[no2id-supporters] NO2ID NEWSLETTER No.20

Fri Apr 29 08:59:55 BST 2005

NO2ID NEWSLETTER - Supporter's Newsletter No.20 - 28th April 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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++ TWO MORE REPORTS DAMN IDENTITY CARDS

+ Church of Scotland committee criticism

The Church of Scotland's Church and Nation Committee will tell this 
year's General Assembly next month that "the case for the principle of 
identity cards has not yet been adequately made".

The committee see the idea of cards being required to access basic 
services as a barrier for socially excluded people seeking the help they 
need. They also raise the threat to civil liberties:

"The presumption behind the 'nothing to hide - nothing to fear' mantra 
is obnoxious. That presumption is that the citizen is answerable, in 
this sense, to the government. It should be the other way around. Being 
a citizen means - or should mean - not having to justify oneself to the 
government unless one has already been shown to have done something wrong."

They go on to warn: "The presumption of innocence is not just a notion 
in the narrow context of a criminal trial. It belongs and applies to all 
of us. Giving it up is a  step we are likely to regret for a long time."

Download the Church and Nation Committee report at:
www.churchofscotland.org.uk/webcast/downloads/churchnationreportga05.doc

+ Global coalition launches campaign against international surveillance

Statewatch, along with the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Focus 
on the Global South, Friends Committee (US) and the International Civil 
Liberties Monitoring Group (Canada) have published an in-depth report on 
'The emergence of a global infrastructure for registration and 
surveillance'.

The report sets out ten "signposts" that show an alarming international 
trend towards the mass monitoring of populations by cooperating 
governments.  It warns: "Under the radar screen of the public, a global 
registration and surveillance infrastructure is quietly being 
constructed. It consists of numerous initiatives, most of which have
been agreed to by governments without any democratic debate through 
international forums, treaties and arrangements. Many of these 
initiatives are now being implemented or are about to be implemented."

Download the report and endorse the campaign at:
www.i-cams.org/Endorse.html

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++ ELECTION CAMPAIGN...
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+ Quantity of debate exceeds quality

The question of ID cards has had a higher profile than we might have 
feared in the campaign so far, but an informed media and an informed 
public are still some way away.  Too often government spokespeople have 
got away with parrotting the "need" for ID Cards to "protect our 
borders" without explaining how they are supposed to do that.  That a 
monstrous database lies at the core of the government's plans is still 
not widely known.

In the remaining week NO2ID will continue to campaign on ID cards and 
the database state.  We need to carry on informing the public.  And we 
will need to relaunch the campaign after the election.  (Plans are 
already under way to contact new MPs as soon as they are elected.)

In the meantime, keep contacting the candidates in your constituency and 
make sure that they know what the big issue of the next parliament is 
going to be.  Keep calling radio and TV phone-ins.  There are plenty of 
people who still don't know about government plans.

Remember we remain entirely non-partisan. Candidates and parties can, 
and should, be encouraged to endorse the campaign, even to use the NO2ID 
logo.  Some are already doing so.  But we cannot as a matter of 
principle offer support to particular parties or particular candidates. 
  (There are many in all parties who agree with us, whatever nominal 
party policy.)

+ Hustings Briefing

Our hustings briefing is now available on the front page of the website. 
  It has suggested questions to ask, and hints on using local hustings 
to get the anti-ID message across.  You can also get a copy by email: 
hustings at no2id.net.

+ "HOW to win the fight"

If you haven't got a copy of the splendid handbook produced by supporter 
Stuart Smith, "HOW to WIN the Fight Against the National Identity Card 
and the associated National Identity Register, send for one now.  It is 
a great guide to making the arguments.  All new enquirers to NO2ID are 
now given a copy, and it has been distributed too, through local groups. 
  Send an A4 stamped self-addressed envelope to the usual address: Box 
412, 78 Marylebone High Street, London W1U 5AP with a note of your email 
address (so we can check we have you your details are up to date).

++ ...AND AFTERWARDS
--------------------
+ Lobby and question your new MPs and councillors

Whatever happens there will be a lot of new MPs in the next Parliament. 
  We will be lobbying them centrally.  But we need them to hear from 
their constituents that this is a real concern.  So go and see your new 
member at his or her surgery as soon as you can.  Tell them your views. 
  Ask theirs.  Let us know the results.

Please don't neglect council candidates.  There wil be new councillors 
too in many places.  We need all new (and old) councillors aware of the 
likely effects of the scheme on local government.  They are likely to be 
  very concerned once they realise the vast costs the scheme will impose 
on local budgets.

+ Join or donate, please

NO2ID's continuing operations depend largely on the support of... you. 
Even though all our staff are volunteers, running lobbying operations, 
press campaigns and administration still costs money.  And the Home 
Office is *not* going quietly, so we need to sustain and grow our 
organisation to compete.

A membership/donation form is at:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/membForm.pdf

+ Introduce other supporters, please

It is by activating mass opposition that ultimately we will win. Either 
as a local group or an individual you can help the campaign grow by 
persuading others to become supporters. Our leading local groups in this 
race are Cambridge and Edinburgh, each of which is holding regular 
street stalls and collecting hundreds of names. There are plenty of 
people who are profoundly opposed to ID cards. Once they know there is a 
campaign, they want to help.  But we can't (yet) spend millions of 
pounds on advertising to get a public profile.  All of us have to help 
find others and get them involved.

Supporter Form:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/supportRegForm.pdf
Petition Form:
www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/NO2ID%20Petition.pdf

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++ WHAT'S NEXT?
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+ 30 April - NO2ID LUTON

Liberty/NO2ID street stall.  Martin writes: "We will be in George St 
opposite the Town Hall from 11.30 to 15.00. This represents a real 
chance to strengthen the local campaign, especially in light of our 
excellent coverage on BBC Three Counties Radio yesterday."
luton at no2id.net

+ 30 April - NO2ID CAMBRIDGE
The final street stall before the election runs from noon to 3pm on 
Saturday, immediately outside the Guildhall on Market Hill, Cambridge.
cambridge at no2id.net - Andrew Watson 07710 469624

+ 2 May - NO2ID CAMBRIDGE
Cambridge University Students' Union Election panel discussion, to be 
held at the Union Society (next door to the Round Church) on Monday 2nd 
May. Leafletting from 7:40pm until the event starts at 8pm.

+ 21 May - CONFERENCE:  The real "War on Terror" in Europe
Liebeskind Bldg, London Metropolitan University
Saturday 21st May 2005, 9:30am-6:00pm
Will contain a stream on databases, ID cards and the surveillance state, 
including a NO2ID speaker.
Organiser Ian Waller - Tel: 0207 133 5095
Email: i.waller at londonmet.ac.uk

+ 26 May - CIVIL LIBERTIES RALLY
Oxford Town Hall
Organised by Oxford and District TUC
Thursday, 26 May 2005, 7.30pm
Speakers from NO2ID, Stop the War, Campacc, Liberty and UNISON NEC.

+ 6 (?) June (NEW QUEEN'S SPEECH
The opening of the the new parliament is expacted to take place in early 
June, heralding an exceptionally long session with the reintroduction of 
the Identity Cards Bill as a centrepiece.

+ ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT

Though the NO2ID Office can be quiet, particularly when public attention 
is elsewhere, we do need to cover the phones and handle some paperwork. 
  We're also looking for a bookkeeper (QuickBooks experience).  So if 
you have office and administrative skills and could spare some time 
during the week on a regular basis, please let us know.  volunteer at no2id.net

+ NO2ID LOCAL GROUPS to grow

We now have approaching 60 local groups.  But we could do with 600 for 
the fight ahead.

If you'd like to start your own and become a local contact for your 
town, you should be a member and be prepared to be contacted by 
supporters and local journalists.

For a guide to running your own local campaign (it's a lot easier than 
you may think) see:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/print/no2idCampaignersHandbook.pdf
(500Kb file - long download on dialup)

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

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

+ Trial ID card scheme is withdrawn - BBC
Plans for national ID cards may need to be reconsidered following the 
breakdown of the "Cornish Key" project.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/cornwall/4459493.stm

+ General Election debate misses purpose of ID Cards - OutLaw
Absent from the General Election debate is any commitment concerning the 
wider use of the database of registrable facts which will support the ID 
Card, report leading IT solicitors PinsentMasons.
http://www.out-law.com/php/page.php?page_id=generalelectiondeb1113913650&area=news

+ Scottish executive evades opposition
Scottish local councils are working on a smart card scheme that could 
lead to the launch of a national e-entitlement card. The cards should 
underpin a proposed National Entitlement Card scheme, an initiative 
supported by the Scottish Executive's Modernising Government Fund (MGF), 
but apparently defies the spirit of the Scottish Parliament's opposition 
to ID cards.
http://europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/4179/194

+ Future French e-ID card to be compulsory
French citizens will have to pay a fee for obtaining the new electronic 
document, which will be mandatory.
http://europa.eu.int/idabc/en/document/4100/194

+ Feds Rethinking RFID Passport - Wired
The US State Department is said to be considering a privacy solution it 
rejected ealier following criticism from computer security professionals 
and civil libertarians about the privacy risks posed by new RFID passports.
http://wired-vig.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,67333,00.html/wn_ascii

+ Blears spins "failed shoebomber" case - SpyBlog on the BBC
"The BBC seems to be falling for the New Labour spin and bias, in its 
reporting of any "terrorism" and "identity" stories, and yet again, they 
have not bothered to link to the cross party NO2ID Campaign website."
http://www.spy.org.uk/spyblog/archives/2005/04/home_office_min.html

See the NO2ID newsblog for other current stories:
http://www.no2id.net/news/newsblog/index.php

(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/
and
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/index.php
for one you can print out.

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.
There's a guide to what's involved at
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/index.php

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/

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
-----------------------------
First port of call should be the website:
http://www.no2id.net/

IF you can't find what you need on the website...
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:

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)
Technical Manager - Owen Blacker (technical.manager at no2id.net)
Office Staff - office 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)

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