Census time is almost here again. What once felt to most of us as a friendly, community activity, even a chance to leave a tiny mark on the page of history. But in the context of the inexorable growth of surveillance systems and methodologies, it increasingly looks a little sinister.
The revelation that the upcoming binge will be handled by a branch of Lockheed Martin can only add to the disquiet. Lockheed Martin builds cluster bombs, mostly known for killing children, and the F16 warplanes that played a central role in the recent destruction of Gaza. They also provide interrogators to Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq and Guantånamo in Cuba.
More relevant to their projected role in the census, they are involved in surveillance and data management for the CIA and FBI.
We can take it that any government assurances about our data being completely safe, although it will be handled by this company whose major source of income from all sides is the War On Fright, are so much hot air.
Expect a boycott campaign to take flight in the next few days. If you miss out on filling in the 32-page questionnaire by accident or omission as many do, it’s overlooked by Big Brother.
But this time may be the time to go public. It may cost each of us a grand in court, but it’s a rare chance to make democracy come alive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zkq9hdGSsXQ&feature=player_embedded
More info about this at http://stopwar.org.uk - soon
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