunch meeting that took place in early February.

If you are interested in the work of the Norwich group, please join their mailing list on: http://www.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.norwich

+ Oxford +

+ 26th February - Taking Liberties Film showing +
Thursday, 26th February 8pm in the Council Room at Mansfield College (http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=mansfield+college+oxford). There will be no charge, but a donation to cover our costs would be appreciated.

+ 5th March - Oxford NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 5th March from 8pm at the Mitre on Oxford's High Street.

See the website for more: http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/

+ Shrewsbury +

+ 16th March - Shrewsbury NO2ID "dining club" (3rd Monday of the month) +
Monday, 16th March - our regular "dining club" is meeting at about 7.15pm somewhere in the town centre. Do join us for a meal, or just come along for a drink. We need to book the table a few days in advance, so contact Rob Findlay on shrewsbury@no2id.net (or 07973 848910) if you'd like to come along.

+ Worcester +

Call to arms to help council motions
NO2ID Worcester has managed to get a motion supported by Wyre Forest District Council and Worcester County Council being brought forward by Wyre Forest Councillor Fran Oborski (whom is also a WCC member) and Howard Martin also of Wyre Forest. Both are of different political parties so chances are good the motions will pass. Worcester County Council will have theirs brought forward this week (no specific date on this one for us) so please talk to your councillors on this issue. It is important they are sensitised to this ID card motion.

+ 11th March - Worcester NO2ID Meeting (2nd Wednesday of month) +
Wednesday, 11th March 8pm at The Portobello Inn, St Johns, Worcester (map available from our website @ http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/meetings). Look out for the NO2ID Logo to spot us if you have not been before. Its an open door policy. Anyone can come along regardless of your stance, experience or awareness on the issues regarding or related to the National Identity Scheme. Why not bring a friend and join us for some drinks!

Stay tuned for the details of the meeting's outcome on our website blog @ http://www.no2id-worcester.org.uk/blog

"ID" in the news

+ LibDems warn of ID card legislation at Holyrood - The Herals 19/2/09 +
Scots are sleepwalking towards UK identity cards, according to the Liberal Democrats who say an assent motion is being quietly passed through Holyrood that will make it easier for Westminster to press ahead with proposals.
http://www.theherald.co.uk/politics/news/display.var.2490153.0.LibDems_warn_of_ID_card_legislation_at_Holyrood.php

+ UK ID Card Plans Put Transgender People in Danger, Say Greens - UK Gay News 17/2/09 +
Brighton Green Party councillor Vicky Wakefield-Jarret has today warned that Government?s proposals for ID cards risk increasing transphobia, and could pose a threat to the safety of transgender people.
http://www.ukgaynews.org.uk/Archive/09/Feb/1701.htm

+ Pilots to snub ID card trial - Manchester Evening News 16/2/09 +
Airline pilots flying into Manchester Airport will refuse to carry national identity cards during a controversial trial which starts on October.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1096945_pilots_to_snub_id_card_trial

+ UK identity cards rejected by Scottish ministers - STV 15/2/09 +
Westminster?s controversial plans for UK-wide identity cards are in doubt after Scottish ministers denounced the plans as "unacceptable.
http://news.stv.tv/scotland/76841-uk-identity-cards-rejected-by-scottish-ministers/

+ Home Office expands scope of compulsory ID cards - ZDNet 12/2/09 +
The Home Office has made a formal request to parliament to increase the scope of ID cards for foreign nationals. Under the proposed regulations, which are part of government plans, applicants under six categories for UK immigration will need to provide fingerprints and a photograph to be stored electronically on the card.
http://www.zdnet.co.uk/zdnetuk/news/security/0,1000000189,39615485,00.htm

+ Government plans travel database - BBC News Online 8/2/09 +
The government is compiling a database to track and store the international travel records of millions of Britons. Computerised records of all 250 million journeys made by individuals in and out of the UK each year will be kept for up to 10 years.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/7877182.stm

+ The horror of the ID card system - The Guardian 4/2/09 +
All the waste and incompetence of the ID card scheme becomes plain when you hear people's stories about their contact with the new UK Borders Agency.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/feb/04/idcards-biometrics

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )

Publication details: © NO2ID 2013 - 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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