NO2ID News No. 78
17 August 2007
STOP PRESS! Help the Pet Shop Boys protest against ID Cards!
Pet Shop Boys are filming a video for ‘Integral’, the song from their new album that protests against plans for ID cards, and would like your help. On Tuesday 21st August, from 2pm till 8pm, volunteers will be asked to hold up printed frames of a video clip to their faces, and more people will be needed for the background. This is a great high profile support for the campaign so let’s help make the video as impactful as possible. If you’re interested please email jacqui@thesweetshop.tv. The venue for the shoot is Whitefield Memorial Church, 79a Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TD.
As the process to make ID Cards a reality creaks into life - It's time to make your voice heardA year and a half after steamrollering the Identity Cards Act through Parliament, and having already spent over £72 million of taxpayers' money*, the government has announced the beginning of its procurement process for the National Identity Scheme.
No contracts have been awarded, no specifications have been issued, and the main contracts won't be finalised until NEXT JUNE at the earliest. There's still a lo-o-ong way to go.
So, what can we do to stop it?
The battle is far from over, and already the public is beginning to wake up to the surveillance state. We know that the more people find out about the ID scheme and database state, the less they like it - which is why the government remains so secretive about the details. Our job, while the Home Office desperately tries to get its act together, is to spread the word: the more who come to understand the scheme, and the intention behind it, the more who will ultimately resist or refuse to comply.
And it's quite straightforward - just reach out. To people you know, and people you've never met. To groups you're involved in, and groups you've never heard of. All over the UK, in every town and city there are people who have had enough. NO2ID started with dozens, now we're tens of thousands strong - and that's largely down to people like you who decided to get together with others (often just one or two, to begin with) and do something.
We're always on the lookout for new local group coordinators, to raise awareness in your community and be a point of contact for those who also wish to get involved. Our tools may be simple - letters, leaflets and the odd bit of ingenuity - but their effect has already helped shift public opinion 30% against the scheme. You CAN make a difference.
To join a group near you, check out our website - http://www.no2id.net/localGroups/index.php - or, if you want to start one up in your area, please send an e-mail to local.groups@no2id.net
*PA Consulting, the original 'development partner' for the ID programme, estimated in 2005 that the "development and procurement phases" of the project would cost £18.74 million. The (so far) quadrupling of this cost makes the LSE's £20 billion estimate for setting up the scheme look rather more accurate than the government's unsubstantiated figures.
What's next?Local groups newsWe now have a new NO2ID group in Sterling (contact via sterling@no2id.net). We also have a new coordinator in Southampton and John Giblin has taken over as group coordinator for Dundee, John is keen to recruit new members would like interested supporters to get in touch (via dundee@no2id.net). Our Bournemouth group is also looking for new members and would like interested people to get in touch (via bournemouth@no2id.net). A full list of local groups can be found at www.no2id.net/localGroups
Kensington and Chelsea NO2ID mugs Kensington & Chelsea NO2ID once again have some mugs sporting the NO2ID logo. The mugs are available by mail order for just £7 or £4 in person with a reduction for bulk purchases i.e. (4 or more) to £3. Contact kensington@no2id.net for more details of how to order.
Manchester NO2ID calls for "Students against ID" volunteersManchester NO2ID are still looking for people interested in helping with a Students Against ID society in the next academic year. If you're at all interested, whether you'd be prepared to shoulder the responsibility yourself or just help someone else out, please drop an e-mail to manchester@no2id.net
Still showing - "Taking Liberties" documentary film featuring NO2ID at cinemas around the countryThe documentary which features NO2ID is still showing 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
Saturdays 1pm - 3pm - NO2ID Edinburgh street stallEvery 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/
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.
18th August - NO2ID Tunbridge Wells stallSaturday, 18th August from 11am - There will be a Tunbridge Wells stall on the Pedestrian Precinct, between Boots & The Body Shop, outside The Royal Victoria Precinct (map at http://tinyurl.com/2h38xo). There was a fantastic public response to the second Tonbridge stall end July & a third Tonbridge stall is planned shortly.
21st August - Glasgow NO2ID MeetingTuesday 21st August, our regular fortnightly meeting at 8pm in Mono. All welcome. Map: http://www.glasgow-no2id.org.uk/meeting.html
8th September - Cambridge NO2ID at the Cherry Hinton Festival Saturday, 8th September - Cambridge NO2ID will have a stall at the Cherry Hinton Festival (http://www.cherryhintonfestival.co.uk/). Volunteers to help man the stall and distribute NO2ID literature, car stickers and badges very welcome. Contact Alex or Andrew at cambridge@no2id.net.
Dundee NO2IDThe Dundee group is on a drive to recruit new members. Anyone interested should contact John: dundee@no2id.net
Bournemouth NO2IDThe Bournemouth group is also keen to attract new recruits. Anyone interested should contact Peter: bournemouth@no2id.net
________________________________
What just happened?Belgian ID sales make ID meaningless Belgian companies are being told about "a new type of organised fraud which is apparently gaining ground". A circular from the employers' federation FEB, the equivalent of the CBI, warns firms about "people of Belgian nationality - authorised to work legally in Belgium - who 'sell' their identity to people who are in an illegal situation". The buyer then takes a job under the seller's name. "The name-lender is compensated by taking a commission on the wage which is paid by the employers to his/her account, and he/she then re-transfers the remainder to the illegal worker." Will all this lead to calls for stricter ID laws in Belgium? Unlikely, as its ID laws have long been among the strictest in the world (in fact, ever since the First World War, when the German occupiers made it compulsory to carry ID cards anywhere outside one's own home). Also, Belgium is one of the first countries to convert to electronic ID cards. None of which seems to have stopped illegal employment on such a scale that it is even beginning to worry the employers' federation. And, of course, anyone with a Belgian ID - real or bought - can work in the UK. A British ID system would do nothing to change that.
NO2ID sparks friction onlineFriction.tv is a website that allows you to have tour say about issues that concern you. Upload a short video and you can start new debates, or join existing ones. And now, Friction.tv are partnering with Channel Five news. The best videos on the site are broadcast in a new ‘Your Views’ slot on main bulletins throughout the day. Follow the link below to see NO2ID’s contribution, watch the link and join the debate.
http://www.friction.tv/debate.php?debateno=851
Campaigning case study: Glasgow NO2ID finds huge success on social networking sitesNO2ID Glasgow set up a Myspace profile around 6 months ago and after several format changes, we now have 600 friends (we are still little fish!) and a great network of people who love our profile and offer their services to the group in diverse ways.
We have picked up new devoted members. Jaqs brings NO2ID to bands in the area, with San Sebastian playing T in the park in NO2ID T shirts. And recently Claire and her buddy were happy to get themselves chained up at a recent protest! Justin Currie (ex-Del Amitri) is keen to involve us in the Glasgow leg of his upcoming tour! And we have a guy who is very enthusiastic about starting up a new local group in Scotland. We receive tons of messages. Some people have questions about the legislation, and some offer vital practical support.
By linking to NO2ID’s main site we have connected people to information about local groups, how to get their hands on merchandise (every one loves the T shirts) and hooked up people abroad with NO2ID expats. We also do regular ‘myth busters’ on the profile and through bulletins, addressing the common assertions that ID cards will combat terrorism, ID theft and illegal immigration. These get reposted by many, spreading the message even further.
NO2ID Glasgow is part of seven MySpace profiles promoting regional groups with Manchester recently coming on board. Most importantly it’s been a great (cheap) method of spreading awareness and an effective recruitment tool.
NO2ID Office strength bolsteredNO2ID South Bank office in London has been strengthened recently by several new volunteers. Many thanks to everyone who has come forward to lend a hand.
________________________________
"ID" in the newsID card contracts put out to tender - The Guardian 9/8/07
Lucrative contracts worth up to £500m each have been put out to tender today for the government's controversial identity card scheme. Five firms will be chosen to supply computer equipment and manage the application and issuing of ID cards.http://business.guardian.co.uk/story/0,,2145486,00.html
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(newsletter@no2id.net) )
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.
Newsletter Archive
