no2id news: message from co-ordinatior, review of the year and new bristol meeting

bristol | policing | news report Wednesday December 24, 2008 10:44 by no2id supporter

say no to the database state!!!

NO2ID News No. 113

18 December 2008
+ MESSAGE FROM NO2ID'S NATIONAL COORDINATOR + and more....

+ 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.

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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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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.