NO2ID News No. 113
18 December 2008
+ MESSAGE FROM NO2ID'S NATIONAL COORDINATOR +
The retention of DNA and fingerprints from uncharged and innocent
people ruled unlawful; plans to force 200,000 airside workers onto the
ID database in tatters; the mass uploading of millions of medical
records stalled for over a year; 'ID cards for foreigners' met with
derision, as public support for ID cards drops a further 5% in three
months. The time has never been better to make our case.
We hope our new video, 'Take Jane', will help shift things up a gear.
Please pass this link on:
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=v1JqlvnZANA
NO2ID has won the intellectual argument (though we shall persist in our
rigorous, evidence-based opposition of the database state) but we must
comprehensively overcome the sly emotional appeal of "If you've done
nothing wrong, you've got nothing to fear". 'Take Jane' is our latest
attempt.
Often, secrets are good. Secrets keep you and things you value safe.
Forcing people to surrender yet more personal information when the
government plainly can't be trusted with the details it already holds
is not just wrong - it's dangerous. If they can't protect it, they
shouldn't collect it.
I would like to take this opportunity to applaud our local groups,
especially our hard-working local and regional coordinators. One of
the great privileges of being national coordinator is that I get to
meet all sorts of people from one end of the country to the other who
week in week out are advancing NO2ID's case on the streets, at
meetings, in the papers and on local and regional radio and TV.
Without your efforts we are nothing. I salute you all.
Wishing you and your families a peaceful and ID-free Christmas, and
looking forward to turning the tide in 2009...
Phil Booth
National Coordinator, NO2ID
NO2ID Review of the Year
A few key moments from 2008 - and some ways you can help stop the
database state in 2009.
JANUARY: The year gets off to a leaky start. NO2ID releases a
government document detailing official plans to use "various forms of
coercion" to bully people onto the ID cards database. After non-EEA
foreign nationals, airport workers and young people are declared prime
targets.
FEBRUARY: Freedom lovin' rock band Kula Shaker, who first came
to
fame during the Britpop era, promote NO2ID throughout their 2008 UK
tour. Local groups across the country hold stalls at each gig and sign
up new supporters.
NO2ID is constantly trying to reach and engage new people. You can
help. Download a copy of our petition -
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/forms/NO2IDpetition.pdf
- and use it as
a way to get your friends and neighbours talking about the ID scheme.
Please send completed forms to our London office (address on the
form). Everyone who gives contact details will be invited to join
NO2ID.
--
MARCH: Jacqui Smith confirms NO2ID's leak, announcing the ID
scheme
'Delivery Plan' to a hand-picked audience outside Parliament. The
long-anticipated Crosby report says responsibility for ID should be
taken away from the state altogether, and is promptly buried.
APRIL: NO2ID holds a database state-themed London Mayoral
hustings.
All the invited candidates - bar Ken Livingstone - confirm their
opposition to ID cards and related initiatives. NO2ID runs a day of
seminars in the Scottish Parliament at Holyrood on the dangers of the
Scottish National Entitlement Card programme.
Why not lobby your council to pass a motion against the ID scheme? It
represents you, and local authorities are clearly in the Home Office's
sights:
http://www.no2id.net/resources/motions/
Dozens of councils have now resolved not to use ID cards for access to
their services unless forced to by law - a number have affiliated to
NO2ID.
--
MAY: As well as campaigning, the day-to-day business of NO2ID HQ
involves handling the media, responding to consultations, preparing
briefings, lobbying politicians and industry and engaging civil
society. In May, the University and Colleges Union votes to affiliate
to NO2ID and we arrange a debate with a Home Office official at a
meeting
of the London Civic Forum.
JUNE: Nine members of NO2ID Scotland are arrested after staging
a
peaceful protest at an invitation-only Home Office "public
consultation" event. Junior 'Minister for Identity', Meg Hillier has
a serious sense of humour bypass but all charges are later dropped.
Are you in contact with your nearest NO2ID local group? To find out
about activities in your area, see
http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/
-
new members are always welcome.
If there isn't already a group in your area ask Matty Mitford, our
local groups coordinator about starting your own:
local.groups@no2id.net
--
JULY: Jacqui Smith launches youth propaganda website, 'My Life
My ID',
to hoots of derision. At Channel 4 BritDoc's 'Good Pitch', NO2ID is
named campaigning partner for new feature-length documentary, 'Erasing
David', scheduled for release in summer 2009.
AUGUST: NO2ID holds its Annual General Meeting. The Joseph
Rowntree
Reform Trust Ltd generously agrees to match pound for pound a
proportion of NO2ID's new income in 2009/10. Setting up a standing
order or PayPal/credit card subscription NOW means the campaign will
receive *double* what you give.
Campaigning costs money. We desperately need your support. Generous
regular givers fund our cramped office and some printing costs, but we
need many, many more. Please make a donation or even better set up a
regular payment -
http://www.no2id.net/join
--
SEPTEMBER: NO2ID attends party conferences, organising or
speaking at
events in Brighton, Bournemouth, Manchester and Birmingham. Following
our fringe meeting on the ID scheme, a BALPA motion to oppose the
introduction of ID cards "with every means at our disposal" is adopted
by TUC Congress. Phil Booth is refused entry to an official Labour
meeting, due to a mix-up with his conference ID...
OCTOBER: Conservative Future launches support of NO2ID, and
talks with
the NUS on anti-ID campaigning across UK campuses step up a gear.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg announces policy on 'credit freezes'
(locking your own credit records) floated earlier in the year by
NO2ID but completely ignored by junior minister Meg Hillier following
her challenge to ID opponents in the FT.
Make the NO2ID Pledge:
http://www.no2id.net/pledge/
and declare to your
friends and neighbours (tell everyone, and display your certificate
proudly!) that you will not cooperate with any further government grab
for your personal information. If enough people publicly declare they
will not cooperate, state seizure of personal identity will become
impossible.
--
NOVEMBER: The first of seven centres due to issue 'ID cards for
foreign
nationals' open for business. NO2ID and others mount protests across
the UK, including giant ID card burnings and demonstrations. Hundreds
of locally and nationally-known figures sign NO2ID letters to the press
opposing the government's bullying of soft targets and sly xenophobic
appeal.
DECEMBER: Having identified draft legislation that would make
ID cards
effectively compulsory to carry, NO2ID successfully exposes
data-trafficking powers buried in an obscure new Bill that would smash
the rule of law and build the database state in its place. We end the
year on a leak, revealing extraordinary powers of search without
warrant in contracts applied to those bidding to work on the ID scheme.
If this review was originally sent to someone else, then please
register as a supporter to get your own e-mail newsletter every
fortnight. There is a form on the front page of our website:
http://www.no2id.net/
You'll also receive a FREE supporter's pack
and occasional alerts about NO2ID events in your area.
If this is your original copy of this newsletter, why not pass it on?
What's next?
+ 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.
+ Bristol +
+ 7th January - Bristol NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 7th January 7pm at Deco Lounge, Cotham Hill.
+ Cambridge +
+ 3rd January - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 3rd January at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge
Guildhall. Location Map: (
http://www.aardvarkmap.net/mape/T5LZATLS)
As
ever, volunteers to help very welcome - please email
cambridge@no2id.net,
or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.
+ 7th January - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday of each
month) +
Wednesday, 7th January 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.
+ Daventry +
+ 14th January - Daventry NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 14th January at 8pm in the Saracen's Head, Daventry. Contact
daventry@no2id.net
for more information.
+ Dorking +
+ 20th December - NO2ID Dorking Street Stall, Horsham +
Saturday, 20th December in Horsham. Last time we were there we picked
up 249 signatures for the petition - in the week before Christmas we will be
looking to improve. Anyone in the area, please come along and say
hello.
+ 6th January - NO2ID Dorking Meeting (1st Tuesday of month) +
Tuesday, 6th January 7.30pm at The Lincoln Arms, near Dorking mainline
station.
+ 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/
+ Glasgow +
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
+ London +
+ January 2009 - Superheroes Against National ID Cards protest +
January 2009 (Date TBC shortly) Parliament Square, London. A fun
protest against: the National Identity Register, the erosion of our
civil liberties, the database state & the monopolisation of
superhero protests! Help end this Orwellian nightmare...!
See
http://www.superheroesagainst.org.uk/
+ Manchester +
+ 18th December - Manchester NO2ID Xmas Social +
Thursday, 18th December 7pm-9pm at The Waterhouse, Princess Street,
Manchester.
+ Newcastle +
+ 13th January - Newcastle NO2ID Meeting (NOTE NEW VENUE), 2nd
Tuesday of each month +
Tuesday, 13th January 7.30pm at the Jazz café, Pink Lane, Newcastle
upon Tyne. The owner of the venue is a supporter of our campaign. The
change of venue is in response to the need to find a better, more
politically-neutral venue. The new day is in response to several local
members' problems attending on Wednesday. We have listened to our
members and responded as soon as we were able to find a suitable
venue. For more info contact Nathan on
newcastle@no2id.net
+ Oxford +
+ 8th January - Oxford NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 8th January 8pm at The Mitre, High Street, Oxford. We
usually
meet on the first Thursday of the month but since this falls on New
Year's Day we thought we'd push it back a week. See you then!
See the website for more:
http://no2id-oxford.org.uk/
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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