purpleyin: Cameron from Sarah Connor Chronicles looking to the side (Default)
This is a post pimping out http://seriouschange.org.uk. It's not intended to be preachy or political, just pointing the site out along with my explanation of why I've signed up.

So there's essentially the two warring extremist sides of the argument about climate change - those in denial no matter what it costs them, because they view change for the enviroment as uncessary and damaging to business/economy/the current way of life, and those who are so gungho for change they think the answer is reverting to older ways of living that radically change all we know.

I signed up to the site because it's about making a serious change without drastic measures to how we live that some would suggest, the middle ground of wanting what's good for the environment without cutting out the technology I love and all the modern aspects of life I enjoy because it's not a focus on the environment for the sake of that but a focus on changes that benefit the economy as much as the environment by bringing us in line with how the 21st century should arguably be.

Personally I don't think the idea of living with a low carbon or even carbon neutral footprint is too far away. The obstacles to this seems to be resistance based on greed of corporations not wanting to change despite any proof it's better for them to, governments supporting them for political reasons and the erraneous perception that changes can't be done without great personal sacrifices, that it will harm consumers and hence the economy.

I'm hoping that what the website ends up doing to get the message out will achieve something in changing the minds of those who have power to make serious changes, to push for laws that support this, to force corporations to do the sensible thing. I might be naive to hope it has serious impact but I think it's always worth trying, especially when it takes so little effort to sign up and there are no obligations on my time apart from those I might choose to accept in the future.
purpleyin: Cameron from Sarah Connor Chronicles looking to the side (Default)
Say no to 42 days detention without charge.
purpleyin: Cameron from Sarah Connor Chronicles looking to the side (Default)
I've seen this before, when there was a Norwich meeting about ID cards a year or two ago but I saw this on [livejournal.com profile] guruphil's journal and was reminded of it, thought there might be some people interested in it.

It's the official government released video on ID cards, but redubbed by NO2ID.

purpleyin: Cameron from Sarah Connor Chronicles looking to the side (Default)
I hate reading about the government throwing away money. Of course the alternative is to not read and be ignorant, but I care too much to be that. I just goggle at the coast and how much better spent that'd be on the NHS, education, the police - on paying teachers and nurses and fireman etc decent salaries they can live off. I suppose more money has been wasted on going to war (mustn't get started on that) but this I despise because they're trying to sell us on the idea of it being good for us.

From what I've seen, people either don't care, don't know or don't like it at all - generally - with some casually thinking it might prove useful. The whole thing is ignoring how dangerous the database concept is (the card itself isn't the worst idea ever though I think it a waste of money over current passports and other ID) and how they're relying on technology that is not ready for it, probably set up by contractors who like always won't deliver it on time or as it needs to be. The costs will spiral and we will pay for it. We don't need this. It won't stop terrorism, it won't help prevent crime - it will only complicate life.

I signed the petition against the scheme and I commented on it on a Labour pary feedback survey and all I got in response was standard spiel answers about how great it'll be for me, time saving etc and that the technology is fine - ignoring that it's so not better, the technology isn't there for reliability nor security, and fraud will be probably easier and more of a problem to deal with. Just imagine getting refused service somewhere "because the system doesn't recognise you" or you're already apparently registered for something despite you never having done that and how instead of them thinking hmm there might be a fault you'd probably get bullshitted with "but the system's never wrong" as if computers can't have faults nor be exploited. :/

What will it take to stop this? When I mention it to people I know usually they say they'll just refuse to have a card, ignoring that actually the plan is you'll be fined £1,000 (or was it £10,000) or face jail for refusing to sue them after a certain point in the future. They're going to compulsory and nothing so far has done more than halt their introduction. I just hope someone is brave enough to refuse first off and will get supported by the pledge fund that people promised to donate to should anyone require legal assistance for a boycott.

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purpleyin: Cameron from Sarah Connor Chronicles looking to the side (Default)
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