In that strange building in Bedford Way - I was asked for my autograph half a dozen times and given a DVD from the Society of Architects who swear it is impossible for the 9/11 story to be true.

Can you give a full report on the Conference JK ?

The Times very strangely let Phillip Pullman write today about it AND did a two page spread about civil liberties.

There seems to be consensus even within the UK press that something is wrong with society.

The BIG QUESTION is : who are the "dark forces" driving forward the surveillance agenda ? are they New Labour themselves or are they outside of Government - as Icke and others believe......and why do the UK - USA and Australian governments seem to be giving in to these dark forces ?

I am totally confused by this march towards a totalitarian state. It does not make sense in any way at all......

Henry Porter's thoughts on the magnificent Vince Cable (highly applauded)...

Vince Cable gave a fascinating talk on the groups of people that are being immediately affected by the slump, most movingly the 200,000 students who are coming on to the job market this year and next still in debt for their education. He said that they were bound to become a serious political force and would therefore be one of the groups that might find themselves in opposition to the government and the ruling class and against whom new police powers will undoubtedly be used to maintain control.

And David Davis said the fact that people had paid £35 to attend the event was a real sign that people were waking up and getting irritated by the threat.

"We are getting on the way to becoming a police state and the surest thing I do know is that by the time we are sure we are, then it will be too late."

yes..but is there time enough to halt the loss of freedom ?

another report: Liberty groups unite to defend UK
www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2009/mar/01/civil-liberties-conference
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My theory BR!: Having spent most of my life now dividing my time between the UK & Australia with regular visits all over the USA ( which I love)...I think Britain is the testing ground for how far people will allow themselves to be controlled.

The USA has a long history of people rising up to protect their freedoms (the last 8 years have seriously tested that and it remains to be seen ).

Australia is so similar to the UK in that 60% of the population are from 1st to 3rd generation British/Irish but's it's roots as a huge jail has given the people a healthy distrust of authority-plus the sunshine makes people more relaxed.

However the past 10 years under the most repressive PM the country has ever had has been frightening..in that half the population were fixated upon phoney wealth growth..ie: believing because their house doubled in price every 5 years they were wealthy. That's all crumbled of course but they forgave him al his lies as he acted like George Bush Jnr's pet poodle.

Sadly-the UK has always been a counry most likely to fall under a new kind of facism (George Orwell didn't forsee 1984 just as a joke).

It's because of a number of factors and the fact that Britain has given half the world it's brilliant system of law makes it that much more depresssing.

And the Observer editorial...

www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2009/ma...berties-surveillance

I had no idea this was taking place until afterwards.
How many people attended?
If the turnout, including the various localised venues, totalled only a few thousand, then it will be seen as a signal that most British people are not concerned about civil liberties, and the government will capitalise on that, or just dismiss the event as pointless.

It will take several million people to have any impact.

I believe it takes just ONE GOOD PERSON to stand up these fascists to stop them. I believe with SEVERAL THOUSAND and the many HUNDREDS of THOUSANDS of us who did not attend yesterday but were there in spirit that they will not find it easy to introduce these laws.

I am ready - and all my friends and family ( We are middle class churchgoers ) to go to prison rather than take the MARK OF THE BEAST ( ID CARD ) and there are THOUSANDS like us. We will FIGHT ( Peacefully of course ) against the Police State.

I know many MUSLIMS and JEWS who are likewise ready to fight against the POLICE STATE when they try to introduce these cards.

We are united with LIBERTY and ICKE and DAVIS as a massive co-alition against the POLICE STATE.

New Labour and their backers have underestimated us all in my view. Within the PRESS ( News INternational included ) I know many people who are against this. Within the Labour Party most oppose the POLICE STATE. Within the TORY party at last most seem to realise what is happening and in the LIB DEMS many are opposed to the POLICE STATE.

So it crosses race - religion - politics. I believe the majority of UK public will take to the streets if we are forced to have an ID CARD which is biometric.