Come to Manchester Social Forum to discuss taking action against the Civil Contingences Bill, 17th January Saturday at 11am. This is a day of discussion with different concerned individuals, groups and organisations with the purpose of networking together and creating action against the Civil Contingencies Bill.

The Civil Contingences Bill (now being
rushed to parliament) will give the government the
power to arrest and detain you for a criminal
offence for criticizing government policy. The
government may or may not choose to exercise this
power. Allowing government the potential power to
destroy our civil liberties in this manner seriously
undermines the principles of democracy in this
country.

If the government decides that a situation exists
that presents a serious threat to the welfare of the
population, the political or economic stability of
this country, the environment or security of any
part of the UK, the government can effectively turn
Britain into a military state. Key parts of the
Human Rights Act can be bypassed or suspended
without the authority of parliament.
This means:

Widespread detention of any suspected group or
individual
Countrywide security checks
Increased police surveillance
Seizure of property

Similar powers have already been rushed through in
the USA after 9/11.

There are already foreign nationals in prison in
this country, some imprisoned since 2001, under
anti-terrorism laws without charge or trial. The
Civil Contingences Bill will have the potential to
extend this hideous, inhuman, undemocratic, practice
to UK citizens.

The Civil Contingencies Bill in full is at:
 http://www.ukresilience.info/ccbill/ccbill.pdf

If you are hoping to come, please let me know. Thanks. Apologies to anyone who gets this email more than once.
Heather