 |
 |
|
|
|
Home
| 23rd August
1996 | Issue 87 SchNEWS
87 JUSTICE?*
NEWBURY FIREBOMBER ACQUITTED
"Without
stringent guidelines to restrict the use of identity cards, a
voluntary card will swiftly become compulsory in all but name. As a
result everyday activities such as cashing a cheque, buying
cigarettes or alcohol
or even travelling on public transport will become progressively
more problematic for citizens who do not choose to obtain and carry
an identity card."
- Adrian Beck,
Institute of Public Order,
Leicester University What
would you spend £15 on? A week's shopping perhaps. That shirt
you've had your eye on? Well, if Michael Howard has his way, you'll
be spending it on a bright, shiny new...
ID card. This week the go-ahead has been given for the introduction
of the cards, something which SchNEWS has commented on (and against)
for many months. Forget the smokescreen on whether the Union Jack
should be displayed on it or not. A compulsory scheme has been ruled
out in name but that's what a voluntary scheme would be, in
practice. Seven
countries in Europe operate a compulsory scheme (in Portugal cards
have a
photograph, a
fingerprint, details of marital status and height, and require a PIN
number for their use. They have to be shown to police, governments
officials, customs officers, doctors, private security guards and in
post offices.) Five countries operate a voluntary scheme, but even
with these there is a degree of obligation to possess and carry the
card as failing to do so can make life difficult.
In
France the police have the power to ask for proof of identification
in any circumstance. If a person refuses or is unable to produce
this, it is perfectly legal to take the individual down the station
and detain them for up to six hours while identity is established.
In Holland this questioning can be held for up to twelve hours, and
a fine may also be charged. This could have important repercussions
for protest situations and for groups in society who are not at the
top of the cop's Christmas card list. There
is also the danger of 'functional creep', where a card is required
for more and more purposes. The police, retailers and banks all
favour this (semi) voluntary scheme, but, to paraphrase Christine
Keeler, they would, wouldn't they? It seems as if in many ways the
proposals which are to be put before Parliament this Autumn are even
more menacing than a compulsory scheme, which would at least give
the opportunity for instances of direct civil disobedience. This way
it will merely be a case of creeping civil inconvenience, leading to
a largely universal uptake. From a
basic human rights angle, we are who we are, and we should not have
to supply personal details to some stroppy Big Brother figure just
because the party line is for us to toe the line. ID cards smack of
coerced conformity, a decreasing right to live life as one likes, a
decrease in identity even. In these days of the 'free' market, we
are becoming more constricted than ever. The advent of the cards
means yet another layer of people in society to 'curtain twitch' on
our lives. It's time to put up the shutters. We're not ones to
condone overt consumerism, but
you know you really do like that shirt that caught your eye... *
Frank Field, the
'Labour' (shurely not) MP has recommended that every adult be given
a smartcard encoded with a DNA fingerprint to make the National
Insurance system more secure. "CS
spray takes us one step further away from policing by consent rather
than coercion...
confidence is more
likely to be both secured and enhanced by policing methods which
respect people's civil liberties and which uphold human rights
standards, than by arming the police with a 'quick fix' solution
based on secretive and muddled research."
- Liz
Parratt of Liberty. This
week Michael Howard has given the
go ahead for nationwide
usage of CS gas after nearly
six months of trials. He claimed that the deterrent is
"effective and safe." CS gas
has been used on 582 occasions in five months and drawn, but not
used, 350 times.
That means that people have been sprayed nearly 4 times a day since
the trials began (trigger happy or wot!?) Allegedly only 5 people
have been taken to hospital, but anyone who is sprayed must be seen
by the police doctor. The
spray (actually a crystalline solid) has a range of 8 to 14 feet.
It causes streaming eyes and nose, eyelid spasm and a burning
sensation in the throat and nose. It causes severe coughing and
chest tightening leading to impaired breathing.
These effects could be very serious for the 20% of the population
that suffer asthma or other respiratory complaints. Liberty received
reports of two incidents where the ACPO guidelines
have clearly been breached. In the first, Ibrahima Sey died in
police custody after being sprayed with CS while
handcuffed. In March, 20 people were sprayed with CS inside a coach,
after a scuffle outside a nightclub in Merseyside;
they are now taking civil action against the police. The
gas has been hastily approved without testing long term medical
effects, and before the outcome of the trial concerning the death of
Ibrahima Sey. Because of this two forces, Hertfordshire and Surrey,
have decided against implementation of the approved version of CS
gas. Hertfordshire's Chief Constable, Peter Sharpe, said "I
still have concerns over the safety of the delivery agent and
the issue of cross contamination
with the use of CS spray". The Sey family
are also upset about the decision. Mr Sey's cousin, Kura Nije,
claims that the spray is five times stronger than that used in the
U.S. She said "Someone has died in custody and CS was used. How
do they know it's safe to use? You could spray someone who's got
asthma. It's crazy." DRUNKEN
PRANK OR
DRUNKEN PRAT?!
Dickon
Walker, 22, who set fire to a petrol bomb next to a bus of Newbury
protesters last November, has been cleared of attempted arson and
endangering life. He told the jury, "We made some petrol bombs.
I honestly don't know how we got to making petrol bombs. It's a
mystery to me. The intention was a harmless drunken prank."
The Third Battle of
Newbury said, "How can a man walk free having admitted his part
in a firebomb attack, while peaceful protesters are being sentenced
for sitting down on public footpaths or dressing up as a pantomime
cow?"
THE
SOLUTION TO
POLLUTION...
"Pollution
has a long history...
In earlier societies
it is possible to find evidence of the many features which
characterise the response to contemporary pollution: fatalistic
acceptance of the pollution as an inevitable consequence of human
activities; a lack of foresight; a preference for short term fixes
and a failure for individuals or companies to take responsibilities
for their
actions." - 'A
Green History of the World' by
Clive Ponting This
week, Environment Minister John Gummer told local authorities that
they were responsible for cutting air pollution levels...
but hasn't given them
any extra dosh
to do anything about it. The onus is on local authorities to
implement measures that will reduce air pollution, primarily from
car exhausts. Recommendations include traffic monitoring teams, who
will issue on-the-spot
fines to car owners. The target date for the initiative is 2005...
a bit too late for
the 77,500 who will die prematurely by this time because of tiny
particles emitted by vehicle exhausts. Despite
the absolute lack of cash injection by the Government into the
initiative, various local authorities are already experimenting with
less polluting forms of transport.
Ipswich councillors have the use of two electric cars, while their
mayor has the option of using natural gas for short car journeys.
The town also boasts a gas powered bus and litter cleaning machine.
Coventry city council is to conduct trials of an electric car, and
Camden Community Transport is using three electric and three natural
gas mini-buses. Gummer says: "The motor car is a good
thing in life, it's now got to learn to be a clean thing." SchNEWS
says: "The motorcar kills 25 people a day from the
effects of pollution. Drivers have to reduce their reliance on
cars." Last
week,
World Health Organisation figures for ozone was exceeded in all
British cities and large towns last week. Ralph
Ryder, co-ordinator
of Communities Against Toxics,
said of the changes. "The regulatory system has not yet
caught up with hormone disrupting chemicals, and consequently does
not take them into consideration. It remains to be seen when the
government will acknowledge the danger and how it will regulate them." The
situation has become so severe that even the government sees that
something should be done, and is very slowly, reluctantly putting
the blame onto the car. This is a wrong headed approach, as it gives
individuals (car drivers) a guilt trip when they are not given
viable alternatives in getting from A
to B. Industry should
shoulder a lot more of the responsibility. After all, it is
corporations not individuals which make the cars after all,
and many more noxious contraptions besides. * In
Mexico City in 1988, there were 312 days of severe smog. In early
1989 school children had to be kept at home for a month because of
high pollution levels. * Reports suggest that the Salisbury by-pass
is expected to cost twice the forecast amount.
After the projected costs of protests and sabotage are taken into
consideration, it looks like being one bloody expensive stretch of
road! (The energy required in building a road is three and a half
times greater than the equivalent length of railway, and uses four
times more land.) *
Controversy in Europe is surrounding attempts to get funding for 14
Trans-European Network highways. Suggestions
include putting the budgets of 'non-priority projects' such as
culture, education and training, energy and the environment. A
decision is expected at a meeting in Dublin on September 20. *
Communities Against Toxics 0151
339
5473 *
Toxic Alert! 01273 685913 ...IS
TO CREATE REVOLUTION!
HUNGRY
FOR NO CHANGE
On
Sunday and Monday, Brighton claimants will embark on a two day
hunger strike to demonstrate the dietary effects of 100% cut in
benefit, brought about by the Job Seekers Allowance (JSA). 'A' day
(Oct 7th), when the JSA is to be launched, is only SEVEN weeks away.
*
Wage Slavery or
Starvation' T-Shirts are available from Nottingham Campaign Against
the JSA. PO
Box
192, Nottingham. National contact: Claimants Action Group, c/o O.U.W.CU; East Oxford Community Centre, Princes Street, Oxford OX4 1HU. Tel: 01865 723 750. Sat 7th Sept Demo against the JSA. Assemble Shepherds Bush Green, W London 12 noon. STOP
PRESS! STOP PRESS
We are
receiving reports that Brighton Police have just paid a visit to The
Beachcomber, the venue for a Critical Mass benefit gig, to cancel
the gig. Apparently, the party poopers object to a
money raiser for an 'illegal' demonstration. STOP
PRESS PLUS URGENT APPEAL Litter Pickets are desperately needed in Stammer Park on Sunday at 2pm meet in the Upper Car Park by the Freedom Festie organisers - as the Council are threatening huge fines if the site is not cleared to their specifications! SchNEWS
In Brief
***
The Mersey Docks Harbour Company, responsible for sacking the
Liverpool dockers at the beginning of the year, have reported half
year profits of £14 million, down almost 20% on last year. Looks
like the international boycott might be hitting home ***
Brighton Council has cancelled Brighton's Dance Parade, set
for September, because it would create a public nuisance. For fuck's
sake! ***
The date of the Big Chill Gala in East Anglia has been
changed. It's now in Norfolk, Aug 30th - Sept 1st Info 0171 281 8106
*** A
play about squatting called 'Tatting
Down' is nearing
completion. Call office this week if you are interested in
performing or technical stuff
- 685913 ***
Despite rumours, Faslane Peace Camp is not to close. Although
the threat of eviction by the
new Argyle and Bute Council remains, eight activists decided to keep
the camp running. More activists needed! Phone 01436 820
901 ***
Check out 'Art Bypass', an art exhibition to run the length
of the route. Meet this Sunday, 4.30pm at Newbury train station.
Bring a torch! Next week, Newbury will stage the best free festy yet
this year. 'It will be a huge free festival on DoT land with much
entertainment, and there will be ample opportunity for fence
climbing. We may even be able to undo a lot of the damage that has
been done.' From
26th-30th
August the
Flim-Flam Festival will bring you bands including Julian
Cope, Mother Samosa, Smokie Bears, Revolutionary Dub Warriors,
Electric Groove Temple, Snails With Attitude, and others. There has
now been OVER 1000 ARRESTS, and there are over 20 twenty people in
prison at present... The
story continues. RTZ
& NATURAL HISTORY MUSEUM
"Visit
the new
earth galleries. An earth shattering experience." So goes the
blurb for the new exhibit of the Natural History Museum. Nothing so
unusual about that, until that is, you look at who the primary
sponsors are: RTZ, responsible for earth shattering projects around
the globe, yet have
very little to do with
anything 'natural.' The Natural
History Museum told SchNEWS, "We don't have any conflict with
the interests of RTZ." Of course not, especially after having
received £lm in sponsorship from the mining company. * The
MD of a Scottish company that export riot
gear, defensive
weapons and
instruments of torture, received an electric shock as he entered his
business premises last week! Justice?! AND
FINALLY...
SchNEWS
extends a welcoming hand to Britain's newest
-
and perhaps strangest pressure group. 'Trolleys in Distress UK' have
been set up to highlight a 'mass cruelty which occurs in
our
streets daily'... the 'abuse, neglect and slavery of millions of
defenceless shopping trolleys, not forgetting baskets'. They
continue in a similar vein: "The
time has come for drastic action, we have a member who has already
released many trollies back to the wild. Are these people a loaf
short of a bag of groceries? Basket cases? Off their trollies? Or
are they their
ideas up the right aisle. One to check cut perhaps. Trolleys
in Distress UK, The Nuttier Buildings, 26 Phoenix
Drive,
Sileby, Loughborough,
Leicester, LE12
7QU. 0116
255 0111. disclaimer Don't!
(OK, do!)
Subscribe! Keep SchNEWS FREE! Just send 1st Class stamps (eg 20 for next 20 issues) or donations (payable to Justice?) Mark Original if you plan to copy: SchNEWS c/o on-the-flddle PO Box 2600 Brighton East Sussex BN2 2DX SchNEWS is free to prisoners tel: (01273) 685913 e-mail: schnews@brighton.co.uk IS
THE PARTY OVER? Michelle
(Advance Party) & film on Exodus. MON SEPT 2nd @
The Albert, Trafalgar St 7.30pm Did the Police object to the benefit gig, or did they hear Flannel were headlining?
|
|||
|
@nti copyright - information for action - copy and distribute! |
|||
