London Indymedia

11th October Mass/Decentralised Action

Companer@ | 14.09.2008 16:51 | SOCPA | Social Struggles | Technology | London | World

Freedom Not Fear 2008

Call to mass action Saturday 11th October against the surveillance state in solidarity with activists around the world  http://www.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/content/view/242/144/

Freedom not Fear 2008
Freedom not Fear 2008


A broad movement of campaigners and organizations is calling on everybody to join action against excessive surveillance by governments and businesses. On 11 October 2008, concerned people in many countries will take to the streets, the motto being "Freedom not fear 2008". Peaceful and creative action, from protest marches to parties, will take place in many capital cities.

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Surveillance mania is spreading. Governments and businesses register, monitor and control our behaviour ever more thoroughly. No matter what we do, who we phone and talk to, where we go, whom we are friends with, what our interests are, which groups we participate in - "big brother" government and "little brothers" in business know it more and more thoroughly. The resulting lack of privacy and confidentiality is putting at risk the freedom of confession, the freedom of speech as well as the work of doctors, helplines, lawyers and journalists.

The manifold agenda of security sector reform encompasses the convergence of police, intelligence agencies and the military, threatening to melt down the division and balance of powers. Using methods of mass surveillance, the borderless cooperation of the military, intelligence services and police authorities is leading towards the construction of "Fortresses" in Europe and on other continents, directed against refugees and different-looking people but also affecting, for example, political activists, the poor and under-priviledged, and sports fans.

People who constantly feel watched and under surveillance cannot freely and courageously stand up for their rights and for a just society. Mass surveillance is thereby threatening the fabric of a democratic and open society. Mass surveillance is also endangering the work and commitment of civil society organizations.

Surveillance, distrust and fear are gradually transforming our society into one of uncritical consumers who have "nothing to hide" and - in a vain attempt to achieve total security - are prepared to give up their freedoms. We do not want to live in such a society!

We believe the respect for our privacy to be an important part of our human dignity. A free and open society cannot exist without unconditionally private spaces and communications.

The increasing electronic registration and surveillance of the entire population does not make us any safer from crime, costs millions of Euros and puts the privacy of innocent citizens at risk. Under the reign of fear and blind actionism, targeted and sustained security measures fall by the wayside, as well as tackling peoples' actual daily problems such as unemployment and poverty.

In order to protest against security mania and excessive surveillance we will take to the streets in capital cities in many countries on 11 October 2008. We call on everybody to join our peaceful protest. Politicians are to see that we are willing to take to the streets for the protection of our liberties!

There are plans for a demo with music and noise at New Scotland Yard. Are others elsewhere up for doing demos elsewhere in the UK at other police stations?

Wiki for info and discussion re London / UK actions
at  http://wiki.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/Freedom_Not_Fear_2008/London
and  http://wiki.vorratsdatenspeicherung.de/Diskussion:Freedom_Not_Fear_2008/London

It would be good to have a conversation about this as we need to get something good started. October 11th Vid-Flyer  http://www.ecln.org

Companer@
- Homepage: http://www.peopleincommon.org

Comments

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prefer to see possible corporate/criminal rationales prior to engaging with THIS

16.09.2008 10:45

Big old-style scams need several identities, multiple low-key-ish homes across the world,( or "ins" at hotel type places/long-term vacations, ex-patriate or "floating"untaxed status), tax-havens, cash-laundries, etc
These people DO rip ALL of us off
In fact, as long as they think they might get away with it, or scam a few other people that THEY might as they work the scams by "remote control" with the use of underinformed stooges/patsies, the old sods often remain drunk/stoned out of their boxes totally aware that they ARE GOING TO GET CAUGHT, but aiming to get others caught as a delaying tactic for their last few G'n'Ts by the pool or down the bunker.
I'd prefer to see people free from the growing problem of the overlap of powers to surveille people with the power to machinate situations or interfere in peoples day to day existences . . . . but also free of the delusion that all this tech allows people TOTAL CONTROL. These people are FRAUDSTERS most of all. They ALWAYS bluff it as far as is possible. The tech has also dumbed them down, a dependence upon new tech with old tactics, unexpected influence across old boys/girls networks, the pompousity that mean some people think that if they interfere with OTHER peoples existences, they are somehow totally immune from getting machinated, etc. It aint about cleverness. To exploit the "ah, but you didnt think we could stoop THIS low in peacetime for a few lousy bucks!" loophole aint exactly genius.
Forensics catches up - windows of "opportunity" shut. ( despite the fact that the actual "homefront backstabbers" mightnt get told this, the people playing "musical chairs" overseers have some idea of it . . . . often if much less idea of how far they actually might have to "run down the sewers" (old Harry Lime reference) when it does blow - in quiet ways or loud ways.
Fed up with getting played as the "avatar" in somebodys video game - in theory seperated from other people by getting tricked into treachery, the "third wave"-2008 pseudo-groups of stooges/patsies suss it, these days.
Quite a lot of people see that its a bad idea if a few people actually do kid themselves that THEY get away with it when they have scammed a lot of other people into thinking they could too - but set them up.
Hence we probably agree on the "follow the loot", smoking guns, computer leads, etc - but . . . .

hmmm, but getting into campaigning - though differently . . . .


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