Manifesto Club
LM network resources
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The Manifesto Club (MC) was launched in 2006 [1] and is associated with the libertarian, anti-environmental LM network. The MC is not related to the Euston Manifesto.
Contents
Campaigns
Celebrate the freedom of flight
Coinciding with protests and demonstrations against the pollution / cause of climate change at Heathrow airport in August 2007, Manifesto Club members produced articles ridiculing the protesters. According to MC, the freedom of flying should be "celebrated", and the front page of the campaign reads "As Heathrow protesters cause delays for families setting off on summer holidays, the Manifesto Club celebrates the freedom of flight". Note that in this page there are no references to "climate change", "pollution". The campaign page: Celebrate the Freedom of Flight
On 20 August 2007, the BBC Newsnight program reported on the Heathrow protests starting the program "nobody is listening to the protestors, but why?" Kirsty Wark interviewed two commentators: James Panton of the Manifesto Club and Leo Hickman, the writer of a book about ethical living. Both were accorded roughly equal time – which is surprising given that the Manifesto Club really doesn't have a history in doing anything useful. And their message, well don't bother about the planet, it is "liberating" to fly.
The topic was covered in two Debating Matters debates and by a pro-aviation industry organisation associated with the LM network, the Modern Movement, which proved short-lived.
Case against vetting
Child molesting or paedophilia is one of the favourite themes in BBC news programs and the tabloids. At least once a week the BBC carries a story about child abuse, and as a consequence the way children are raised in the UK has changed, e.g., while in the past children were given latitude to walk in the neighbourhood and meet local people, now the children are confined to a restricted zone near their home and under adult supervision. The BBC's obsession with child abuse also gave rise to the introduction of legislation to vet the caretakers or instructors of children. The Manifesto Club is against the vetting.
Against eyesores
On 23 October 2007, the Manifesto Club announced a new project:
- 'Attention Please' is a photo-project conceived to explore the way in which public space is polluted by a host of needless warning signs - slash tape over a crack in the pavement, or a puddle marked off with police cones. This project questions what such useless bureaucratic signage means for the look and feel of urban life - and calls for a more rational approach to public space.[2]
The website of the project: Attention Please
Comment: It is curious that MC is focusing exclusively on eyesores caused by public bodies, e.g., traffic cones, warning signs, etc. There is no indication that MC will focus on commercial causes of eyesores, otherwise known as advertising. While the former has some utility, possibly avoiding accidents, the latter don't have too many redeeming characteristics.
Free speech
A principal component of this Manifesto campaign is opposition to the widely supported ‘No Platform for Racists and Fascists’ policy. This opposition is shared by another, apparently dormant, LM network entity Academics For Academic Freedom.
Events
- Raymond Tallis – 13 September [3]
Steering committee
- Josie Appleton Convenor [4] | Dolan Cummings | Manick Govinda | James Panton
Individuals who have previously held leading positions within the club include leading LM associates Bill Durodie, Frank Furedi, Alex Hochuli, Munira Mirza and Brendan O'Neill.
Contact
Address: BM Manifesto Club, London WC1N 3XX
- E. info@manifestoclub.com
- T. +44 (0) 7792 795 462
- Website: www.manifestoclub.com
- Facebook group: Manifesto Club
- Twitter Manifesto Club
References
- ↑ Past Events, The Manifesto Club website, accessed 31 Oct 2010
- ↑ Email notification, 23 October 2007.
- ↑ Event notification
- ↑ Battle of Ideas 2007 festival Accessed 3 September 2007
