[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Supporter's Newsletter No.13

Sat Jan 22 10:34:52 GMT 2005

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NO2ID NEWSLETTER - Supporter's Newsletter No.13 - 22nd January 2005
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+++ Stop ID-cards and the database state

This is the latest email newsletter to keep you informed about the
campaign against the Home Office's plans to fingerprint and track the
entire population of Britain for its National Identity Register. As soon
as practicable the NO2ID Newsletter will also be produced in printed
form to let us reach people without email. Meanwhile, if you want to
forward this email to friends or print and distribute hard copies, then
we have no objections.

You've been sent this (if you are a first hand recipient) because we
believe you registered as a supporter of the campaign. If not, or if you
just don't want the newsletter, let us know and please accept our
apologies. We don't want to spam anyone.

(Equally, if you were a supporter in the past, but have now decided that
you do want yourself and your family to be tagged like cattle at huge
and unnecessary expense, please do let us know.)

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++ We Could Be A Million Strong
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In the post this week we received a petition of 134 signatures objecting 
to ID cards (with or without biometric details), collected unprompted by 
a supporter in Street (not _the Street_, but a market town in Somerset, 
for the geographically challenged).  If every registered supporter we 
currently have followed her example, we'd have 800,000 supporters.  But 
we can all find 3 friends who feel strongly about ID control and get 
them to join NO2ID, surely?

Polls suggest there are up to 3 million people who object to ID cards 
strongly enough to consider civil disobedience--never mind change their 
vote.  Our potential colleagues are out there.  It is up to us all to 
find them.

Meanwhile, political scientists suggest that the forthcoming General 
Election will be decided by only 900,000 undecided voters.  If NO2ID can 
grow as big as it should be, politicans will listen.

Meanwhile, it is unclear they have a grip on the issue...
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+ Identity Cards Bill, Amendments Tabled

The Identity Cards Bill is now being scrutinised by Standing Committee B 
of the House of Commons.

Their first and second committee sittings were on the Tuesday(18th 
January), in the morning and afternoon respectively. They look set to 
meet for just six more sittings, concluding on the 27th.

Conservative and Liberal Democrat MPs spoke out against the guillotine 
at the first sitting, but the programme motion, forcing the timetable, 
was accepted by 11 votes to 5.

Referring to the Identity Cards Bill, but the Serious Organised Crime 
and Police Bill, too, Conservative MP Geoffrey Clifton-Brown told the 
committee "the amount of power that the state is taking over the 
individual is unprecedented", adding that "the legislation should not be 
rammed through Committee in only eight sittings"

So far 184 Amendments to the bill have been tabled, just one from the 
government.  The Committee is made up of 13 Labour MPs, 5 Conservatives 
and 2 Liberal Democrats. It seems unlikely that the bill will be amended 
in any meaningful way.

For details of the committee see: 
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm/cmident.htm

For detailed discussion of the amendments see:
http://www.spy.org.uk/spyblog/archives/2005/01/identity_cards_4.html
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+ ID Bill Committee Stage - Lobby Your MP

After the Committee Stage the Identity Cards Bill will get its Report 
Stage and Third Reading in the House of Commons.  This is the last stage 
before it is presented to the Lords.  We urgently call on all supporters 
to contact their MPs, Councillors, AMs and MSPs to make them aware of 
your concerns and to point out that ID cards are not a popular measure, 
despite what a number of them believe.

Conservative MPs in particular should be asked why they believe the Bill 
satifies David Davis's "five tests".  Don't allow them to get away with 
the slack Central Office excuse that "the police think ID cards would be 
useful", which is neither an adequate reason for legislation nor 
demonstrably true.

If you get a response then please pass on details of their position to 
our Parliamentary Liaison, Rachael Marsh
(parliamentary.liaison at no2id.net).

List of MSPs - http://www.scottish.parliament.uk/msp/index.htm
List of AMs - http://www.wales.gov.uk/who/constit_e.htm
Fax Westminster MPs - http://www.faxyourmp.com/

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++ What Just Happened?
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+ Local Groups Across the Country

There are now many local NO2ID groups around the country. It is through 
local groups that we can really spread our message about the realities 
of the proposed ID card scheme to people who aren't avid students of 
current affairs. There are forthcoming meetings planned in Cambridge, 
Glasgow, Edinburgh and Oxford to name but a few. Please get in touch
with them if you can help out locally.

If you'd like to join them as a local contact for your town, get in 
touch with local.groups at no2id.net and/or your regional coordinator.

To be a contact you should be a member, and be prepared to communicate 
with local supporters and journalists to build up our local activity and 
profile.

For a list of local groups and contacts see http://www.no2id.net/localGroups

+ Government Response To NO2ID e-Petition

The Government has finally published its response to the NO2ID 
e-petition against identity cards and the National Identity Register.
The response reads just like a Home Office press release. It is filled 
with unsubstantiated claims and platitudes.  And it completely fails to 
address the issues 3230 of us raised.

Once again the excuse of the addition of biometrics to UK passports is a 
pretext to justify the proposed scheme. This is irrelevant. The 
International Civil Aviation Organisation standard only requires a 
digitised photograph. (And see In the News, below.)

No mention is made of the National Identity Register(NIR), a centralised 
database of registerable facts about UK citizens containing an sudit 
trail, which our petition mentioned explicitly.

See http://www.number-10.gov.uk/output/Page6909.asp

Our response to their response at:
http://www.no2id.net/petitionResponseRebuttal.php

+ Petition Still Open

The petition continues to help us reach more supporters and let more 
people express their views on ID cards. If you would like to collect 
paper signatures in your area, please let Guy Taylor 
(local.groups at no2id.net) know.

Please continue to encourage people to sign the petition at 
www.no2id-petition.net.

+ Local Councils Propose Motions Against ID Cards

We are aware of a number of motions against ID cards and/or supporting 
the NO2ID campaign being put before several City Councils this month 
including Liverpool, Brighton & Hove, Oxford and York. NO2ID
National Co-ordinator Phil Booth said "local authorities are likely to 
be one of the ones who have to assume the overspend when costs start 
rising. The public won't stand for a passport that costs them £120, and 
Gordon Brown won't be baling out the Home Office to the tune of billions."

+ NO2ID Discussion Forums

The NO2ID website now has discussion forums and bulletin boards for
supporters and members to discuss all things related to ID control,
and share ideas and suggestions for the campaign.  There are forums for
posting links to articles, discussing the Identity, Cards Bill and
announcing forthcoming events.
See http://www.no2id.net/forum/

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++ What's Next?
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+ NO2ID Campaign Office - Call For Volunteers

Thanks to all those who have come forward to help man the London office. 
  We could still do with a handful more who are willing to fill in the 
odd morning, afternoon.  If you live in London and have a few hours to 
spare during the week please volunteer to join the staff rota. 
(volunteer at no2id.net)

If you can't help directly, please help us with running costs. The rent 
in the short-term is kindly underwritten by the Joseph Rowntree Reform 
Trust Ltd, but to make the office work for us means meeting the running 
costs of constant lobbying by mail and by phone. Please support us with 
a donation.

You can get a membership/standing order donation form at 
www.no2id.net/content/join.html. To donate
by PayPal or bank transfer, see www.no2id.net/content/donate.html.

+ 22nd January Brighton NO2ID Stall

On Saturday 22nd January, NO2ID Brighton will be running a stall on 
Churchill Square from 9am onwards. Contact Rob 
Whitehead(brighton at no2id.net) for more details

+ 25th January - NO2ID Public Meeting, Cambridge

7:30pm at Fisher Hall, Guildhall Place, Cambridge.
Speakers are to include:
    Peter Lilley, MP PC
    Ross Anderson, Professor of Security Engineering, U. of Cambridge
    David Howarth, Prospective Liberal Democrat candidate for Cambridge
    Tauhid Pasha, Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants

+ 25th January - NO2ID At AGM of Bradford Resource Group

NO2ID National Co-ordinator Phil Booth will be addressing the AGM of the 
Bradford Resource Group.  Phil will also be visiting local groups and 
representatives of other anti-ID organisations in Manchester and 
Sheffield in the early part of that week.

+ 21st February - 53rd Anniversary of the abolition of identity cards in 
the UK

On 21st February 1952, as part of Churchill's "bonfire of controls", the 
government abolished the national identity cards with much support from 
the population. Only fifty years later we see that the lessons of the 
past have been forgotten by a government apparently obsessed with 
"modernisation".
On this 53rd anniversary of the abolition of identity cards in the UK, 
we should try to recall why our parents and grandparents breathed a sigh 
of relief at the lifting of a burden the government wants back.

http://www.no2id.net/news/events.php

+ February 12th
Training day for Local Group organizers in London
We are committed to building up the national organisation

+ Coming Soon
Taking the battle to the enemy.
We will shortly be visiting the constituencies of prominent 
parliamentary supporters of ID cards to let the people their know what 
their reprentatives have planned for them and their families.

+ Coming soon - Fundraising Event in London
Find out what an extraordinarily diverse range of ideas NO2ID people 
have. And raise funds for the battle ahead. Details will depend on how 
much interest there is. Contact our events manager, Cassandra Rae 
(events at no2id.net) if you would like to know more.

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++ "ID" In the News
---------------------

Pathetic UK Government response to the NO2ID online petition - Spy Blog
Another view.
http://www.spy.org.uk/spyblog/archives/2005/01/pathetic_govern.html

Consultant 'army' already busy on UK ID card scheme - The Register
Spend public money.  Then make the laws to justify it.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/10/id_scheme_consultant_elves/

Public Domain - The Guardian
"Next month, government-funded researchers begin a two-year study on the 
management of identity in public services."
Decide your policy first.  Then research the need for it.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/comment/story/0,12449,1393954,00.html

Identity Crisis - Computer Reseller News
"While biometrics technology has always promised great benefits, recent 
developments show it still has much to prove"
http://www.vnunet.com/features/1160571

Patriarch rejects rumors Muscovite's social card has sign of devil - TASS
Discomfort from the Bible:
http://www.sacred-texts.com/bib/kjv/rev013.htm#016
Comfort from the famously independent Russian news service:
http://www.itar-tass.com/eng/level2.html?NewsID=1642478

Genewatch UK Report Fuels ID Card Debate - Aberdare Online
"A report criticising the National DNA database raises serious questions
about the safeguards in place for Labour's expensive ID cards according 
to the Welsh Liberal Democrat Social Justice Spokesperson, Peter Black."
http://www.aberdareonline.co.uk/content/public/news/default.asp?ID=2569

Technology innovation will continue to outstrip privacy legislation
  - IT Director,com
"Mass surveillance is here. Its capabilities are being advanced with the 
unwitting complicity of the individual citizen."
http://www.it-director.com/article.php?articleid=12509

EU Driving Licence on Way - The Scotsman
A route to a continent-wide ID surveillance system?
http://news.scotsman.com/latest.cfm?id=4022076

Home Office tackles ID fraud. By hiring one - The Register
The value of ID in immigration control...
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/19/fake_immigration_doctor/

UK gov ready to u-turn on passport-ID card link? - The Register
Sideways admission that it isn't helpful to comply with the ICAO 
standard, after all.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2005/01/19/browne_biometric_passports/

(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor)
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++ What You Can Do
-------------------

Like any campaign we need funds and people. Any help or expertise of any
kind you can spare will be most welcome. Most important is to get other
people involved and to understand the issues. ID-CARDS sound innocent:
what the government wants is ID-CONTROL. When people know that they (and
their children) may be fingerprinted like criminals and will be made to
register every change of address with the authorities, their attitude
changes. So:-

1. Tell your friends about the campaign and that you are supporting it.
Most people are scarcely aware of the government's ID database project,
and few understand the dangers. Feel free to redistribute this
newsletter to acquaintances. (But please do introduce it personally and
don't spam.) Your personal witness will help others understand that this
is important.

2. Sign the Petition and get your friends and (adult) family to do so.
http://www.no2id-petition.net/

3. Let us know if you have time or special expertise that you can give
to the organisation or facilities you can lend us. The campaign is
getting bigger, but needs to grow some more. Fast. We urgently need any
assistance you can offer. We can use any amount of professional creative
and marketing expertise as we begin to lift public awareness of the
issues, but it would be handy to have reliable people to answer the
phone.  Volunteer at: volunteer at no2id.net

4. Get together with others in your area to form a local group. A
national campaign needs a national network. Experienced campaigner Guy
Taylor (local.groups at no2id.net) is available to help local groups build
our nationwide presence. Guy can tell you how to hold a public meeting,
set out your stall locally (literally as well as metaphorically), and
how to get other people involved. If you have experience of local
campaigns then by all means just start -- we will offer what help we
can. Details of forthcoming meetings, when we have them, are posted on
the website.

5. Raise the issue for discussion in any organisations you belong to.
Everyone is affected in some way.  Encourage any club, union or other
group you are in that opposes ID control to become a supporter or
affiliate itself.

6. Write to the local and national press, to express your concerns
whenever there is relevant news. Phone-in to appropriate radio and TV
programs. There is plenty of information on (and linked to) the website
to help you do this.

7. Write to your MP and MEP expressing your disquiet and ask for *their
personal* opinion on specific issues. (Big-party MPs in particular
sometimes avoid controversial matter, or may offer a standard statement
of general party policy rather than answering for themselves.)
FaxYourMP.com is a free and confidential way to get an answer.

8.  Contact your Councillor and ask questions about the costs for the 
council, and the effect on council services and the police precept.

9. Buy a T-shirt, and wear it. This publicises the message--people will
ask you what it means--and raises funds. Details on the NO2ID website.
Or buy online at:
http://www.ntkmart.co.uk/ntkmart.cgi#No2ID
or
http://www.cashncarrion.co.uk/cnb/shop/cashncarrion?listPos=&op=catalogue-products-null&prodCategory
ID=28

10. Join. Membership starts at GBP15 a year (higher contributions
encouraged, and a modest standing order means a lot to us). It entitles
you to a say in the running of NO2ID. There is a membership form on the
website at www.no2id.net/content/join.html

11. Give generously. A few weeks back we had no money. Now we have a
little money, but we will always need more. The Home Office is planning
to spend billions.  But we will spend your money better.
Funds can be transferred to our HSBC Treasurer Account in the name of NO2ID
A/c no: 91339427
Sort Code 40-28-15
You can send a cheque, payable to "NO2ID" to: NO2ID, Box 412, 78
Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1U 5AP.
Special donation or sponsorship enquiries should be made to Guy Herbert
(general.secretary at no2id.net). Help in kind is equally welcome.

12. Link to us. Help us gather support on through the web by displaying
a button or banner (available on the website) on your own home site or
blog and linking to us.
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++ NO2ID Who's Who and Resources
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First port of call should be the website:
http://www.no2id.net/

IF you can't find what you need on the websit...
General enquiries to: enquiries at no2id.net
Press enquiries only to: press at no2id.net

+ If you have specific assistance or information to offer, you can
contact the following NO2ID people:

Chair of the Advisory Board - Simon Davies (chair at no2id.net)

Volunteer Staff:-

National Coordinator - Phil Booth (national.coordinator at no2id.net)

Administration
General Secretary - Guy Herbert (general.secretary at no2id.net)
Newsletter Editor - Charles Farrier (newsletter at no2id.net)
Production Manager - Katherine Davies  (production.manager at no2id.net)
Technical Manager - Owen Blacker (technical.manager at no2id.net)

Communications
Head of Campaigns - Andy Robson (campaigns at no2id.net)
Press Officer - Michael Parker (press.officer at no2id.net)
Public Affairs - Dave Walker (public.affairs at no2id.net)
Parliamentary Liaison - Rachael Marsh (parliamentary.liaison at no2id.net)
Events Manager  Cassandra Rae (events at no2id.net)

Development
National Secretary - Adam McGreggor (national.secretary at no2id.net)
Local Group Coordinator - Guy Taylor (local.groups at no2id.net)

Research
Head of Research - Ian Brown (research at no2id.net)

Regional Coordinators
London - Andrew Weston (london at no2id.net)
Scotland - Trevor Mendham (scotland at no2id.net)

+ Please, please remember that everybody on this list is a volunteer,
and all will be getting a huge amount of email, so you should only
direct enquiries to the relevant person. We are grateful for all offers
of help, but can't guarantee to have time to give detailed answers to
individual general queries on the ID scheme.  There is a lot of
information on the website and there will soon be much, much more.

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Publication details:  (c) NO2ID 2005 - 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.

NO2ID, Box No.412, 78 Marylebone High Street, LONDON W1U 5AP