Comments on: The abuse of terror: a letter to my MP http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/ Sat, 03 Jul 2010 21:06:52 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-660 Andrew Sat, 04 Jul 2009 17:57:27 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-660 Hi Tamlyn. I came across this letter to your MP by a webtastically circuitous route which started at last.fm. I'm loving your measured style - it's powerful and all too rare. In 2003 I ran a website to facilitate reasoned letter-writing against the Iraq war at www.everyonecounts.org.uk which aimed to counter shooting off at the mouth. Are you aware of www.writetothem.com? They keep track of MP's responses to letters to MPs sent via their website. I also share your views as expressed in the letter - no surprise there I don't suppose. If you get in touch with Meg Hillier again please tell her from me a queue is forming to hear her response. Respect and best wishes, Andrew Hi Tamlyn.
I came across this letter to your MP by a webtastically circuitous route which started at last.fm.
I’m loving your measured style – it’s powerful and all too rare.
In 2003 I ran a website to facilitate reasoned letter-writing against the Iraq war at http://www.everyonecounts.org.uk which aimed to counter shooting off at the mouth.
Are you aware of http://www.writetothem.com? They keep track of MP’s responses to letters to MPs sent via their website.
I also share your views as expressed in the letter – no surprise there I don’t suppose.
If you get in touch with Meg Hillier again please tell her from me a queue is forming to hear her response.
Respect and best wishes,
Andrew

]]> By: Tamlyn http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-485 Tamlyn Thu, 28 May 2009 15:22:21 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-485 I'm disappointed to report that my MP, Meg Hillier, has completely failed to reply to my letter. Further to the CCTV discussion above, a friend of mine got badly beaten up this month but the attackers were quickly arrested because the incident was recorded on CCTV. On the other hand, when I was attacked and mugged several years ago, the CCTV cameras on the bus would have allowed me to identify the kids who did it but unfortunately there was no tape in the recorder! I’m disappointed to report that my MP, Meg Hillier, has completely failed to reply to my letter.

Further to the CCTV discussion above, a friend of mine got badly beaten up this month but the attackers were quickly arrested because the incident was recorded on CCTV. On the other hand, when I was attacked and mugged several years ago, the CCTV cameras on the bus would have allowed me to identify the kids who did it but unfortunately there was no tape in the recorder!

]]> By: Rick http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-464 Rick Thu, 23 Apr 2009 11:08:51 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-464 Point taken about the private cameras. Given the marketing on this sheet here: http://www.thecctvcompany.co.uk/cctvfacts.htm however, it does seem that huge amounts of public money is pumped into the CCTV scheme. IMO given that there are so many of the damn things, this is abuse; privacy abuse. Point taken about the private cameras.

Given the marketing on this sheet here: http://www.thecctvcompany.co.uk/cctvfacts.htm however, it does seem that huge amounts of public money is pumped into the CCTV scheme. IMO given that there are so many of the damn things, this is abuse; privacy abuse.

]]> By: Tamlyn http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-463 Tamlyn Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:59:59 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-463 Actually I have to disagree with you about the CCTVs. Nobody really knows how many CCTVs there are in the UK since most of them are private security surveillance cameras (and hence not funded from public money). But more interestingly the "300 images a day" stat which gets repeated countless times a day turns out to be <a href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/david_aaronovitch/article5834725.ece" rel="nofollow">a complete fabrication</a>. Personally I don't have an issue with CCTV cameras as long as the laws that govern their use are strong, clear and not subject to abuse. Actually I have to disagree with you about the CCTVs. Nobody really knows how many CCTVs there are in the UK since most of them are private security surveillance cameras (and hence not funded from public money). But more interestingly the “300 images a day” stat which gets repeated countless times a day turns out to be a complete fabrication.

Personally I don’t have an issue with CCTV cameras as long as the laws that govern their use are strong, clear and not subject to abuse.

]]> By: Rick http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-462 Rick Thu, 23 Apr 2009 10:48:45 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-462 Absolutely right on the money here Tam. It seems the Orwellian police state is not approaching but already upon us. Read one stat recently suggesting one CCTV camera per every 14 heads in the UK, capturing up to 300 images a day of you and I going about our daily grind. What a fantastic waste of public cash. Did you get a reply from this? Hope you're good, Rick (old +net colleague). Absolutely right on the money here Tam. It seems the Orwellian police state is not approaching but already upon us. Read one stat recently suggesting one CCTV camera per every 14 heads in the UK, capturing up to 300 images a day of you and I going about our daily grind. What a fantastic waste of public cash.

Did you get a reply from this?

Hope you’re good, Rick (old +net colleague).

]]> By: Tamlyn http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-459 Tamlyn Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:42:46 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-459 I think Twitpic is based in the US so UK anti-terror laws would not apply. It's possible the servers got overloaded by 'terrorists' trying to upload pictures of police from their mobile phones ;-) I think Twitpic is based in the US so UK anti-terror laws would not apply. It’s possible the servers got overloaded by ‘terrorists’ trying to upload pictures of police from their mobile phones ;-)

]]> By: Matthew http://tamlyn.org/2009/04/freedom-vs-terrorism/comment-page-1/#comment-458 Matthew Thu, 02 Apr 2009 12:23:31 +0000 http://tamlyn.org/?p=215#comment-458 Is it merely coincidental that Twitpic was shut down all throughout the protests yesterday? I have read several articles on how twitter was being infiltrated, scanned and manipulated by Police during the riots but it seems that twitpic would have been far more difficult to keep tabs on. Was this shut down under their terror laws? Is it merely coincidental that Twitpic was shut down all throughout the protests yesterday? I have read several articles on how twitter was being infiltrated, scanned and manipulated by Police during the riots but it seems that twitpic would have been far more difficult to keep tabs on. Was this shut down under their terror laws?

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