Newsletter 28 - Feb/Mar 2006

A national ID system for the UK: private, unaccountable, undemocratic - and unworkable?

CORPORATE IDENTITY
The government could be warming up for another big scandal over ID cards, according to our new report, Corporate Identity - a critical analysis of private companies' engagement with the identity cards scheme. We set out to look at which companies are involved, their records, the government's record in outsourcing IT projects, and what the IT industry thinks of the ID cards scheme.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2392

MORE NEWS...

5 - A - DAY NOT SO HEALTHY?
The Department of Health's '5 a Day' campaign is designed to encourage people to eat more fruit and veg, as part of a healthy diet. Like so many government initiatives, it attempts to achieve its ends by working with corporations, many of whom are also involved in rather unhealthy practises.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2379


HOMES DEMOLITION LATEST
The government's 'Pathfinder' housing market renewal scheme is set to demolish tens of thousands of houses across the north of England and the midlands. A report has just been released by SAVE Britain's Heritage. Corporate Watch has covered this issue in newsletter 23 (April/May 2005).
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2386

SHAME ACADEMY
Got £2 million quid? Wanna encourage a new generation of stock market experts in a business focussed school? Coz it's all about the kids, innit?
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2388


THE TRUTH TURNED UPSIDE DOWN
A new study by the Future Foundation portrays opponents of unregulated corporate excess as puritanical 'Neo-Cromwellians'.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2388


HEALTHCARE, LIMITED
Many healthcare professionals and patients are concerned at the growing presence in the NHS of private sector providers, which stand to profit from this role. Unions and campaigning groups have argued that the private sector tends to provide a more expensive and lower quality service, and that the core NHS values of equality and universality in healthcare are being compromised.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2382


METRO! EXTRA! LOCAL! CENTRAL!
Despite planning controls, the big four supermarkets (Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury and Morrisons) continue to battle for increased market share with ever more ambitious expansion plans.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2383


POINT COUNTERPOINT: ARE CLIMATE CARE'S CARBON OFFSETS WORTHWHILE?
he Phone Co-op is an ethical consumer co-operative that provides phone services (www.thephone.coop). The following motion has been proposed to its 2006 AGM. It proposes that the Phone Co-op should stop using Climate Care to 'offset' its carbon emissions.
Read more:  http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2384


LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
 http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2391


BABYLONIAN TIMES
 http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2387


DIARY
 http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2378


ID CARDS REPORT
A critical analysis of private companies' engagement with the identity cards scheme.
 http://www.corporatewatch.org/?lid=2298