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Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
WAKE UP! It's yer Ripper!
Published in Brighton by Justice? - Brighton's Direct Action collective
ISSUE 269, FRIDAY
4th August, 2000
Following closely in the giant state footprints of the Terrorism Act comes the RIP Act (Regulation of Investigatory Powers). Last Friday the RIP Bill was signed by royal assent, and will become law in October - another futurist slice of Halloween horror from the Home Office.
From D-Day in October, under new powers of the RIP Act, the effect will be triple whammy. Firstly, UK based Internet Service Providers (ISP's)* will be legally obliged to give police, customs and security services open access to monitor all web traffic running through their networks. Secondly, the Act will see the targeting of computer encryption users** with prison sentences of 2 years (if you refuse to hand over your encryption keys to the police), and 5 years (if you tell anyone you are being monitored). And finally, the Act includes extra wide-boy ranging powers to plant Big Brother bugs and parabolic microphones wherever the sun might not shine - in the name of 'national security' and combating 'organised crime'. Rushed through the back door of the Lord's for a royal stamp, the RIP Act was spearheaded by Jack Straw, and dreamt up by shady New Labour think tanks well over a year ago. With Cabinet sights on fixing a large nail in the coffin of digital democracy, the planned Bill was hammered out by the Home Office's 'Encryption Co-ordination Unit'. The ECU was established last year to look at ways of expanding traditional state monitoring of phone networks into the world of Internet communications. And the Home Office confirmed in a 'Performance and Innovations Unit' report from May 1999 that UK Police, MI5, Special Branch and Customs should have 'real time' access to web traffic, and recommended 'the establishment of a Government Technical Assistance Centre (GTAC), operating on a 24 hour basis' to do just that.
Each UK ISP will be forced to install black interceptor boxes on the backbone of their networks, for redirecting Internet traffic directly to the Government Technical Assistance Centre (GTAC) for monitoring. And this GTAC facility will be handily housed in MI5 headquarters in London. Under the Internet provisions of the RIP the authorities will have an open pass to log into web sites, chat rooms and e-mail boxes at their leisure. The last recorded number of phone tap warrants issued by the Home Office under the Interception of Communication Act in 1996-97 was 2,700, which was a massive increase on the last official figures. But under the RIP to monitor one person's web communications you have to plug into and filter all web traffic running through one individual's ISP. So virtually anyone's e-mail will be available to be monitored.
With Internet Service Providers being forced to stick expensive black box Internet flight recorders on the back of their communication servers, many companies are now looking at uprooting their business and moving overseas. The British Chamber of Commerce estimate the cost to business of enforcing the law could run to over £60 million. One of the UK's largest ISP's, Claranet (350,000 users), is looking to move its communication technology outside the UK. And UUnet, Poptel, the Co-operative Internet Service Provider, and GreenNet are also considering the prospect of hosting their network servers elsewhere in Europe.
The wider impact of the RIP Act in other areas is clear. Take the recent David Shayler (ex MI5 whistle blower) case earlier this month. The High Court rejected MI5 efforts to prosecute a Guardian journalist under the Official Secrets Act and force the newspaper to disclose e-mails sent between the journalist and Shayler. But under the RIP this case might have been a different story, as police and security services will be able to apply for Home Office warrants behind the scenes. As journalist Roy Greenslade commented - "from this day on, without our knowledge, the authorities can intercept our messages. They will know who said what to whom about what well before the information can be published. Indeed, by having that knowledge in advance they may well be able to take measures to prevent its publication".
RIP IT UP!
On the brighter side here are a few pointers on a few ideas on ways to rip
up the RIP for solid on-line privacy and security.
a.. Be careful when choosing your ISP and e-mail account. The
big corporate sites like Microsoft (Hotmail), Freeserve (Fsnet) and Yahoo UK
(Yahoo Mail) that are already in the process of opening their networks for police
'real time' surfing tracking should be avoided.
b.. Look at ISP's that base their operations overseas, or smaller
UK web server companies that are more likely to slip through the government
fish net. Make sure they are not part of the multinational Internet oligarchy.
c.. Do use encryption and anonymous web surfing software like
Freedom (www.zeroknowledge.com) or Pretty Good Privacy (www.pgp.com). Use free
encrypted e-mail accounts like Hushmail, Messager and Mail2Web (www.hushmail
.com, www.messagerx.com and www. mail2web.com)
d.. Rather than storing data on your hard drive (which under the
RIP can be accessed under warrant by MI5 or police) stash your private bit's
and pieces on the Net. There are companies like Freedrive (www. freedrive.com)
where you can store info on their sites for download at a later date. More info:
Foundation for Information Policy Research www.fipr.org/rip/ Green Net - www.gn.apc.org
ISP's are the first telephone network port of call for anyone surfing the web,
sending e-mails or using chat rooms - Freeserve, Excite, MSN, UK On-line etc.
** Encryption is the scrambling of data (sent by e-mail or hosted on a web site)
to stop anyone other than the intended receiver from reading it
Cor blimley. One minute you're at a reception in Clydebank organised by West
Dunbartonshire Council supporting the protest, the next you're being dragged
away by the cops and put in cells in the very same town. Yes, the Trident Ploughshare
crew were in full effect, with the arrestometer for the first day reaching a
cell bulging 83. Declaring nuclear weapons illegal they closed down the Faslane
trident submarine nuclear base for 2 hours. Some had even walked all the way
from Aldermaston in Berkshire where the Trident warheads are made. And then
on release many of those who'd had their collar felt were at another civic reception
- this time with the Lord Provost of Glasgow! Actions last until the 14 August.
For more info ring the 24 hour hotline 01436 850522 Trident Ploughshares www.gn.apc.org/tp2000/
or Scottish CND website (especially useful on Trident) www.cndscot.dial.pipex.com
* As SchNEWS went to press arrests at Faslane were approaching 100!
* On Sunday 282 people were nicked trying to disrupt the Republican convention
in Philadelphia, USA
"Dump the Pump's efforts to reduce petrol taxes will do nothing to solve Britain's transport crisis. By contrast, this morning's bike rides provided a positive vision of a way forward which costs virtually nothing and which is available to almost anyone regardless of age or income." So said Tom, one of 200 cyclists who converged on Trafalgar Square on Tuesday morning celebrating "Dumping the Pump for Good", highlighting the fact that cycling is a cheap and environmentally friendly form of urban transport which is good for your health (or would be if you didn't have to run the risk of either being knocked down by cars or choked by exhaust fumes).
The ride was held in response to the Dump the Pump campaign which is linked to the 'get out of our way, we want to drive everywhere as fast as we can, don't talk to us about global warming' Association of British Drivers. The campaign encouraged drivers not to fill up on 1st August, but it had little effect on petrol sales. The tabloid media have been getting themselves worked up into an oily lather over the cost of petrol. But in the past 25 years the cost of motoring has not risen in real terms. The government raises £23 billion per year from road transport taxes, but even the governments own figures show that the true cost of road transport (deaths, health, environment, congestion, etc.) is £42 billion a year. And what about the fact that bus users have seen an 87% price increase and rail users a 53% increase in fares in the last 25 years. Or that road transport makes up 24% of Britain's carbon dioxide emissions that contribute to climate change (SchNEWS 263). Now there's a couple of good reasons to dump the pump.
- Transport 2000 campaign for sustainable transport policies, 020-7613-0743. www.transport2000.demon.co.uk
- Issue 11 of Corporate Watch is all about climate change, 01865-791391. www. corporatewatch.org
- 21st September is World Car Free Day - www.carbusters.ecn.cz
- 22nd September is European Car Free Day with streets closed to motor traffic in Lambeth, Southwark, Camden and Merton - www.22september.org
- Fed up with food that travels thousands of miles around the globe before it reaches your plate? 'Food Futures' is a new Soil Association project that aims to help local producers, distributors and consumers find creative solutions to keeping food local such as organic box schemes, transport initiatives and local farmers markets. The Soil Association is running a series of local food link seminars and can provide advice for those wishing to set up local food networks. For further information contact the Projects department on 0117 914 2425 www.soilassociation.org
- Farmers' Markets sell locally produced goods to local people. From none a few years ago there are now 140. The National Association of Farmers' Markets can provide you with a list of markets around the country. Phone 01225-787914, www.farmersmarkets.co.uk
- Aberdeen Job Centre has been advertising a position as a knife thrower's assistant - What do you mean you don't want to be paraded around a stage in a sparkly bikini before doing a spot of knife dodging? You do realise failure to take any work offered could result in the loss of your Job Seekers Allowance.
- The nazis who murdered Swedish trade unionist Björn Söderbereg have been sent to prison. The two found guilty of the murder received eleven years, while the getaway driver got three. AntiFascistisk Aktion-Stockholm commented "We expect all three of these nazis to quickly request voluntary isolation. Our connections inside the walls assure us that they will not be winning popularity contests amongst the inmate community!" www.motkraft.net/afa
- 'Tasting Freedom', a film about the struggles of asylum seekers in Britain and a short talk from the National Coalition of Anti-Deportation Campaigns takes place next Wed (9th) 7.30 pm at the Hobgoblin Pub, London Rd, Brighton.
- There's a coach going from Brighton to Oakington Refugee Detention Centre, part of the Cambridge In August actions on the 19th (see SchNEWS 268) Tickets are £5 and you can get them at the film evening or Brighton Peace Centre
- A group of householders called Custodians of the Land are arranging a peaceful protest and organic picnic at the GM trial site in Sealand, near Chester, meet 2pm on Sat 12th August on the playing field opposite Birchenfields Farm
- Meeting to discuss police racism August 12, 4pm - 7pm Queens Head, Acton Street, WC1 nearest tube Kings Cross For info: Fight Racism! Fight Imperialism! BCM Box 5909, WC1N 3XX Tel: 02078371688 email: rcgfrfi@easynet.co.uk
- Fancy doing a bit of Guerrilla Gardening? Then pop to Leicester next Saturday (12) from 10am. For location phone (0116) 2109652. Help is also needed before the event.
- Reclaim our Education at University of East London.11-12 August Organised by Campaign for Free Education, PO Box 22615, London. N4 1WT. Tel 07958 556 756 http://members. xoom.com/nus_cfe
- Couple of festie dates: Northern Green Gathering 9-15 August, £35 Tel: 0113-2249885
- Hackney Volcano FREE 020 8533 9492 www. continentaldrifts.uk.com/
- And if you're in Brighton this Sunday don't forget the Street Party at Tamplin Terrace (by the Free Butt Pub) 1 -9pm
- And some cancellations: The Midsummer Mass Trespass advertised in last week's SchNEWS is off
- So too is the The Land Is Ours Summer Gathering in Yorkshire
- And the Noah's Ark Millennium Gathering due to start later this month near Llangollen has apparently been cancelled due to er, flooding!
- For a full list of party and protest dates go to the SchNEWS guide page.
Top
Rio
Tinto Go Soft Shock
Notorious polluters RioTinto have - for once - made a stunning admission regarding the Capper Pass tin smelter near Hull. There are 400 cases of cancer believed to be caused by the smelter and seven children have died. Following decades of denying any liability the families of the victims have had a surprise admission from Rio Tinto that they will be paid compensation cases out-of-court - which could cost RT £millions. The smelter's discharges include radioactive, carcinogenic and other toxic substances such as arsenic into the Humber River and the East Yorkshire air. www.columban.com/amatter.htm
* Don't worry readers, Rio Tinto haven't gone all soft, but all still carrying out stirling work across the world digging big holes and destroying the environments of whole communities. See SchNEWS 212 for one example or call PaRTiZans on 020-7700-6189
A Gypsy community in Plymouth has gained a breakthrough in their ongoing battle with the city council. For the past twenty years there has been an unofficial Gypsy site on a narrow strip of land belonging to the National Trust, alongside a dead-end road that belongs to the Council. One Gypsy women Susan Watson explained what happened to the site this year:
"In February, we were served with a 24 hour notice of eviction.we then had
to make a gentleman's agreement to get us more time to try and find somewhere
else to go. Then just two days later we were invaded by about forty Sheriff's
Officers, forty Security Officers (most of these were heavies, brought in from
Wales) and six riot vans full of police in full riot gear, and last but not
least, two heavy earthmoving machines. The National Trust also sawed down ancient
trees, and they said we were vandalising and polluting the land. They destroyed
gardens and fences and left huge banks of earth and spoil on the other side
of which is a fifteen foot drop. We rang the media.they all came, but the security
men blocked their entry to us. The Sheriff said it was for safety reasons and
everyone who came on to the site had to have a hard hat. It was too dangerous
for the media to come in, but it was not dangerous for us or for our children
who were playing outside. In the days after the National Trust caused all this
mess, all the young babies came down with gastro-enteritis."
There has been a reprieve, with the help of various organisations the families
have now unofficially been allowed to relocate to a disused car park near the
Plymouth estuary.
* Friends and Families of Travellers, Community Base, 113 Queens Rd., Brighton,
BN1 3XG Tel 01273 234777.
The Steward Community Woodland is an exciting new sustainable working woodland
and conservation project near Moretonhampstead in Devon. There are plans to
use the woodland for walks, permaculture gardens, orchards, low impact dwellings,
low intervention wildlife zone. They have recently applied for planning permission
for change of use in order to obtain the legal right to be resident on the land.
"Projects like this do not easily fit within current planning policy guidelines
and it is therefore important that we demonstrate a high level of interest and
support for our project if our application is to be taken seriously." Big up
the project to James Aven at Development Control, Dartmoor National Park Authority,
Parke, Bovey Tracey Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 9JQ - quoting the application reference
number 0427 / 00 Deadline for letters is 11th August.
* Steward Community Woodland, Moretonhampstead, Newton Abbot, Devon TQ13 8SD
Tel: 07050-674464, www.stewardwood.org.
Do you want to smell like Brad's 'pits? Kiotech International have just developed Xcite! facial wipes, a human pheromone concoction which is supposed to make you smell more attractive to anyone within a three foot radius... "users were described as friendlier, warmer and more inviting" says George Dodd, a Biochemist and smell scientist. If they prove popular then we might find Eau-de-famous-fanciables on our supermarket shelves. However, Rick Neave, a biological psychologist has splashed refreshing cold water on the product ".Once the wipes have mingled with the sweat produced on a dancefloor, they might be as unappealing as the urine-like stench of stale body odour".
Top.
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Last updated 4th August 2000
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