Worcester NO2ID once again gathered for its second meeting! But with a difference, we had the awesome company of Shrewsbury NO2ID leader Rob Findlay
Head count was again in the 5/6 range.
Main topics discussed were:
Our need to gain some core supporters (the do-ers), as compared to other groups the different stuff that needs to be done is delegated a lot more. I tend to do many things myself at the moment, but things shall get better in that respect.
How it should be that nearby local groups should help each other. So using resources of both Shrewsbury and Birmingham should be kept in mind at all times when things are tight
How Rob has recently gotten his local council to pass a motion against ID cards and he will pass on the template to me for Worcester group’s use.
The website nearing completion and the need for hosting to be organised properly.
The need to plan the stall. Personally I feel the signage/placcards need to be easier to read.
Once we are in a decent position from the site standpoint then the Student Unions shall be approached and the local media notified of the Worcester Group’s re-arrival!
Not much more than a week before, I receive a message on the Local Groups mailing list asking if I would be prepared to come down to the Birmingham NO2ID Meeting where I would personally meet Local Group Co-ordinator - Matty Mitford and Birmingham Co-ordinator Michelle and the rest of the Birmingham Group.
I jumped at the chance so here is what I learned while I was down there.
After nearly getting lost in the wilds of Birmingham City Center Thanks to a helpful passer by, I found the location where everyone was. This being St Martins Church, The Bull Ring. After narrowly avoiding going off on a random getting lost spree I made it into the meeting with Matty Mitford addressing no less than 16 people. What a turnout!
She made lots of interesting points - here’s some of the stuff she said:
Progress
NO2ID has made enormous headway recently and its National Co-ordinator Phil Booth has recently provided consultancy for the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives whom in the past did not have a policy regarding ID cards. His involvement has enabled both to decide (and rightly so) on a Anti ID stance.
If 5% of current supporters were to become members, NO2ID would be the 2nd biggest civil rights group with Liberty being the first.
Local Groups are immensely important, powerful and are vital in showing local councils and government that we aren’t having it and that dislike of the scheme is widespread across the UK. We are everywhere and making loads of noise about this scheme.
Combined with local groups and the number of supporters NO2ID is representing a disproportionate voice against the scheme.
Transformational Government - Government Data Sharing
The NHS Spine is going to be part of this new government initiative. Matty has become aware of the fact that it takes 18 seconds to log-in to this NHS database, this lengthily time has led to staff leaving it logged in all day. This is not good security for patient data and leaves it open for any member of staff or visitor to call up private medical records on the database.
Your consent for your medical records being uploaded to the spine is implicit. You must opt out if you do not want them to be in this database.
This system although seeming like progress, will violate the patient doctor confidentiality that you have come accustomed to over time. Once on this database there is a high risk that these details will come under scrutiny from unauthorised staff.
There is zero provisions against data purchasing. Like the idea of your health records being sold to pharmaceutical companies?
Activism
Local stalls really do work, my skepticism’s were blown away. Matty tells us of her setting up a stall in her local town (I forgot the name, will drop her a mail soon) and before they were even finished setting it up people were always asking where they could sign! She also mentions of a member of NO2ID Shrewsbury taking a placard with “HMRC Discs 20 Quid” on it, on that day he helped 72 people sign up as supporters.
Stalls from a legal standpoint. Putting up a stall actually falls within your democratic rights. Asking for permission is effectively asking for a no, since there will be the inevitable question in council bureaucracy of “Who authorised this?”. The only time under which you may require permission is when the land you setup on is not classed as part of the public highway.
When running a stall or simply out on the street raising public awareness, it is illegal to ask for money unless you have a license. However people offering money as a donation and placing it in a cup for example is fine.
Monthly Meetings are also of course very important, this allows your group to gather and plan its activities. Its recommended to have a action planned by the end of it such as a Stall etc..
Press Coverage is very healthy for your group. It gains you publicity and often many more members. Getting councilors involved and doing stuff outside important places will often gather the press in your direction.
Holding sponsored events can also raise the profile of NO2ID in your area. These can include a quiz or concerts.
The night ended out in a local pub in Birmingham, had a great time, learnt a lot and met some great people. Michelle, Matty, everyone thanks for having me down!
You can learn more about NO2ID Birmingham by visiting their website.
For the first time in I dont know how long, the NO2ID Worcester group has been sparked back into action by myself (Mark) and 5 others whom were awesome enough to turn up to the meeting yesterday. All gathered at the PortoBello Inn to discuss the past and previous plans for the Worcester group.
Our attendees:
Brain Gladman, Mark, Matt Johnson, Carol Haden, Maureen, Dave
Those there in spirit but not in person:
Tom Saville & partner
George & partner
David Hall
Oz and Deb
Please do give me a nudge if I have forgotten you via worcester[at]no2id.net.
What did you talk about?
ID and Privacy
Firstly we covered what he had heard and knew in general. Some of the group had been out of the loop with ID cards for sometime now however all of us were a little concerned about the related finger printing at Terminal 5….aside from losing those 28,000 bags :P.
The Hidden Message in TV Programming
Anyone watch the recently finished BBC series The Last Enemy? Those whom have heard of the National ID Card and the National Identity Register should wonder…
“Hang on, this is what society could turn into if this stuff got rolled out”
The later episodes show Steven (main character) almost completely cut off from participating in society. Being refused entry to pretty much any building, tracked through the Rail Network with his ID card, having his mobile phone usage revoked and being unable to sell his own property because his ID card was no longer being allowed to function.
Concentrate the Efforts
I put forward where I felt was most important to concentrate our efforts in the coming days/weeks/months. The government wishes to bring this in by stealth and for 2008 at least wish to target younger individuals most likely students, we shall play them at their own game.This is best done by notifying students of the issues for them and why they might not want an ID card.
Showing students the issues with ID cards that affect things they enjoy will get a far greater reaction than putting forward the whole set of issues.
The importance of speaking to student unions on this issue is also of great importance. Brain suggested that our web site should be live before we approach unions so his advice was taken on this matter, not a bad idea..gives them something to look at :P. The National Union of Students has already expressed concerns about the issue of ID Cards however its important for the unions to set their positions to an absolute “NO”.
We cannot allow students to be gotten to this way. The upcoming local elections and the soon to be generals may well see key parts of the current labour government holding back on pushing our young students towards this.
Flyers
Some eye catching flyers have been planned. Carol has also offered to do some drawing work for us which is most appreciated. Look out for these flyers at a location near you! Hopefully proof that NO2ID posters can get students behind us too. We plan to focus these on issues of high relevance such as the social and inconvenience issues.
so here is what I learned while I was down there.
