[no2id-supporters] NO2ID Newsletter No.72
no2id-supporters at no2id.net
no2id-supporters at no2id.net
Fri May 25 11:19:55 BST 2007
NO2ID Supporters' Newsletter No. 72 - 24th May 2007
*Contacting us:* Call or email the office - 020-7793-4005 or
(office at no2id.net). Please do not reply to this email. (The from address
is not a working email address)
KEEP THE PETITION FORMS COMING
The NO2ID petition forms are our way of expanding our supporter base.
Every person's name that is collected can be added to our mailing list
so that they can be kept informed of campaign developments. This is in
contrast to the electronic petitions on the Number 10 website, which
whilst well intentioned do not help us to reach new supporters. Petition
forms can be downloaded from the NO2ID website
(http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/NO2IDpetition.pdf).
Please spare some time to collect as many names as you can and send the
completed forms to NO2ID, Box 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, London W1H 1PJ
as soon as possible. Everyone who gives their name and address will get
a pack with information about the identity card scheme and the campaign.
Please remember to return the completed petition forms to the office as
soon as possible.
*STOP PRESS*
Please note that the Classical Recital in Covent Garden for the benefit
of NO2ID has been moved from 29th May to 5th June, full details below.
Also look out for the new documentary 'Taking Liberties', featuring
NO2ID, that opens at selected cinemas from 8th June.
What's next?
Local groups news
We now have new local groups in Penyrny & Truro in the Southwest
(contact via penryn at no2id.net) and Bolton in the Northwest(where the NHS
database trial is happening) (contact via bolton at no2id.net). Solomon
Cardy has taken over in Cardiff, and is looking to build up there,
Oxford NO2ID is looking towards a revival, and there is some interest in
a Cheltenham group. A full list of local groups can be found at
(www.no2id.net/localGroups)
Lords Constitution Committee to investigate surveillance society
- call for evidence - deadline 8th June
The House of Lords Constitution Committee is calling for evidence into
the constitutional implications of the surveillance society. The
committee are requesting submissions of up to 1500 words by 8th June.
More details can be found at
www.parliament.uk/documents/upload/CFE%20Final.doc
Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh Campaign stall
NO2ID Edinburgh's regular Princes Street campaigning stall on Saturdays
is at the east end of Princes Street, opposite the Balmoral Hotel, from
1pm - 3pm. We use our stall to raise public awareness of the Identity
Cards scheme, collect donations and entries for the NO2ID petition, and
also to increase membership of our group. Please do pop by for a chat
if you happen to be around. We aim to have the stall up and running most
Saturdays and new volunteers are always very welcome. You can see photos
of our stall and group contact details at: www.no2id-scotland.net/edinburgh/
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 at no2id.net for more details
26th May - Tunbridge Wells NO2ID stall
Saturday, 26th May, the Tunbridge Wells group will have a stall on the
pedestrian precinct outside outside Royal Victoria Place, near the
Millennium Clock entrance. Contact Ian at tunbridge.wells at no2id.net fo
more details.
27th May - Redbridge NO2ID campaign stall at Redbridge Green Fair
Sunday 27th May at Valentines Park, Ilford. Redbridge NO2ID campaign
will have a stall at this major community event which is held every two
years. Entry is free. There will be 3 music stages, over 100 stalls,
great food, a beer tent, children's entertainment. Free shuttlebus
service. Supported by London Borough or Redbridge (an affiliate of the
No2ID campaign!) All support welcome. See www.rgf.org.uk For more
details phone Paul on 07801 429782.
30th May - World Premiere of Edinburgh NO2ID film
Wednesday, 30th May, 7pm in the Library at the Quaker Meeting House, 7
Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. The film of the local NO2ID Group's
demonstration outside the Edinburgh Interrogation Centre will be shown
at the next Group meeting on 30 May. The main business of the meeting
will be to consider how the recent political changes, in City Chambers,
Holyrood and (maybe by then) Downing Street, will affect our campaign
against compulsory ID cards.
30th May - Glasgow NO2ID Meeting
Tuesday, 30th May at 8pm in Mono* (Map:
www.glasgow-no2id.org.uk/meeting.html). All are very welcome. We will be
making preparations for a protest against the opening of the new
interrogation centre in Glasgow so please come along! We will also be
running a couple of stalls in the city centre this weekend, so please
get in touch if you would like to help out.
(* alternative venue if necessary: Lauries, across the road)
30th May - Tunbridge Wells NO2ID meeting
Thursday, 30th May at the bar of the Royal Wells Hotel, Mount Ephraim,
Tunbridge Wells, TN4 8BE. Tonbridge NO2ID has temporarily been merged
with Tunbridge Wells NO2ID - and we particularly hope to discuss the
possibility of joint activities in both towns. More details at
http://www.tunbridgewells-no2id.org.uk/
2nd June - NO2ID Stall at Cambridge Strawberry Fair
Volunteers needed to man the stall for 2 hour shifts from 10am until
6pm: please contact cambridge at no2id.net, or text/call Andrew Watson on
07710 469624. We signed up 750 supporters last year - we'd like to
double that number this year. (Strawberry Fair info:
http://www.strawberry-fair.org.uk)
2nd June & 14th July - Manchester NO2ID stall and flyering
Saturday, 2nd June & 14th July, 1pm at St. Anne's Square.
3rd June - Lancaster NO2ID stall at the Lancaster Community Festival
Sunday, June 3rd st Williamson Park, Lancaster NO2ID will have a stall,
answering questions, giving out information and signing people up,
volunteers welcome or if you are in the area please come along! Contact
lancaster at no2id.net for more info
4th June - Highbury NO2ID Meeting
Monday, 4th June 7pm at The Alwyne pub - 83 St Pauls Road, N1 2LY.
Nearest tube - Highbury & Islington. An informal meeting to discuss
future events and a general update on NO2ID's campaign and other
relevant developments. All welcome.
5th June - Hackney & Shoreditch NO2ID meeting (Meetings the 1st
Tuesday of every month)
Tuesday, 5th June 7.30pm. NB - the venue for Hackney & Shoreditch NO2ID
meetings has changed to:- The Pembury Tavern, 90 Amhurst Rd, London E8
1JH. Details:- http://www.individualpubs.co.uk/pembury/ ,
http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/27/27595/Pembury_Tavern/Hackney
5th June - Classical Recital, Covent Garden for benefit of NO2ID
*UPDATED*
Tuesday, 5th Jun 7.30pm at St. Paul's Church, Bedford Street, London
WC2E 9ED ("The Actor's Church"). Jessica Boyd presents: The Volterra
Trio - Jessica Boyd (violin), Nathaniel Boyd (cello), Amy de Sybel
(piano). Mozart - Sonatas No.2 in E flat Major (KV302) & No.5 in A Major
(KV305), Gershwin - "Ain't necessarily so", De Falla - "Spanish Dance",
Schubert - Sonata in G minor (D408), Shostakovich - piano trio No.1 in C
minor (Op.8). Seats for roughly 270 people - £10 on the door - all
proceeds go to the campaign.
(*Postponed by 1 week from date previously announced, which permits us
now to offer a trio.)
7th June - Home Affairs Committee Inquiry: 'A Surveillance
Society?' evidence session
Thursday, 7 June at 10.15 a.m. Witnesses: 10.15 am - International
Association of Privacy Professionals, 11.15 am - Experian, Finance and
Leasing Association, Loyalty Management Group and Tesco. Location (tbc):
Thatcher Room, Portcullis House. The session can be watched at
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/
8th June - "Taking Liberties" documentary film featuring NO2ID
opens at cinemas
Friday, 8th June. A new documentary featuring NO2ID opens 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
8th June - Cambridge NO2ID Public Meeting: "Whose identity is it
anyway?"
Friday, 8th June 7.30pm at Parkside Community College, Cambridge CB1 1EH
(Map: http://www.multimap.com/map/browse.cgi?pc=CB11EH). Platform
speakers: David Howarth (MP for Cambridge, Lib Dem Energy Spokesperson),
Ian Gibson (MP for Norwich North, Labour), James Paice (MP for SE Cambs,
Conservative Agriculture spokesman), Phil Booth (NO2ID National
Coordinator). All welcome. Free (but donations appreciated).
13th June & 18th July - Manchester NO2ID Meeting
Wednesday, 13th June & 18th July, 7pm at 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
(manchester at no2id.net)
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 at no2id.net. The food
is great too!
16th June - Highbury NO2ID Street Stall
Saturday 16th June - 11am - 2pm, Highbury NO2ID will be holding a street
stall. If you have some free time to spare to help out please contact
Caroline - (highbury at no2id.net). Meeting at Angel Tube station at 11am.
26th June - Hackney NO2ID - 'Clarence Wilcock Day'
Tuesday, 26th June at the Hackney Empire. The Hackney Group are
declaring June 26th 'Clarence Wilcock Day' and to celebrate the defeat
of WWII ID Cards they are holding a hip-hop & poetry evening at the
Marie Lloyd Bar at the Hackney Empire with some great acts and a special
guest mc. Watch this space and the main website events listing for more
details.
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What just happened?
NO2ID groups team up for campaigning success
Swindon and Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID groups teamed up last weekend to
run a stall at Levellers' Day in Burford, Oxfordshire. Kensignton &
Chelsea co-ordinator Jill Manasseh said: "Our stall attracted interest
and we hope we have attracted new members from Oxford and the
surrounding area".
Fingerprinting in pubs update
Several supporters responded to our appeal for more information about
new identity schemes rolling out in pubs and clubs. For instance a "Club
Scan" scheme is being tested in Coventry which allows "door staff at
bars and nightclubs to copy details held on identity cards such as
driving licences and PASS[Proof of Age Standards Scheme]-approved
proof-of-age cards" (See http://tinyurl.com/32ae23). Drinkers at the
Walkabout Inn in Cardiff are also having an excessive ID policy imposed
on them - all customers are subject to ID checks regardless of age. A
manager at Walkabout told the South Wales Echo: "There are two reasons
people don't want to provide ID. Either they aren't old enough or they
are planning to cause trouble - which is why we don't want them
here"!(See http://tinyurl.com/3cxqur). We have also been told that the
Nuneaton pub-fingerprinting scheme has gone quiet as far as local press
reports are concerned.
Many of the police forces and local authorities in the areas where such
schemes operate claim that it is nothing to do with them but the clubs
and bars claim that the council have imposed the schemes. The Portman
group have funded the National Pubwatch scheme and also produce PASS
cards. The Portman group is made up of drink producers and brewers in
the UK who have been strong supporters of a national ID scheme. We
encourage supporters in the affected areas to contact your local media
pointing out the disproportionate nature of the schemes and questioning
under what legislation such measures are being introduced, what
consultations have taken place and what safeguards are in place. Do
please keep us informed of your efforts. As Edmund Burke put it: "The
only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing."
LSE release report on the latest ID scheme six-monthly cost report
The London School of Economics(LSE) Identity Project group have released
a response to the government's much delayed second bi-annual report to
Parliament about the likely costs of the ID Cards Scheme. The report
describes the ID scheme as "not a project that is progressing well but
rather one that appears to be getting out of control".
See http://identityproject.lse.ac.uk/
JCHR Report warns of racial profiling in ID scheme
The Joint Committee on Human Rights(JCHR) released a new report this
week that warns of dangers inherit in the government's ID scheme. The
committee warns that: "In our view, the introduction of the biometric
immigration document gives rise to the same concern about de facto
racial profiling."
Read the report at http://tinyurl.com/2ahx5w
Warning over National Identity Register as Citizens Database
Evidence submitted to the Home Affairs Committee's 'A Surveillance
Society?' inquiry by the Editor of 'Data Protection & Privacy Practice',
Dr Chris Pounder, has been published on the internet. Dr Pounder calls
for "a review of Parliamentary procedures in order to identify the
lessons that should be drawn from the lack of scrutiny which has
occurred with the decision to use the National Identity Register as a
population register". Dr Pounder is referring to the merging of the
Citizens Information Project and the National Identity Register which
was undertaken after the consultation phase of the ID scheme and is not
explicitly in ID scheme legislation and therefore not subject to scrutiny.
See http://identityproject.lse.ac.uk/Pounder.doc
Freedom of Information (Amendment) bill passes 3rd reading
Last Friday the Freedom of Information (Amendment) Bill received its
third and final reading in the House of Commons. Just 125 out of 646 MPs
voted on the bill which was approved by 96 votes to 25 against. The bill
will now go on to the House of Lords. The bill seeks to exempt MPs
correspondence from the Freedom of Information Act. Tim Farron MP
pointed out that "110,000 public bodies are subject to the Freedom of
Information Act [...] here we are in the House of Commons considering
the exclusion of just one of them---this one". He went on to describe
this as "an utterly self-regarding proposal, which brings MPs and
Parliament into disrepute".
Watch the debate at http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Player/?Meeting=7345
Germany: Private addresses, anyone?
Anybody in the German state of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern can now pull up
anybody else's current home address online, courtesy of the government.
A small charge will, however, be made. The information will be up to
date, because Germans are legally obliged to register their home
addresses and to notify any changes. These details were already being
quite officially and legally sold to "the administration's many
customers, such as mail order firms and lawyers," a state government
press release points out. So the Internet thing will just be cutting
down on the paperwork. Citizens do have the right to block disclosure of
their details - but only if they go through the bureaucratic process of
opting out. Otherwise, they are deemed to have consented to data rape.
And perhaps other rape too, depending on who gets hold of their address.
The release helpfully explains how it all works: "After inputting given
names and surnames as well as two other characteristics (date of birth,
gender or an address) which permit clear identification of the person
being sought, and after payment - currently by credit card, but in
future also by debit - the user will immediately receive the basic
register entry, for a fee of 3.50 Euro." Let's hope that thrifty Gordon
Brown isn't reading this.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
"ID" in the news
ID cards deals primed to start - Computing 24/5/07
The procurement framework for the national ID card scheme will be in
place by the end of the year, with the first contract awards scheduled
for the second quarter of 2008, according to the latest timetable.
http://www.computing.co.uk/computing/news/2190552/id-cards-deals-primed-start
Police put 100,000 innocent children on DNA database - Daily
Mail 23/5/07
The number of innocent children placed on the Government's vast DNA
database for life has quadrupled in the past year to more than 100,000,
it has emerged.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=457046
Police spy in the sky fuels 'Big Brother' fears - The Daily
Telegraph 23/5/07
The country's first police ''drone'' took to the skies yesterday,
opening a new era of flying CCTV cameras and adding to concerns about
the extent of Britain's "surveillance society". It was originally used
for military reconnaissance but is now being tested by police.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/22/ndrone22.xml
Ireland: Schools lining up to fingerprint pupils -
siliconrepublic.com 23/5/07
50 Irish schools have expressed an interest in biometric attendance
management technology in the past month, a provider of biometric
fingerprinting systems has told siliconrepublic.com.
http://www.siliconrepublic.com/news/news.nv?storyid=single8392
CCTV creating 'Orwellian' society - The Daily Telegraph 22/5/07
Another senior police officer yesterday joined the growing clamour
against the proliferation of CCTV cameras around the country. Ian
Redhead, the deputy chief constable of Hampshire, said Britain risked
moving toward an "Orwellian" society.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/05/21/npolice121.xml
Extra staff to push up ID costs, says Home Office - Computing
17/5/07
Most of the £400m rise in the bill for identity cards will be spent
ensuring the scheme has enough staff to be a success, according to
Identity and Passport Service chief executive James Hall. The bi-annual
cost report published last week put a price tag of £5.3bn on the plan,
up on the £4.9bn estimate last autumn.
http://www.computing.co.uk/2190051
'Why do we need ID cards?' asks police chief - Daily Mail 17/5/07
A police chief has called for a "debate about the ongoing erosion of
civil liberties" and questioned the need for identity cards. Colin
Langham-Fitt, Acting Chief Constable of Suffolk, said questions ought to
be asked about whether increased monitoring made people feel safer.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=455543&in_page_id=1770
NHS IT: Researchers warn NPfIT delays risking patient safety -
17/5/07
Lack of effective communication and delivery delays are leaving trusts
disenfranchised and weakening local commitment to rolling out the
National Programme for IT creating risks to patient safety, leading
academics have warned.
http://www.e-health-insider.com/news/item.cfm?ID=2695
Surveillance state can't monitor itself, says US - The Register
15/5/07
It would be impractical for the US to monitor how its border guards use
the massive databases it is building on European citizens, US Homeland
Security Security secretary Michael Chertoff told the European
Parliament yesterday.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2007/05/15/surveillance_scutiny/
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter -
Editor(newsletter at no2id.net) )
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Publication details: © NO2ID 2007 - 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 412, 19-21 Crawford Street, LONDON W1H 1PJ
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