Q&A: Adam Freeland on campaigning

DJ Adam Freeland promotes nights in protest of the ID card scheme

Tell me which campaign you're involved in?

I put on a party called - No Idea! with the support of Our World Our Say (www.owos.info) to raise awareness about and oppose the National Identity register.

It was organised to oppose a scheme which basically, give its intended course, will eventually have us all with compulsory ID cards.

What motivated you get involved in this issue?

I believe that personal anonymity is a basic human right.

Its being touted as something that will 'make us safer from terrorists' but its clearly not about that.

Even the ex-head of M15 spoke out and said ID cards would not make us any safer. www.no2id.net/ also raises a lot of the concerns I'm talking about.

Do you think speaking out makes a difference?

Of course.

What's the alternative? Sit back, shut up and let Big Brother run things into a 'brave new world'?

Do you think well-known people are helpful to campaigns?

Remember that dude called Martin Luther King?

Do you think you have real influence? Can you make a difference?

"Ten people who speak make more noise than ten thousand who are silent" - Napoleon Bonaparte.

Do you think young people are engaged with campaigning issues that affect them?

Not enough.

There are so many issues affecting us all everyday and so many big problems in the world.

Its very easy to feel like you can't do anything and remain apathetic.

People are scared of sticking their head above the crowd, but in fact if everybody who felt like that actually got up and stood up for what they believe is right then massive change is possible.

Would you encourage more young people to get involved?

Absolutely. The freedoms we take for granted today were fought for by our ancestors, they are something that need to be continually defended otherwise they will be quietly taken away.

I think most people are quite naive on how our fears are played upon and the massive freedoms that are being lost to the 'war on terror'.

Do you see yourself as political?

No.

Do you believe people are becoming more political with a small p?

Well yeah, its trendy to read the Guardian and have an opinion isn't it?

But are we standing up more and trying to change the topics we discuss over our mocha latte?

You don't see students protesting they way they did in Berkeley in the 60's.

Why not? Freedoms have been taken away from us in the name of 'war on terror' or 'criminal justice' or what ever which make such freedom of expression a lot harder.

Are you unimpressed with politics and politicians at a national level?

Come on, I'm not sure I've ever heard of anybody 'impressed' with politics and politicians.

Power corrupts and has for the history of humanity.

Do you enjoy being involved and what have you got out of it?

Yes. Our event had queues around the block and we got good media attention, such as doing this interview right now.

Because of this, more people will become aware of what we are shouting about, if some of them get what we are on about, speak up and say NO, that's rewarding.

There is immeasurable strength in numbers.

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