Patrick Anderson reviews 'The Bell Ringers' by Henry Porter

February 1, 2010,  By Patrick Anderson, The Washington Post

English journalist Henry Porter's "The Bell Ringers" (published in England last year as "The Dying Light") is one of many novels that have attempted to update "Nineteen Eighty-Four" -- and one of the more impressive. But while Orwell offered a worst-case scenario of what could happen 35 years in the future, Porter is writing about what, as he sees it, is already starting to happen... This is a sophisticated, engrossing and important political thriller. Porter wants us to see that the same technological tools that can be used to fight terrorism or to make government more efficient can also, in the wrong hands, be used to destroy freedom.

Read more at The Washington Post...

 

 

 
The dangers of state surveillance

Monday 1 February 2010,  liberty central blog, guardian.co.uk

Encouraged by terror laws, the authorities are increasingly using surveillance techniques in trivial circumstances

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Disbar the war lawyers

Wednesday 27 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

From Tony Blair to Lord Goldsmith, the rush to war was led by politician-lawyers, and the most culpable should be disbarred

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
What price liberty?

Tuesday 26 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

Saturday's debate in Cornwall proved two things: senior police are intelligent people, and the public embraces open debate

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Gatwick policing looks ugly

Monday 25 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

After a flight was delayed, passengers reported shockingly aggressive policing. Are the public just scum to officers?

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Stop playing politics with our rights and freedoms. They're too valuable

Sunday 24 January 2010,  The Observer

What we need now is a great repeal bill that restores all that Labour has taken from us

 

Read more...
 
Large databases can never be secure

Wednesday 20 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

The decision not to prosecute a doctor for accessing the health records of well-known patients raises wider privacy issues

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
What Price Liberty?

Saturday 23rd January 2010, 10am - 4.30pm, Truro College, Cornwall

A day to discuss our freedom, privacy & rights. Chaired by Kate Adie (broadcaster and author) with speakers Henry Porter, Frederick Taylor (best selling historian of WW2), Katherine Whitehorn (columnist and broadcaster), Oliver Baines (environmental campaigner), Stephen Otter (Chief Constable for Devon and Cornwall) and Ursula Owen (campaigner for free speech).

Click here to read more and book tickets...

 

 

 
Is your home safe from the state?

Monday 18 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

A new bill restricting sweeping government powers of entry is desperately needed to restore the sanctity of our homes

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Welcome judgment on stop and search

Tuesday 12 January 2010, liberty central blog, Guardian 

The European court of human rights ruling against the use of Section 44 stop and search powers is hugely important

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Challenging the violence done by Tasers

Tuesday 12 January 2010,  liberty central blog, Guardian

A judgement in the US adds to the case that the routine deployment of tasers in the UK should be examined

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Our police: dumb, or dangerous?

Friday 8 January 2010,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

When armed officers tackle a group of young men in fancy dress, there is something amiss in Britain's police

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Protecting the media from the police

Thursday 7 January 2010,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

The inept policing of public space is preventing reporters and photographers from going about their lawful business

Read more at the guardian website...

 

 

 
Vote for liberty and rights in 2010

Wednesday 6 January 2010,  Henry Porter's blog, guardian.co.uk

Labour has undermined civil liberties in favour of an overmighty centralised state. This must be a central election issue

Click here to read more at guardian.co.uk

 

 

 
prev1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10next