NO2ID News No. 110
6 November 2008
++ JOIN NO2ID - AND WE'LL GET MATCHED FUNDING ++
Since 1st September the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust Ltd has generously
been matching, pound for pound, any *new* income that NO2ID receives.Â
For every pound given from 1st September NO2ID has received TWO pounds
to spend campaigning against the ID scheme and database state. Many
thanks to everyone who has already responded to our matched funding
appeal.
For those that have not already donated or joined NO2ID, the good news
is that the Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust offer is still open. Join
NO2ID today and we'll get double your joining fee to help us fight the
database state. Better still join NO2ID and encourage someone else to
join too, that way we'll get double the double funding. Word of mouth
is one of the best ways for us to expand - and talking about the issues
relating to the ID scheme and the database state is a great way of
informing people and getting our message across. Almost all
our funding comes from membership fees
and donations from individual supporters - we are hardly likely to get
a government grant even if we wanted it, and we stay independent of any
political patronage
of any kind.
Individual membership of NO2ID starts at £15 a year but if you can give
more, please do - every pound spent is an investment in your and your
family's freedoms. You can download a membership form from our website:
http://www.no2id.net/downloads/membForm.pdf
Double your money offers like this don't come along very often so
please, dig deep - encourage your friends, family and colleagues to
make a donation. With your help we can stop this.
--
Notes:
[1] For more details of how to join NO2ID see
http://www.no2id.net/getInvolved/join
What just happened?
+ Edinburgh NO2ID boost matched funding appeal +
Thanks to Edinburgh NO2ID for their collective contribution of £100
towards the JRRT Ltd matched-funding.
+ The Home Secretary at the Joint Committee on Human Rights +
Last Tuesday (28th October) the Home Secretary, Jacqui Smith gave
evidence to the Joint Committee on Human Rights. Asked about Sir Ken
Macdonald's warning of the dangers of the surveillance state (see
newsletter 109) Smith skirted around the issue and said: "It is rather
difficult for me to comment on what Ken Macdonald meant by the speech
that he gave; he did not clear it with me and he did not discuss it
with me before he gave it". On the forthcoming communications data bill
Smith struggled with both the English language and what communication
data is when she said: "if we face a situation as a government where
both technology and our use of technology means that some of the most
important capability that law enforcement uses at the moment is likely
to be eroded, then we have to consider what is the most appropriate way
to deal with that technologically (number one) and what are the
appropriate legal safeguards to put around the way in which we deal
with that in the future to safeguard that capability". Smith promised
to expand on this in a consultation paper that she will publish in the
New Year - let's hope she gets someone else to help her write it.
Read the transcript at:
http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/jt200708/jtselect/jtrights/uc1142-i/uc114202.htm
Watch the session at:
http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/VideoPlayer.aspx?meetingId=2646
+ You can't protect it. So don't collect it +
Following yet another data loss the Prime Minister has admitted that
the government cannot promise to keep people's personal information
safe. Key government computer systems were shut down after a memory
stick was found in a pub car park containing passwords to the online
Government Gateway system. Gordon Brown, speaking whilst on a trip to
the Gulf, said :"It is important to recognise we cannot promise that
every single item of information will always be safe because mistakes
are made by human beings". The only cure to the problem of data loss is
for the government to stop collecting so much personal data. You
can't protect it. So don't collect it.
+ Mole Valley Council Passes Anti-ID Motion +
On Thursday 30th October Mole Valley Council unanimously passed a
motion against the National ID Scheme. The motion said that "the scheme
will impose wholly disproportionate costs on this Council and other
public bodies which will include both implementation and operational
costs and that this will have a damaging effect on all residents of
Mole Valley". The council resolved to not participate in the ID scheme
unless required to do so by law. Speaking in the debate Councillor
Paul Elderton warned that the ID scheme will erode trust: "It will
break down the bond between the nurse and the person being treated,
between the teacher and the child in the class - it's the 'who are you'
question and basically as a country we have never asked that 'who are
you' question, we have always accepted foreigners, we've accepted
people
into our communities, because we believe that they will eventually want
to stay with us and become part of our community".
+ Proof that writing letters to
periodicals works +
The recent letters pages in the mass-market
ComputerActive magazine - which has a circulation of more
than 200,000 (roughly the same as that of The Independent) - carried
a "star letter" from NO2ID supporter Peter Salter in the 16th-29th Oct
edition attacking the ID scheme. What's more, he has been followed by
*three*
more anti ID letters in the most recent edition plus another "star
letter" expressing skepticism of universal communications surveillance.
This issue is relevant to every and any one- whatever publication you
read should print your letter, so get writing.
What's next?
+ Would You Like to Volunteer? +
NO2ID relies heavily upon the continued generosity of its supporters.
One way you can help is by volunteering to assist in the NO2ID office
(in London). We are always on the lookout for people with enthusiasm
and a little spare time to help us assemble newsletters, member and
information packs, and execute basic data entry tasks. The amount of
time you put in is up to you - it can be as little as an hour or two
per
month, but is nevertheless invaluable to us. If you are interested
in joining our team please email Stephanie Munro at
administrator@no2id.net.
+ New consultation on Connecting for Health and secondary uses of
patient data +
"NHS Connecting for Health are gathering people's views to help them
make important decisions about the ways the NHS can use information it
collects about patients. Such patient data is mainly used to provide
care and treatment but can also have additional uses such as research,
auditing the quality and safety of care, management planning, etc.Â
This consultation is focusing on additional uses." Responses should be
sent to Chrissy Brand (FREEPOST RRXB-TTRR-HJGB, Tribal Consulting,
Palatine Road, Manchester, M22 4DB) by 10th December.
See
http://www.connectingforhealth.nhs.uk/systemsandservices/research/consultation
+ LOCAL GROUPS NEWS +
The size, influence and activity of NO2ID's local group network is
unique amongst single-issue campaigning and is growing all the time.
Groups raise awareness of the work of NO2ID, inform their local
politicians and journalists about the depth of the ID scheme and
provide us with our now main method of attracting new members and
supporters. Their work is vital and effective and enables us to
maintain a relatively high local media presence that many campaigning
groups envy. 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.
+ Brighton and Hove +
+ 25th November - Demonstration against first ID cards +
Tuesday, 25th November - meet on New Road at 12:20. Visual
demonstration to raise awareness that this is the day the first ID
cards will be issued! We will be doing two short stunts, at 12:30 and
13:00. We need as many people as possible to stand in a queue, were
you will eventually be either 'authorised' or not.Â
+ 25th November - Brighton and Hove NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 25th November 7.30pm at the Brighton Peace and Environment
Centre, opposite the train station.We will also be going to the Battle
of Trafalgar afterwards if meetings aren't your thing.
+ Bristol +
+ 1st December - Screening of Taking Liberties +
Showing of "Taking Liberties" at The Cube, Monday, 1st December. 8pm
£4/£3, introduced by Dave Gould of Bristol NO2ID.
+ Cambridge +
+ 22nd November - NO2ID Cambridge Stall +
Saturday, 22nd November at 10am in the usual spot outside Cambridge
Guildhall. Location Map:
http://tinyurl.com/eo42r. As ever,
volunteers to help very welcome - please email
cambridge@no2id.net,
or text/call Andrew on 07710 469624 if you can make it.
+ 3rd December - Cambridge NO2ID pub meeting (1st Wednesday
of each month) +
Wednesday, 3rd December, 7.30pm at the Salisbury Arms, 76 Tenison Rd,
Cambridge CB1 2DW (
http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=cb1+2dw).
For more
details contact
cambridge@no2id.net, or
text/call Andrew on 07710
469624.
+ Coventry +
+ 26th November - Coventry NO2ID group re-launch meeting (every third
Wednesday of the month thereafter) +
Wednesday, 26th November from 6.30pm at The Rocket, 103 Warwick Road,
Coventry, CV3 6AN. As one of the areas best-served with NO2ID members
the group has decided to form a new structure allowing maximum action
with minimum waffle. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or
committed. Please bring a friend. Further details: Claire Boylan on
coventry@no2id.net
If you're unable to attend, but are interested in the activity of the
group, please join the Coventry mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.org/mailman/listinfo/no2id.coventry
+ Daventry +
+ 19th November - Daventry NO2ID 1st Meeting (2nd Wednesday of
month) +
Wednesday, 19th November from 8pm (and every second Wednesday of the
month thereafter) at The Saracen's Head, 1 Brook Street, Daventry, NN11
5HN. Everyone is welcome, newcomer or not, curious or committed. Please
bring a friend. For further details contact Kate Megeary on
(
daventry@no2id.net).
If you're unable to attend but are interested in
the activity of the group, please join the Daventry mailing list on:
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.daventry
(pending).
+ Edinburgh +
+ 26th November - Edinburgh NO2ID Meeting +
Wednesday, 26th November 7.45pm in the Meeting Room, Quaker Meeting
House, 7 Victoria Terrace, Edinburgh EH1 2JL. At last we have found a
Labour MSP (Lord George Foulkes) willing to come and talk about ID
cards, surveillance and personal privacy. This is a public meeting -
all welcome.
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/
+ Epsom +
+ 11th November - Epsom NO2ID Meeting +
Tuesday, 11th November 7.30pm at the Assembly Rooms (Weatherspoons),
High Street, Epsom. All welcome – bring a friend. If you're unable to
attend, but are interested in the activity of the group, please join
the Epsom mailing list at
http://lists.no2id.net/mailman/listinfo/no2id.epsom
+ 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
+ Manchester +
For updates and discussion, join the Manchester NO2ID mailing list at
http://manchester.no2id.net/
+ 8th November - Manchester NO2ID Street Stall +
Saturday, 8th November, 2pm-4pm in St. Anne's Square, Manchester.
We'll be running a Saturday afternoon stall in St. Ann's Square to
raise awareness among the public and engage people in discussion about
the National Identity Register. Newcomers, committed and curious
welcome.
+ 12th November - Manchester NO2ID meeting +
Wednesday, 12th November, 7pm-9pm 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 at
http://manchester.no2id.net/contact
+ Oxford +
+ 8th November - NO2ID Oxford Street Stall +
Saturday, 8th November, 11am-1pm on Cornmarket Street, Oxford. It helps
if you can let us know that you are coming (
oxford@no2id.net)
+ 13th November - Oxford NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 13th November, 8pm at the Mitre on the High Street in Oxford.
+ 21st November - NO2ID Oxford Student Event +
Friday, 21st November from 7:30pm in Lecture Room B, Worcester College.
This will be a joint event with the Oxford Libertarian Society and
Oxford Students for Liberty, but will be open to all so feel free
to come along and join in the discussions.
+ Shrewsbury +
+ 8th November - Shrewsbury NO2ID street stall +
Saturday, 8th November (weather permitting) between 10.30am and 1.30pm
on Pride Hill. Drop by and say hello - if you can stay a little longer
you are welcome to help by handing out leaflets and chatting to people.
+ 17th November - Shrewsbury NO2ID "dining club" (3rd Monday of the
month) +
Monday, 17th November, 7.15pm until about 9pm - we will be meeting at
the Armoury, Victoria Quay, Victoria Avenue, Welsh Bridge, Shrewsbury
(see
www.armoury-shrewsbury.co.uk).
Look for a table with NO2ID
leaflets scattered around it. Most of us will be eating, or just come
for a drink. The St Austin's Street car park behind the Armoury is free
of charge after 8pm.
+ Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells +
Stalls continue - if you want to help (and we'd like you to!) then
please do drop us a line at
tunbridge.wells@no2id.net.
+ 6th November - Tonbridge & Tunbridge Wells NO2ID Meeting +
Thursday, 6th November, 8pm at The Compasses, 45, Little Mount Sion,
Tunbridge Wells, TN1 1Y.
"ID" in the news
+ Gordon Brown says government cannot ensure data safety - The Times
2/11/08 +
Gordon Brown has made a frank admission that government cannot promise
the safety of personal data entrusted by the public. The Prime Minister
was speaking hours after it emerged that a memory stick containing the
passwords to a government website used to submit online tax returns had
been lost.
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/politics/article5065795.ece
+ Passport Service dismisses 14 for database abuses - ComputerWeekly
31/10/08 +
The Identity and Passport Service (IPS) says it has dismissed 14 people
over the last three years in relation to passport database abuses. The
IPS is now closely involved in building the government's national
identity card database.
http://tinyurl.com/6xjfl6
+ GCHQ expert dismisses ID cards 'bunkum' - The Independent 29/10/08
+
Claims that ID cards will help the fight against terrorism have been
dismissed as "absolute bunkum" by a senior Government security expert
linked to GCHQ. Ministers faced embarrassment after Harvey Mattinson, a
senior consultant at the information security arm of the intelligence
listening station, spoke out at a technology conference.
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/gchq-expert-dismisses-id-cards-bunkum-978149.html
+ Mobile firms call on Liberty - The Observer 26/10/08 +
Mobile phone companies are seeking an endorsement from Liberty, the
civil rights group, to assuage consumer concerns over possible misuse
of the private data they hold on file.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2008/oct/26/mobile-privacy-liberty-data-orange
+ NO2ID shakes fist at plod print scanner plan - The Register
27/10/08 +
Privacy group NO2ID is calling for legal protections before the
introduction of mobile fingerprint scanners next year. As we reported
in May the National Policing Improvement Agency handed over £50m for
mobile devices to police forces. These will allow officers to check
fingerprints against the Police National Computer.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/27/fingerprint_scans_objections/
+ ID cards still have majority support - ZDNet 24/10/08 +
A majority of the public remains in support of the National Identity
Scheme, according to the latest figures from the Identity and Passport
Service. The latest tracking research on the scheme, carried out by
Taylor Nelson Sofres and published on Wednesday, claims that 60 percent
are in favour, with 24 percent against, 14 percent neutral and 2
percent who don't know.
http://news.zdnet.co.uk/security/0,1000000189,39529029,00.htm
+ Civil servants' pro-Labour memo reignites child data controversy -
The Register 23/10/08 +
The Conservatives have called on the government to explain why
supposedly impartial civil servants have intervened in a political
argument over how sensitive data on children should be stored and
shared. Earlier this week the Department for Children, Schools and
Families wrote to local authorities to argue that Labour's plans for
the forthcoming ContactPoint database are the best to protect children
from abuse.
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/23/contactpoint_memo/
(Please send me any items of interest you encounter - Editor(
newsletter@no2id.net)
)
Publication details: © NO2ID 2008 - 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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