Citizensheep » Lobbying http://citizensheep.com/blog Michael Grimes lives in Birmingham (UK). This is his blog about anything that he fancies. Sun, 05 Feb 2012 23:40:27 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 Digital Economy Bill: my email to Lynne Jones MP http://citizensheep.com/blog/2010/03/18/digital-economy-bill-my-email-to-lynne-jones-mp/ http://citizensheep.com/blog/2010/03/18/digital-economy-bill-my-email-to-lynne-jones-mp/#comments Thu, 18 Mar 2010 10:55:53 +0000 Michael http://citizensheep.com/blog/?p=2106

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    • ]]>     I’m concerned about the Digital Economy Bill so I’ve just sent one of those standard lobbying emails to my MP.

    I used the online form at 38 Degrees because it was easy, but I made substantial changes to the message (I would have added more but I was in a hurry, hence the convenience of the form in the first place).

    This is the version I sent. You’re welcome to re-use it for your own MP. (Be sure to include as much contact information as you can. They need to be sure you’re a constituent and may well not reply otherwise.)

    Dear Lynne Jones

    I’m concerned that the Government will rush the Digital Economy Bill into law without a full Parliamentary debate. I am concerned because I believe the bill to be draconian, even dangerous.

    Many people think it will damage schools, businesses and innocent people who rely on the internet, as it will allow the Government to disconnect people it suspects of copyright infringement.

    This seems to run counter to rhetoric from the same government around moving to a digital society in which much of our civic engagement is enacted online. Cut people off from the internet and you cut them out of society.

    Industry experts, internet service providers (like Talk Talk and BT) and internet companies such as Google and Yahoo are all opposing the bill, and I urge you to do the same.

    I should very much like to hear your views on the matter. If you would like to discuss it further, I know a few interested folk in the constituency who would be happy to meet for coffee.

    Yours sincerely,

    Michael Grimes

    If you live in the Selly Oak constituency would you be interested in discussing this with Lynne Jones? Or in collaborating on a fuller lobbying statement?

    ]]>     http://citizensheep.com/blog/2010/03/18/digital-economy-bill-my-email-to-lynne-jones-mp/feed/ 0     Small but significant improvements that the Custard Factory should make..? http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/09/22/small-but-significant-changes-that-the-custard-factory-should-make/ http://citizensheep.com/blog/2009/09/22/small-but-significant-changes-that-the-custard-factory-should-make/#comments Tue, 22 Sep 2009 12:32:18 +0000 Michael http://citizensheep.com/blog/?p=1948

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    • ]]>     The Custard Factory in Birmingham has become a bit of a joke. It’s looking run-down, and suggests no-one really cares anymore about promoting it as a vibrant space, and no-one really goes there (except for loud music at weekends).

    Simon Gray just tweeted a small but important change that would vastly improve accessibility for visitors:

    “My advice to the custard factory, btw – a big sign in the window saying ‘reception’ would be a massive bonus for visitors…”

    And that’s just one thing that would make a big difference: I’m sure there are many more. I think it’s high time we compiled a list of little but important changes that could be made, and then lobby for them to happen.

    So if you have any please add them in the comments below.

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