Civil Liberties – the Counter-Attack Begins

The fight against the destruction of our civil liberties is speeding up with more members of the UK blogosphere expressing their concerns and anger with the flawed philosophy of “if you have nothing to hide (we might as well see your boobs)”.

Copied below is a word for word article posted on http://www.power-to-the-people.co.uk, a conservative blog that hits the nail on the head when it comes to civil liberties and the proposed ‘Communications Data Bill’ which looks like will be passed later this year.

Towards the end is a link to a copy of a letter to send to your MP. To find out who your MP is click here and to get in contatc with your MP for free, click here.

“Enough is enough, the UK is becoming a police state by our control obsessed government and we are sitting back and allowing it to happen. It makes me angry to see such lethargy. Everytime a new act is brought in, far more sinister aspects are buried in the detail, which further curtail our civil liberties, freedom and privacy. This has got to stop and now, state should not be permitted to control the people, it should be the other way around. As it stands, just 650 members of parliament are pushing some 65m people around, yes, I mean 650, because whilst this government may have a majority, the MP’s from other parties are not making enough noise about this massive intrusion into our lives, they should be fired, the lot of them. We are quick to condemn the bankers (rightly so in many cases), but we do nothing about the MP’s that have consistently introduced or supported Acts of Parliament that intrude into our lives, in a way that will affect us for many years to come. We must put a stop to it.

It is expected that plans to collect more data on people’s phone, e-mail and web-browsing habits will be included in the innocuously sounding ”Communications Data Bill”, due to be introduced in the Queen’s Speech in November. By all accounts, these proposals are supported by Home Secretary Jacqui Smith, Gordon Brown and much of the Labour government. Once again, the government is expected to justify this gross intrusion into the personal lives of 65m people under the auspices of ‘counter-terrorism’, this is utter garbage, they know it and we know it. Yes, there are terrorists out there and they don’t wear badges, but this country has faced terrorism before and the security forces managed to investigate and prosecute without such laws.

I don’t know how many terrorists are out there, but it is not 65m and is probably less that a couple of thousand, why should the privacy and personal of 65m people be invaded by this government because of a few people that mean us harm? This whole thing needs to be put in perspective, more people in the UK die on the roads than as a result of terrorism, more soldiers are killed abroad, that in the UK as a result of terrorism, in fact, more people are killed in farming accidents that as a consequence of terrorism. This government have invested massively in the security services, allowing them to go on a substantial recruitment drive, there should be no need for a massive Big Brother surveillance operation of the entire population of the UK. Before some smart-arse suggests that it is this surveillance and investment in the security services that has reduced the number of terrorist incidents in the UK, I would ask them to provide further evidence that this is the case and then to put it into perspective. For example, it is well know that the airline industry work out whether safety mechanisms are worth introducing on their planes on the basis of a cost/benefit analysis. In other words, will the costs associated with an accident outweigh the cost of implementing the safety programmes. Fact of life, they all do it, they just rarely tell us!

Of course the government will issue the usual platitudes and assurances that they will not misuse this information, but can we believe them. The Icelandic authorities had their assets frozen using anti-terror laws, in spite of the fact that there were other laws that could have been used and would have been just as effective. A local council used anti-terror legislation to spy on the parents of a child that they throught was in the wrong ‘catchment area’. This list, trust me, goes on and on. We also know that this government ant it’s private sector partners are incapapble of securing data, which means our personal lives could be open to all and sundry. Some will argue that if you have nothing to hide, then there is nothing to hide, these same people probably still believe in Father Christmas. As we know information, any information can be used in different ways, depending on the the intepretation of the recipient, how many times have we said or done something that was completely misrepresented?

I have nothing to hide, but I object strongly to my personal calls, web browsing habits and email being monitored and invaded by the state. Government’s could even misuse this information to find out how we intend to vote! It is an appalling proposal and it is high time the British public called time on the control obsessed government and it’s supporters, irrespective of which party they represent. This goes beyond party politics, it is a direct attack on the very fabric of our society and no-one will be safe from government interference if it is allowed to pass into law. If the government believe that this act is so important, then they should allow the British people to vote on it through a referendum, I believe they will get a resounding No…and they know it!

People often tell me that there is “not much we can do”, but there is. Our members of parliament are worried sick that they may lose their seat at the next election, we must emphasise to them that if they support this attack on our civil liberties that we guarantee they will. We must demonstrate to our MP’s that they should be more in fear of the wrath of the British public that the Chief Whip of their own parties. Opposition MP’s should do their jobs and oppose this draconian piece of legislation. We must also warn our local members of parliament that if they vote for this Act, that we will not vote for them, we must make it clear, that we have a voice, not once every 5 years, but throughout their tenure and that we will have it heard. Everyone that feels this Act is a direct infringement of our civil liberties, right to privacy and an attack on the very fabric of our society, should write to their MP and tell them so. I have provided a ‘draft letter’ which can be viewed, personalised and sent to your MP. Draft Letter to MP

I would also invite all fellow bloggers that feel as strongly as I do on this issue to reproduce this article in part or full, topped and tailed if they wish, to publicise this issue to as many people as possible. Let us all stand up and fight in this issue, and remind this government who is actually in charge.

RESIST!”

from http://www.power-to-the-people.co.uk/2008/10/public-call-time-big-brother-britain/

For information on groups fighting the erosion of civil liberties, check these websites out:

http://www.openrightsgroup.org/

http://www.no2id.net/

For more information on British Civil Liberty attacks, check this out:

http://deandonaldson.wordpress.com/category/privacy-control/

Plastic.

Read about the huge plastic rubbish islands in the middle of the sea here: http://www.oskarlewis.com/weblog/archives/5473

West Papua: A Silence Gone On Too Long

There is a forgotten part of the world that is facing serious environmental damage, human rights abuses and even genocide. That place is West Papua.

We all know about Tibet, we have all heard about Dafur, we even know there is something dodgy doing on in Zimbabwe, but it appears- in the media at least- that we have ignored the problems in West Papua.

From the mid-nineteenth century, New Guinea was under the control of the Dutch. This changed in the 1950’s and early 1960’s due to pressure put upon the Netherlands by the UN to end their colonisation of the territory. In 1961 New Guinea was to be given independence, however, there was a problem; the western provinces of New Guinea was discovered to have huge gold and copper reserves.

Due to the huge financial exploitation potential of the area, the US was reluctant to allow New Guinea to become independent. The reason for this is that John F Kennedy was fearful of the Soviet influence within Indonesia. He did not want Indonesia to become part of the Soviet Empire. The primary reason why Indonesia was likely to turn Soviet was the temptation of financial aid offered by the USSR. The copper and gold reserves in western New Guinea offered a chance to pull Indonesia out of the shadow of the Soviet Union by allowing it to support itself, it meant America did not have to help Indonesia financially and also meant that America could import cheap gold and copper from a Western leaning Indonesia.

The UN was opposed to the American idea, so when control of New Guinea was passed to the UN by the Dutch in 1963 those in New Guinea were given a choice via the “Act of Free Choice” between independence and Indonesian control (Indonesia had invaded New Guinea in the early 1960’s and would not move).

The “Act of Free Choice” is considered a farce by West Papuans, human rights activists and international observers such as Amnesty International. West Papua tribe leaders have described it as the “Act of No Choice”. Rumours of Indonesian vote rigging are widespread- out of a population of 1 million, only 1026 West Papuan ‘representatives’ were chosen by the Indonesian army to vote in the act. These representatives were threatened with torture and death if they did not vote for Indonesian control. When finally passed in 1969, the vote was unanimous; West Papua would be under Indonesian control.

Since this decision, West Papuans have experienced rape and genocide by the Indonesian army:

“In May 1970, a unit of the Indonesian Armed Forces (“ABRI”) Udayana Division shot dead Maria Bonsapia, a pregnant villager, before a crowd of 80 women and children. The soldiers cut the foetus out of her body and dissected the baby. A group of soldiers also raped and killed her sister. The soldiers then informed the gathered crowd that their military colleagues had recently massacred 500 West Papuans in the Lereh district.” as cited in ‘Indonesian Human Rights Abuses in West Papua: Application of the Law of Genocide to the History of Indonesian Control’

Recently, several groups of West Papuans have been arrested purely for raising the flag of independence, the Morning Star. Some of these have been given sentences of around 20 years. Just for raising a flag! http://westpapuafree.wordpress.com/2008/07/22/six-arrested-for-raising-rebellious-flag-in-indonesian-province/ http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0809/S00555.htm http://intercontinentalcry.org/46-arrested-for-raising-west-papua-independance-flag/

Added to this, we see massive environmental destruction of West Papua caused mainly by gas, copper and gold mining. One such mine is the Grasberg mine, the largest gold mine and third largest copper mine in the world. It is owned by an American company, Freeport. The mine has caused damage to mountain glaciers, caused landslides, and is causing copper contamination of local rivers; its overall environmental performance has meant that Freeport is excluded by the second largest pension fund company in the world, resulting in the loss of $870 million in pension stocks.

Along with America, Britain also has a vested interest in West Papua. BP has the ‘rights’ to West Papua’s gas reserves. With this, they invested £3.5 billion into building plants and offering local communities chances of employment and improvement in local facilities. However, according to a Guardian report earlier this year, BP “has blocked off their fishing grounds, attracted a flood of migrants to the villages, provided very few jobs for local people and is now siding with the Indonesian authorities against native Papuans who are engaged in a long struggle for independence.” (http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/mar/19/fossilfuels.indonesia)

Finally, the rainforests of West Papua are being subjected to immense deforestation due to mining and the timber industry. Second to the Amazon, the rainforest in New Guinea is one of the biggest in the world, the forest in West Papua alone amounts to 34.6 million hectares. There is no need to mention the effect on the global climate when we start chopping away a forest of this size, but what should be said is that deforestation is leading to tribes and villages being uprooted and moved, their habitats destroyed, and their culture and social structures are now in collapse.

We need to help end this. Please can everyone message their local MP to get the issue of West Papua discussed nationally, and even force Britain to re-examine its support of the “Act of Free Choice” and do as the Dutch and query the result. Please check out this link and do what you can http://www.freewestpapua.org/index.php?Itemid=5&id=602&option=com_content&task=view.

As Britain, we should be leading the world in attempting to stamp out human rights abuses and environmental destruction, let us change Britain’s position in the world from America’s poodle to a moral and just force for all humanity. Then we will be a proper super power.

There is so much more I could write about the atrocities happening in West Papua. If you wish to read a bit more though, please visit these sites:
http://www.freewestpapua.org/
http://www.koteka.net/
http://www.westpapuaaction.buz.org/

Let our voice help end this silence.

Defeating the terrorists

I always thought the House of Lords was an undemocratic, elitist and the use-ridden side of British politics, but on 13 October 2008 the Lords single handedly defeated terrorism and exemplified humanity and Britishness in one sweep.

Pushed through the House of Commons by bribing the DUP, the proposed 42-day terror detention extension was demolished in the Lords.

Not only was it argued that 42-days is unworkable, but most importantly that it was anti-British and a serious attack on civil liberties. When the day comes for civil liberties to be destroyed in the fight against terrorism, then the day will be the one where Britain loses what it means to be British, and everything fought for in the Second World War becomes meaningless. I wonder if those who support the 42-day limit also think Churchill was a great leader- if so, hypocrisy!

Why erode liberties when there is no need to?

The point is, it is not about whether you have anything to hide, it is about your right to privacy. It ties into the debate on CCTV and ID Cards. This may sound like an extreme example but how would you feel if you had to write down in detail everything you have done each day and send that to the government or the police. Alternatively, if everywhere you walk, a person follows you with a camcorder, filming your every move and the doing what they want with the film. If you have nothing to hide then surely it does not matter… Let us do away with curtains at the same time and promote dogging!

It’s so amusing so many people are scared by two terrorist attacks in the UK in 7 years- I wonder how these people would had coped during the blitz. Although, what is more amusing is that we needed the out-of-date aristocracy to protect us from the terrorists in ourselves and our ‘democratic representatives’ in the Commons. I would not go as far to say that the Lords have justified their existence, but today they went someway to doing so.

An idiot’s guide to the economy… the idiot being me

There are some people who it effects, some should be worried, some people’s lives destroyed, but in the most part, this financial ‘crisis’ is more of a financial circus.

We have witnessed history these last few weeks. Throughout human existence, we have strived for the perfect system to govern and to live by, and now we can cross free market capitalism off of the list. Perhaps the next system we will try will be the fair society, we will have to see.

Regardless, the whole mess, although started by free market loving elitist ‘fat cats’ through their creation of a debt ridden society they can milk for all it is worth, is now being pressed forward by the doomsday creating media (it makes a good story)- most notably BBC News.

Turn on BBC Breakfast in the morning and see on one of the screens in the background the words ‘financial’ and ‘crisis’ (crisis in huge bold red letters), even while talking about gardening or football. Nor does it help when guests come in trying to downplay, help and improve the situation and Sian Williams starts asking “But is it?” and “isn’t it true that the fall in shares is draining people of their blood?”- or words to that effect. What this is doing is scaring people into making decisions that is actually making the circus worse.

Take shares for example, if you have shares in a major company, despite the value falling it does not mean you have to sell, this makes them cheaper. By keeping your shares, you can wait a couple of years until the economy starts growing again and then sell them (or keep them) when they are worth more. There are some people who are effected, those whose pensions are tied up in shares and need to access those them very soon (next 2 years) for example, will have pensions worth less than a couple of years back. However, for the rest of us, even those who have shares or interests in companies that will not go bust, there is no need to worry about shares and the stockmarket at all, yet watch any news programme and the first topic is likely to be how the FSTE 100 has fallen 200 points.

Some of these principles also apply to the banks. In the UK all savings up to £50,000 are guaranteed by the government- so if you have less than this in the bank then leave it, you wont lose it. By taking your money out of the bank, then the bank will have less money, they are less likely to borrow, approve loans and mortgages and their confidence and shares will go down. This ties into the need for nationalisation.

In my most humble of opinions, every British based bank should be nationalised. This does not mean in terms of the government directly running the banks, but instead the government should own all the shares- become the majority (and only) shareholder. Not only will this guarantee 100% of savings, not only will it mean the Treasury could bank billions and billions in profit each year (a way to lower taxes), but it also means that loans, credit and more importantly mortgages can be controlled. The government can stop people getting into stupid debt, ensuring you only buy what you can afford. With mortgages, it means the government can repossess your house if you ca not pay for it, but actually, instead of them kicking you out, it allows them to start renting the place back to you at a cheaper rate. No government would want to be seen increasing the number of homeless on the streets, and to not have a house and hence a job it means less tax revenue. Besides, paying rent to the government once again adds coppers to the Treasury.

Now we see the nationalisation of banks starting and new government laws mean councils can buy half of homes where families are struggling to afford their mortgages, so in my opinion, and I hate to admit it, this government is doing right (now). It’s funny though to see the ‘little state, de-regulate’ Tories not saying a thing, which is of course no surprise, their whole ideology is collapsing around them, if Cameron was in power then he would have to do the exact same thing as Brown is doing, and this would show the hypocrisy and lunacy of Tory politics. This is paralleled across the pond with Bush’s $700 billion bail out of the banks in America.

So now, the world has changed, but there is no need to be scared. Now we can find our new leaders, our new ideologies. We can re-build humanity and the world, raped by the greed of money, and change it into something that benefits and adds to the human experience.

“Please don’t do this”

I witnessed one of the saddest and most personally distressing sights on Sunday. I was on the train between Portsmouth and Guildford, switching between reading my New Internationalist and the Big Issue. An elderly couple had sat down on the opposite side of the carriage from myself, sat in a two-person row, squashed between seats in front and behind. There was a lack of a window, with a large plastic frame engorging their view and adding to the claustrophobia of the seats.

About ¾ into the journey the old woman (sitting on the isle seat) stood up and started looking through her bag, or taking off her coat- I didn’t really notice as I was reading a piece on children sneaking into a 1960’s cinema. All of a sudden I heard her muttering several piercing phrases over and over “come on”, “please don’t do this”. As she was doing this, she was tugging on the arm of her husband. It was immediately evident that the old gentleman was not in a good state. The gentleman was bending over at the stomach, as though he had passed out.

It was the woman’s voice that struck me though. Over and over those words “please don’t do this”, “come on”. Adding to the feebleness of old age in the voice, there was also a sense of desperation, there was history of love, and the sense of loss she feared was near.

The love between the two was what really hit me. If I estimate this couple were well into their 70’s, then you could say they have spent over half a century together. The events they would had lived through together: the onslaught of Nazi Germany perhaps, the 1966 World Cup, the moon landing, the Cold War, Thatcher, both in each other’s hearts. I imagined the 21 years I have known my parents and what they have gone through together, and imagine this couple have experienced more than double this. The children they would had had, their grandchildren, the holidays, their homes. All this history disappearing in front of my eyes. For a few minutes all this fear was being expressed by the woman in a few small words “come on”, “please don’t do this”. I put down my magazine, my eyes welling up- desperately trying to hold it in. I wanted to go and help, sure others in the carriage were trying to help, but I am a humanist, a socialist, a pacifist, an activist, sad when he sees the pain of others, but I just sat there, witnessing the fear of someone losing their history in front of my eyes.

The gentleman was suffering from heat stroke. I wish I had a bottle of water with me, I should have tried to help, but I felt helpless. Those words still haunting me, “please don’t do this” and the voice that pierced my heart.

The woman wanted to get off at Guildford, to let the gentleman off the train. She took his jumper, his coat, she added it to her bundle of bags, raincoats and umbrellas. I should have helped, should have offered to carry her coats, or give the gentleman an arm to help get off the train, but I just walked off when we reached Guildford.

I do not even know if he is all right.

I had 25 minutes to wait until my next train. I could have carried him, I could have bought him some water, I could have waited with them for an ambulance, I could have tried to comfort that voice echoing those same words, “please don’t do this” “come on”, those words not of sadness, but of desperation, of history, of loss and of fear. But I did not. I walked off. I do not feel human anymore. All those years of helping and caring for others has been eroded because I did not do anything, and I do not know why. I was in no rush, it was not as if I did not care- I was holding in my tears for goodness sake! Now I feel my soul has been ripped out, and replaced by that same feeling of loss, of history, of desperation I felt in those few words, “please don’t do this”.

At work I deal with complaints from farmers- who have a high suicide rate. I read of elderly farmers with poor health, of suicidal farmers, of farmers who are struggling to provide for their families, and what more, I know their names, these entities now have names, they have histories, they have souls. A colleague stated that you start to become thick skinned as time goes on, which helps you cope. Well I do not want to become thick skinned. I want to feel others pain, I want to feel a sense of human bond and compassion, I want to cry when I see others lives being destroyed right before my eyes, I want to keep my love of humankind, and I want to keep all these emotions that help me stay human. If we all become thick skinned then no one would care, and this world would be such an awful place. “Please don’t do this”. I wish I helped. Why did I not help? I want to be human again.