Who's Watching You? Christchurch Public Meeting, Thursday 11th October

Selwyn Manning, Keith Locke, Paul Buchanan and David Small will each share their views on the increased permeation of security into society and the privatisation of security, at a public meeting organised by Canterbury University Students to be held at the Christchurch WEA (59 Gloucester St) at 7pm this Thursday 11th October.

'We have formed Who's Watching You? in order to explore both the increased surveillance people are subjected to, and also the privatisation of security,' said Hayley McLay, one of four students in Who's Watching You?

'Keith Locke - Green Party MP - spokesperson on Human Rights and Security and Intelligence; 'unofficial civil liberties watchdog,' Selwyn Manning -Co-editor of Scoop: reported on Ahmed Zaoui case and APEC 2007, Paul Buchanan - Security and intelligence academic and David Small - senior lecturer in Education, successfully took case against Police in relation to SIS's 1996 break-in to Aziz Choudry's house, will each talk for 20 minutes. One member of our group will also present the results of our survey on these issues, which has been running on the website whoswatchingyou.org/survey said Ms McLay. Numerous journalists, politicians, academics, security professionals and community workers / activists have been asked to provide comment over the past four weeks.

'Recent news stories highlight how prevalent surveillance is in our lives todays, and also how intertwined it is with state 'security' and data gathering by corporations. For example, the arrest of the Chaser Boys during APEC showed the almost farcical nature of some modern 'security,' yet Helen Clark uses 'security' as justification for a new information transferring agreement with NATO.

'People are likely to be watched in the following places: ATMs, work, buses, checkouts, lifts, alleyways, school locker-rooms, shops, airports, car-yards, warehouses, streets, airports, internet cafes, your local diary, libraries, and carparks. It is important to ask what this information is being collected for, and in whose interests? The Blackwater expose highlights the accountability issues that arise if Government's are going to contract out security,' said Ms McLay.

ENDS

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