Thursday, July 18, 2002



Any web site i go on to about the secret service, mi5 etc,only gives you particular information

dear tash,

I was reading your website and i just have to say i found it really interesting but there are several things i wanted to ask you.

Any web site i go on to about the secret service, mi5 etc,only gives you particular information, and i wanted to know what had to be needed to join etc,

I love the way things work and why they work,and though it may be a long shot would adore a career in this but by reading the different sites, i came back out with the same questions, what do i need to do? still not sure, so i was wondering if you could help me with that . hope to hear from you

Blimey, is this scary, or what ....... :-)

Have applied to MI5, under the Data Protection Act, and they say, "we don't have any info on you". Should I believe them, or not ........!!


Wednesday, July 17, 2002

Now I live in a mud house in the middle of the Valley of the Inca in peru..........

I dont know if we have been introduced personally , because my memory is crap, but I may have met, but as a long time resident of Stevenage and having frequented your events occasionally or met some of you in Prauge where I did some tech stuff and wrote the English version web site for INPEG.

Since then I wrote the website for the greenpepper in Amsterdam and did some of your more conventional street work at the Bonn COP6.5 Climate Confrence with Rising Tide.

Now I live in a mud house in the middle of the Valley of the Inca in peru ... Never the less I am long aquainted fan of your work . and keep my finger in Europe on the wire

I have just put up a few sites on the internet which have links to your site and some information which probably mis-represents you in some way.

The text and pics that I have used were ripped off of your site and I may have inadvertently transgressed your intilectual property rights.

The banner is just a quicky I made up but if you have an animated gif or a banner that I could use instead then send it to me

This is the Amsterdam Art of Resistance site which I have put an entry in for you under the section for writers so if you would like any changes then let me know.

http://www.squat.net/cia/aor/

Terry Hudson terrylhudson@hotmail.com

Tuesday, July 16, 2002

MOBILE PHONE: LOCATION DATA
INFORMATION HELD BY THE COMPANIES ON CUSTOMERS


This is a tale of trying to get 'Location Data' from communication companies on the use of a mobile phone.

To explain my interest a little further.


I have been at demonstrations, when I've seen people, I know to be involved in the organisation of the event, use their mobile phone. Shortly after, I've seen a police 'snatch squad' charge in and arrest the person concerned. Having been nearby, I've not seen these people throw rocks or abuse that otherwise might well have caused them to be targeted. I could, of course, nave no idea if other 'intelligence' was being used…..

From the articles I've sited here, companies, giving evidence in court, sometimes only guarantee a user location to quite a large area [35Km in Cellnet o2's case!]

Thus, they could not 'triangulate' an individual in a crowd. HOWEVER, I've seen people 'lifted' under these conditions a few times now.

I had thus conducted the following experiment, to get copies of my own 'location data', by a 'Subject Access Request" under the Data Protection Act.

To see if I might make some estimate of these increasing capabilities.


Just been working and sharing information with Steven Mathieson, a freelance reporter and contributor on communication issues in the Guardian.

Over the last few months he had produced articles to do with the ability of mobile phone companies to supply 'location data' on the use of a mobile phone [cellphone to the US readers here].

The pieces that first attracted my attention were:

The net's eyes are watching: The new anti-terrorism bill may force internet firms to spy on us.
S A Mathieson reports
Thursday November 15, 2001
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,593343,00.html


You can ring, but you can't hide: Our mobile phones track every move we make, but we're entitled to see their logs. S A Mathieson went on a lengthy search for his
Thursday November 29, 2001
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,608434,00.html


In sight of the law: The police and local authorities are using technology to keep a close watch on our every move.
SA Mathieson looks behind the scenes

Thursday March 1, 2001
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,444313,00.html


Caught in the Wap: 3G may be strangled at birth if networks don't put security first
SA Mathieson
Guardian
Thursday March 28, 2002
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4383023,00.html


Track your every move: Big-name companies monitor all your purchases - and you have a right to see the results.
S A Mathieson reports
Thursday May 16, 2002
The Guardian
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,715871,00.html


Steven Mathieson Brief biography
After graduating from King's College at Cambridge University, Steven spent a year travelling in North America, Australasia and south-east Asia. On returning, he joined Corporate Finance, a specialist financial title owned by Euromoney Publications.
He joined the newsdesk staff of Computing in November 1997, and reported on issues including government policy, ecommerce, the IT job market and corporate software. He also wrote occasional features and viewpoint columns, and chose which Dilbert cartoon the paper printed.
He left in February 2000 to pursue a freelance career. His clients now include the Guardian, Health Service Journal and Computing. He lives in Bath.

http://www.samathieson.com


Chronology
This is the chronology of my 'Subject Data Access Request, to get Information & location data derived from the use of a mobile phone. I think, by showing you this lot, I demonstrate that they don't want to tell me …….!

 17th Dec 01 Letter to Cellnet of initial enquiry.
 20th Dec 01 Cellnet reply saying not entitled to data.
 28th Jan 02 Formal request to Cellnet.
 22nd Feb 02 Letter to Information Commission regarding no response from Cellnet.
 01st Mar 02 Information Commission replies saying I've not waited required 40 days.
 11th Mar 02 Re-apply to Information Commission for assistance and investigation.
 12th Mar 02 Information Commission replies - commencing the process.
 03rd Apr 02 Information Commission response saying Cellnet had not received my application.
 09th May 02 Letter to Information Commission as Cellnet has still not replied, as per Commissioner letter of 3rd April.
 6 June 02 Letter to Cellnet: Subject Access Request [applic. On forms] re: 'Location Data' held by Cellnet
 21 June 02 Cellnet / o2 finally reply with an extensive document [ 40 pages long ], but with the location data, concealed within their own coding. Translation of which might be 'commercially sensitive' they say, Where I came in on the 17th December 2001



TO BT CELLNET

17th December 2001.

Information: "location data" derived from the use of a mobile phone.


Dear Sir,

Have read an article in Guardian [29 Nov 01] from the Online section, in which information on the use of a mobile phone is discussed.

The purpose of the article was to discuss the use and databasing of "location data" derived from the use of a mobile phone.

I have an interest in these matters and for a first enquiry then, would ask you what information can be released and what procedure I should follow to apply for it.

I note that there are many privacy implications here and additionally wondered if there was any guidance that Cellnet followed in dealing with such matters. Is this publicly available?

Thanking you for any assistance.


>>>>

FROM BT CELLNET

20th December 2001

Dear Mr Lodge

Thank you for your letter dated 17th December 2001.

I have been in contact with our legal department who deals with Data Protection enquiries. They have advised me that details pertaining to the transmission of calls and their corresponding transmitter locations are not considered personal details, to which you are entitled to access under the Data Protection Act.

Such information is considered commercially sensitive as it directly refers to our operational processes. Details such as call duration, date and time of call, dialled digits, cost of call and whether the call was made within the UK or whilst roaming, can be accessed upon a written request to our Data Controller. Details on how we route a call through our network is information the belongs the BT Cellnet and to be disclosed requires a court order.

Yours etc ……

Erika Lowe
BT Cellnet Complaint Resolution


++++
Slightly amazing job title to reply, I hadn't complained, I only asked!!


>>>>

TO BT CELLNET

Monday, 28 January 2002

Information: "location data" derived from the use of a mobile phone.

Dear Sir,

Thank you for your letter dated 20 Dec 2001.

You will know from your records that I was enquiring about the provision of 'location data'. My interests here, was sparked on reading a Guardian article, dated: 29 Nov 01 from the Online section.

Please will you forgive my confusion, but your reply, does seem to be at significant variance to the conclusions of this article. [printout enclosed].

“I understand that I have a statutory right under the Data Protection Act 1998, section 7 (1), to issue a Subject Access Request, obliging you to disclose in full all data your organisation holds on me. Please treat this letter as a Subject Access Request for all my personal data.
It is my understanding that this personal information includes location data concerning which base station my phone is registered with during a given time period. I am particularly concerned with seeing this information.
If you do not believe you are obliged to disclose my personal data under the terms of the Act, I would be grateful if you can provide me with an explanation.”


>>>>

Compliance Officer
Information Commissioner


Dear Sir / Madam.

On reading a Guardian article, dated: 29 Nov 01 from the Online section, titled: " You can ring, but you can't hide "
http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4309424,00.html

The article deals with the collection of "Location Data" by mobile phone companies.

Reading the piece, I discovered that the author had successfully applied for this information under the Data Protection Act.

However, on trying this myself, it generated this correspondence. You will note in the exchange that I have ask for and been refused this information on the grounds, quote:

" Such information is considered commercially sensitive as it directly refers to our operational processes "

However, this is at variance with the experience of the author of this piece.

I thus contacted them again, and pointed out:

“I understand that I have a statutory right under the Data Protection Act 1998, section 7 (1), to issue a Subject Access Request, obliging you to disclose in full all data your organisation holds on me. Please treat this letter as a Subject Access Request for all my personal data."

I believe that I am entitled to this information and think that BT Cellnet is prevaricating. I have received no further replies from them.

In view of all this, are you able to advise me what I can do next. I still wish to pursue the matter.

>>>>

04 March 2002

Hello Steven

Gosh, what a long and tortuous route..!

You may remember that I'd written to Cellnet regarding 'location data', associated with mobile phone usage. You already have a copy of the correspondence I've had with them.

I had first written to Cellnet on Monday, 17 December 2001 and received a 'fob-off'!!

As you had suggested, I wrote again on Monday, 28 January 2002, including a paragraph making clear that this was a 'subject access request'. Still nothing happened,

So I e-mailed the story so far to the Information Commissioners Office. Have just received a reply from them this morning, pointing out that they can't help till after 40 days of non-compliance with request. It appears that this is counted from the last letter, rather than the original request.

So on my calculations; I have to go round again if I've not heard back by Monday 11th March, beginning of next week. You may also like to know that I've not heard from MI5 either! [that is, since returning my proof of identity]. Their 40 days expire on the 7th March. The information Commissioner doesn't know about my other request, so might end up getting back to them with a 'job lot'.

So there you have it. Diligence seems to be required.

>>>>

My formal request, made under the Data Protection Act

Please supply all 'location-specific' data generated my mobile phone, including but not exclusively cell ID data. I Believe that the personal information you would hold on me, as a customer, includes location data concerning which base station my phone is registered with during a given time period.


>>>>

15 March 2002

RE: Location Data / mobile phone use.

Hello Steven

Thanks for your e-mail yesterday, confirming that you've received the last wedge of paper I'd sent you.

After dealing with the various time limits they were operating, I have now received a preliminary response from the Information Commissioner.

I see this is going to be really uphill!

You'll note that they say they were aware of the issues you'd raised in your articles, but my case is different! I don't see how or why, but will send you the next instalment as and when.

You say you have another piece that will be appearing in Guardian Online. Would appreciate a reminder.

>>>>

Compliance Officer
Information Commissioner


09 May 2002

I had a number of communications with your office, over the last couple of months, regarding my difficulty in getting information from Cellnet. You may see from the record, that I'd written to them requesting 'location data' regarding the use of a mobile phone. They had not replied, and I was thus seeking your advice and help.

It appears that on your enquiries, Cellnet had stated that they did not receive my request in the first place. This was strange, since I had written to the same address a little earlier, with my initial enquiry and received an unfavourable reply. Then, the 'follow-up' letter I'd written to them was the formal request for information and they say they had not received this.

Anyway, according to your letter of 3rd April: they were then

"going to contact me with regards to fulfilling your request".


Unfortunately, as of today, no further response has been received.

What do you think I should do next?

· Give up!
· Ask for further advice and help from yourselves
· Go round again, sending the same letter to Cellnet as I had on 17th December 2001

I am of course, grateful for any assistance, as I do feel a little ignored.


>>>>


From: Information Commissioner

15 May 2002

Dear Mr Lodge

We have contacted BT Cellnet, they have informed me that there was a breakdown of communications on their part, and that they have now contacted you regarding your subject access request and the action that is to be taken

I trust this is an accurate reflection of the situation

Yours etc ….


>>>>

TO Data Controller
Cellnet O2 Ltd
Leeds


06 June 2002

Spoke to you a couple of weeks ago on the telephone, regarding my difficulties in getting information.

I had first applied back in January. I received an unsatisfactory reply, and, after taking some advice, sent the enclosed letter. I waited a respectful time and having not heard from your organisation, contacted the Data Commissioner for further help. I think that it was in response to this, that you first contacted me.

Because of the delay in first hearing from you, you had offered to waive the £10.00 fee. Thank you very much for this.

>>>>

FROM BT Cellnet - Finally reply with 'some' information

21 June 2002

Received 40 pages of information in column of meaningless code

Telephone conversation will Cellnet / o2 Data Controller saying that they will not 'translate' these codes since they represent 'commercially sensitive' data.

This is were I came in 20th December 2001.

>>>>

24 June 2002

Hello Steven

Gosh! Well having started this project / application, back in December, I now have a reply from Cellnet [now o2].

Because of the adventure to now, the data person at o2 rang me to say it was all customer services fault in the first place. Anyway, since I'd been messed about, they were waiving the £10.00 fee.

Am sending you photocopy of what was supplied. There are the covering parts, but the full submission was 40 pages I think. So have copied the first couple and the last page, to give you an idea of the 'form'.

Well, I understand the first 5 columns ok. The last three columns are about location. However, I don't understand any of that…….. Is it intelligible to you?

I read somewhere in the Data Registrars advice, that data, on subject access request, should be intelligible ( but am unsure now.).

So, if this is useful to you, then use it, [aside from the phone numbers etc of course]

All quite contemporary eh?

With the next stage of the RIPA and Blunketts latest wheezes. Although, postponed, again, it seems to come round again, on 6 monthly cycles now……



===================================


This is an ongoing Project .............. !

It will result in a series of articles in the Guardian, Starting in August 2002

Alan,

Thanks for your ongoing help. The site I mentioned is http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk/.


By the way, this is roughly how I’ll be describing your experiences (bear in mind I’ve had to compress things a bit). Anything inaccurate as far as you can see? Let me know what you think.
Thanks,
Steven Mathieson

(Note - this follows a description of my nine-month odyssey to get my data, hence the start.)

Mr Lodge’s enquiries were similarly tortuous. He wrote to BT Cellnet (as O2 was then called) on 17 December, and was turned down flat. He tried again on 28 January, and heard nothing. He complained the Information Commissioner’s office, which said he had not given Cellnet the full 40 days. He wrote again after 40 days had elapsed. The office wrote back, saying Cellnet had not received his letter of 28 January. One hopes the mobile networks don’t lose similar communications from police investigating murders.
On 21 June, six months after his first request, O2 sent Mr Lodge a document providing ‘Cell Site Analysis’. This provides three columns of encoded location data for outbound calls made from 6 October 2000 to 19 June 2002 - more than 20 months’ worth. But as with Orange, O2 refused to decode the information, pleading ‘commercially sensitive information’.

Suplimentary links:

Radiocommunications Agency
http://www.radio.gov.uk/
Radio Communications Agency: Mobile Phone Base Station Database
http://www.sitefinder.radio.gov.uk/


Your Boss May Know Where You Are - Wired 31 May 2002
http://www.wired.com/news/wireless/0,1382,52852,00.htm


Check this out:
The following from the BBC

Video shows LA police beating boy

http://news.bbc.co.uk/media/video/38126000/rm/_38126181_police_bryant22_vi.ram

An officer appears to hold the boy's head against a car

A white Los Angeles police officer has been suspended after being caught on video beating a black teenager during an arrest. The 16-year-old boy, Donovan Jackson, became involved in a scuffle with officers after his father was stopped over a minor motoring offence.

The videotape, which was shot by a tourist at a nearby hotel, shows the handcuffed boy being punched by one of the officers, Jeremy Morse.

It has also been revealed that Officer Morse was named last month in a complaint by Neilson Williams, a 32-year old African-American man, who claims he too was beaten by the officer.

The Donovan Jackson arrest took place near a petrol station in the Inglewood district of Los Angeles - a mainly black and Hispanic area of the inner city - on Saturday night.

The police say the confrontation happened after they made a routine traffic stop.

The teenager, who denies he was resisting arrest, is alleged to have assaulted one of the officers.

The tape shows the handcuffed boy being picked up and slammed face-down against the back of a patrol car.

Mr Donovan was then punched in the jaw by police officer Jeremy Morse, who has since been suspended pending an inquiry into the incident.

Officer Morse and his colleagues say that before the video started rolling the boy had lunged at him, leaving him with cuts on his head, ear and elbow that required hospital treatment.

On the tape, Officer Morse can be seen bleeding from a cut above his ear.

'Extremely disturbing'

Inglewood police lieutenant Eve Irvine described the circumstances of the arrest as "extremely disturbing".

"The incident is being taken very seriously," she said.

We intend to seek justice in the courts unless we get a call from the proper authorities saying: 'We want to do the right thing without a jury

Joe Hopkins, family lawyer

She added that both the Inglewood police department and the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department had begun formal investigations into the incident.

Joe Hopkins, the lawyer for the teenager's family, said the boy was seated on the ground before the officers started hitting him and that the attack was racially motivated.

He said one of the officers had called the boy "nigger" during the incident.

"We intend to seek justice in the courts unless we get a call from the proper authorities saying: 'We want to do the right thing without a jury,'" Mr Hopkins said.

The video, shot by tourist Mitchell Crooks from his motel room, has been shown on television throughout America, prompting an angry reaction.

Human rights groups and activists from the black community have been swift to compare the incident to the 1991 beating of black motorist Rodney King.

When the white officers involved in that case were acquitted it led to some of the worst riots ever seen in Los Angeles.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_2117000/2117161.stm

===================

The Duncan Campbell, in the Guardian at said :>

The amateur videotape of the incident has already prompted four separate investigations and the suspension of the policeman concerned. ......

A young white DJ staying at a nearby hotel ran outside with his video camera after hearing screams. What he filmed has now been broadcast countless times on local television.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/bush/story/0,7369,752370,00.html

>>>>>>>>>>>

I am in the proceess of trying find this chap [ Mitchell Crooks ], and send him a mail from us video -photo activist types, here in the UK. To tell him of our appreciation, and a jolly well done. We also know a thing or two about police beating and photographic evidence, from the beanfield, before and bloody onwards ....................!!

Interestingly, however, after this situation, he is the only one in jail! It appears he has some previous matter outstanding! Oh god! it's not fair. but we know that ........



I've recently set up a space on the BBC website, used for community purposes called BBC 360. If interested, you can view the front page for these at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/

They say:

* ---------------------------------- *


Welcome to 360 - Answers to world problems, provided by you

360 is the BBC's community-based, positive news website that features your solutions to world problems. It is written, edited and directed by you - the BBC provides the forum and the possibility that BBC television and radio will take up your ideas.

360 seeks positive news stories about the four key world problems identified by the United Nations as priorities for a civilised world:

The Environment - Poverty - Preventable Disease - Conflict
These problems will only be solved by grass-roots action - no idea, project or solution is too small to feature on 360. Whatever your project, we want to hear about it."


* ---------------------------------- *


Sounds right up my street!! Not sure how effective, at meeting and informing other, but am giving it a go.

My own 'front page' within thier set up, can be seen at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/U196996

My 'articles page there, is at:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/MA196996?show=25&type=2




Here are some examples of the 'thread' of discussion, it has caused :>

A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/F84769?thread=191008&post=2190453#p2180537

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/F84769?thread=191008&post=2190496#p2190496

http://www.bbc.co.uk/dna/360/360/F92543?thread=192046




Subject: Excellent!

Tash,

I take my hat off to you! A long (very long) entry that obviously benefits form a great deal of research and experience. I confess to not having read *all* of what you've written (yet), but I'm glad that we can have this kind of perspective on site. All things need to be looked at from different angles/perspectives if we're ever going to be able to get somewhere near the *truth* of a matter, and what we're told daily through our main (traditional) media channels, I feel we can trust less and less to provide us with something like the whole picture - there's too much at stake politically, and too much financial vested interest. Groundwork like yours is invaluable - it goes towards balancing out one-sided information.

As a solution, in your opinion, should we try and work within the 'establishment', expose the fraud and the clearly undemocratic practices, to improve thing from within? Or do you feel that the travelling life, the 'alternative', that which attempts to exist beyond the clutches of mainstream society, is an answer. And is this life possible when we consider how the perceived threat has been dealt with in the past (Battle of the Beanfields etc)?

Very interesting entry, sir.

Oh, and will you be going to Glastonbury this year? £100 quid a ticket's a bit steep, mind.

Sam.


Subject: Excellent!

Interesting stuff Tash. I've only managed a cursory glance, but it's headed for the printer as I type. I only managed one appearance at Twyford - must have been one of the final weeks, in fact. It was early on in the CJB season...
I thought you may like to quote this:
"Paranoia is a state of heightened awareness. Most people are persecuted beyond their wildest delusions."
Claude Steiner "The Radical Psychiatry Manifesto"

Not 100% accurate maybe, but a killer quote none-the-less.

Frogbit.


Entry: On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet - A771996
Author: Tash - U196996

This is a sketch around some issues of concern to me. All it appears, for being associated with groups of people, experimenting in trying to make a more fulfiled life for themselves. I am grateful for your comments. Alan Lodge




Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Ashley

You raise some really fascinating points which affect each and every single one of us. Is there a way we can combat this, claiming back our right to privacy, or is it a lost cause?




Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Raphael

Hello Tash and Ashley,

This was very interesting although I'm afraid I didn't finish it as it is so long. However, for me it raises all kinds of questions, probably mostly due to my age, which I realise is somewhat advanced for someone on a site like this. I thought I could detect some paranoia in with the reporting. This would be quite understandable of course.
However, may I recommend that the article is shortened a little -- or perhaps divided up so that it is a little more palatable? I didn't even get to read what the solution suggested was because my brain blanked out. Which is not, I think, the idea!
Apologies if this sounds critical; it is just that if the site is to be accessible, the articles on solutions may need to be a little simpler and perhaps more like Frogbit's "Saving the World from your Living Room".

Regards,
Raphael




Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Sam

I know what you mean, Raphael. Another thing to bear in mind, though, is that some folk temporarily lose access to the Net. They might not have it at home and therefore rely on a connection at school. When term time ends and holidays begin, maybe a cyber cafe is the only connection option. I think in the case of Tash, it's quite likely that he's off travelling somewhere documenting fellow travellers - it is the festival season after all. I'm sure he'll be back - we'll give him the benefit of the doubt.

Write a reply to this Posting


Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Tash

Is there anything we can do?

Well unsure, but i've been doing what i can. thing about 'dark corners', is that they are less dark, if you shine a light in them.

Police and authorities continue to watch the citizen, in case it does something wrong. Laws continually being drafted to lawfully enable this to occur. But law is not supposed to be one sided.

In Pulic Order situations, i think that 'they' often break more laws than 'us'. hence photographer, and tape recording to demonstrate this, to a proper standard of evidence. I tell you now, they hate it and look for every device to stop me.

Bit one sided if you ask me. but this citizen is into sticking up for himself. thanks for your observations. Am in the process of posting another shed load of material. Please anyone, feel free to comment as you like.


Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Maggy

Glad you're back Tash




Subject: A771996 - On Being Watched - for having concerns for the planet

by Tash

Hello,

Want to reply to the comments raised on my piece. First, I'm grateful to receive any comments, positive or negative. One of the reason I wanted to post, was for exactly this reason.

No, I have not posted and just run away! I have been away!

Being a traveller, I travel

I cannot be next to a computer, as often as some, but more frequently than many of my friends.

Oh, there is another reason, I find the layout here really complicated. just me and my abilities perhaps, but still remains a fact. Although i've checked your site out a couple of times, since my original posting, this saturday, something became clear to me, and I suddenly realised that there were postings to read. So i'm here now, and have book-marked the posting page. [if it doesn't move about].

With some sites, an email notification gets sent on reply to such matters. Can we not have one of those here?

I take on board the length crit. Since I'm about to post another shed-load. I will attempt to do this now, in a number of sections.

Tell me how i'm doing.[ tash@gn.apc.org ]





Sunday, July 14, 2002

nATo in Manchester

This is some of what i'm doing next week, all sounds very exciting. So, if you're anywhere near Central Manchester please drop in, and I'll see you there. A goodn' perhaps.............

Blitz Festival Events
Events run from the 20th to the 28th July
Street Theatre: keep your ear to the ground:


http://www.beyondtv.org/nato

nATo is a banner organisation , bringing together artists working on a broad spectrum of cultural,
social and political issues. We are dedicated to the production of spontaneous, independent and conscious public art.

Space Hijackers,
Surveillance Camera Players,
Buton Ghosts,
Fanclub,
Original Art Wankers,
Consumer Aliens,
Movement of the Imagination
and many more

Outdoor Opening party wiv moosic
Date: Saturday 20th July - starts midday
Location: Great Northern Square outide The Great Northern Railway Complex, Central Manchester

Moosical guests include

Ozomatli,
Steven Nancy,
Desolation Angels,
the Agents of Groove,
Valerie,
Panjit G [Asian Dub Foundation]

&

Huge Slide projections by Tash - Video projections by Beyond TV?

Agitate Art Exhibition

Date: 20 - 28 July
Location: Great Northern Railway Complex, Central Manchester

AgiTate - Is art the mirror by which we view the world around us, or is it the hammer that smashes the mirror?
The contributors to Agitate are in the main primarily activists and their work is an extension of their politics.

>>List of Artists and more INFO

Yeast Experience at the Green Room
Date: Wednesday 24th July
Location: Green Room Manchester

A Multimedia // Music event from the Yeast Collective from London. These guys have a very exciting vision of entertainment blending cutting edge Video projections, music and live perfomance.
Panjit G from Asian Dub Foundation will be Djing on the night.

Psychic Bread, Seth Tobocman and Beyondtv at the Green Room
Date: Saturday 27th July
Location: Green Room Manchester


Psychic bread are bringing a video and poetry performance night to the Green room. More details to follow.
Seth Tobocman from New York will be doing a slideshow and presentation on Art and Politics.
BeyondTV will start the evening with a series of social justice films from around the world and informal discussion.


disclaimer: The opinions expressed on this website are not necessarily shared by all groups or individuals who do
or may operate under the umbrella name nATo.We do not wish to encourage anyone to question the status quo, or to express opinions which question the legitimacy of this political/economic system.
Just put on a crash-helmet,get in bed, turn the TV on and stay put. (Go forth and usurp)


SchNEWS in brief news 364

BLITZED.

Blitz promises to be "a kick-ass anti-corporate extravaganza" to coincide with the Commonwealth Games being held in Manchester later this month.
Organised by NATO - that's Northern Arts Tactical Offensive, the festival covers a week of shows, actions and events kicking off on Sat 20th July with an open air music event, and the opening of two exhibitions. One is AgiTATE being held in a spanking new shopping mall who failed in their bid to ban it once they realised what was happening! Throughout the week there will be film and multimedia events organised by Beyond TV. The week will end with a skate attack and critical mass plus political street theatre on Saturday 27th. NATO has also produced a spoof guide to the city to guide tourists to their events.During that week there will also be a GM trashing nearby, Manchester People’s open seminar for the Anti Commonwealth Games Coalition and lots of anti sweatshop actions.
For a full programme see http://www.nato.uk.net

Direct action magazine Loombreaker reports “the Commonwealth Games are being used to launch a new Corporate Manchester - a posh apartment playground for coke-sniffing yuppies, .... The cost of the games are astronomical - the stadium alone accounts for a cool £120 million - but you won’t hear too much about £80m of public money the council has committed to paying. So if you’re wondering why there are cutbacks in schools and housing, or where your local swimming pools and other public amenities have all gone when your council rents and tax are rising, there’s not much need to look any further really.”




BLITZ PRESS RELEASE

20-28 July, Manchester
FESTIVAL OF RADICAL ART
1.VISUAL ARTS EXHIBITIONS
AgiTATE: Sat 20 - Sat 27 July- @ The Great Northern. [Units 25-28, 1st Floor, Great Northern Warehouse, Deansgate] [open 12-7pm daily; Preview Fri 19July 6-8 pm]
An art show from the political underground. The perfect antidote to the corporate spectacle of the Commonwealth Games. From the untrained street style of Manchester graffitti artists to the internationally renowned work of cartoonist Seth Tobocman, AgiTATE sets out to question where passive observation ends and participation begins, in the art world and everyday life. The seminal collage work of Gee Vaucher will feature alongside contemporary installation artists, photographers, painters and performance artists. These include Mark Cooley from the US, Steven Dickie from Dundee with his pirate radio station and an explosive performance form Jackofficer! Curated by Jai Redman (UHC Collective, with guest curators Kwong Lee and Helen Knowles (Radio Halo)
Participating artists are: Angel, Mark Cooley, Steven Dickie, Jo Hudson, The Jackofficers, Yuen Fong Ling, Alan Lodge, Monkeyboy, Polyp, Duncan Ross, Squall, Seth Tobocman, Jon Trayner, UHC Collectie, Gee Vaucher, Andy Wake, Justine Young.

Complete image gallery of work available on request

BODY POLITIC: Sun 21 - Sun 28 July @ The Greenroom, in the Workspace [open 4-11pm daily]
An exhibition by 12 contemporary artists tackling issues around sex and the gendered body.

2. OPEN-AIR MUSIC EVENT: Sat 20 July @ Great Northern Square [12 pm-10pm]
To kick off AgiTate, with the finest punk-pop of Stephen Nancy, Desolation Angels and Valerie. Guest appearances from Bristol- hip hop Freakbeat Reactor, ska from Bradford's Rebelation, Moco and Skam. With DJ's Phrush, Jenny Chan, Language Lab, Black Lodge and Spy Base. Plus Spellbound (Mo Wax) and spoken word performance. Running in parallel with an interactive installation "RAMP" by artists Stu Bentley, Victor Macmohn and Chris Hamer and graffitti art comp. hosted by Temper.
3.FILM, PERFORMANCE AND INTERACTIVE ARTS: 24-27 July @ Green Room + The Great Northern
Wed 24 July @ Green room [8-12am]
Yeast Experience a multimedia / music event from London's Yeast Collective, blending cutting edge video projections, music and live performance. Plus Panjit G from Asian Dub Foundation on the decks. BEyONdTV co-ordinate.
Thu 25 July + Fri 26 July @ Great Northern, in a downstairs unit; [5-8pm]
Undercurrents and BEyONdTV host inspirational alternative media and films. Full programme available from July on http://www.beyondtv.org
Thu 25 July @ Green room [8- 12am]
A special Blitz edition of Vaudeville, covering the theme of desire with film and performance art.
Sat 27 July @ Green room [8-2am]
Psychicbread and guests-mixing video, poetry by Mark Gwynne Jones and other performance. Feat. New York's most renowned underground cartoonist Seth Tobocman performing a multi-media slideshow with music from Cybec Blood. BEyONdTV co-ordinate.

< Press Contacts >
Agi Tate: Mike [t] 07984 286608 // Body Politic: Angel [t] 07949 493308 [e] angel@the-red-room.org // Music: Fadima [t] 07984 44 3479 [e]wundland01@hotmail.com // BEyONdTV events: Mick Fuzz [t] 01865 203661 [e] info@beyondtv.org // Vaudeville: Tam [t] 226 0364 // NATO for overall BLITZ info: [e] tacticalarts@yahoo.co.uk [t]0161 226 7192

THE BLITZ FESTIVAL HAS BEEN ORGANISED BY THE NORTHERN ARTS TACTICAL OFFENSIVE, A BANNER ARTS ORGANISATION DEDICATED TO THE PRODUCTION OF SPONTANEOUS, CONSCIOUS AND PUBLIC ART.
http://www.nato.uk.net