There is a concerted move by large businesses and government to go cashless, i.e. all by electronic/digital transactions. Are we really thinking about the ramifications of this?
The following letter, copied below as they appeared last week in two newspapers, note the dangers, bringing it into relationship with the current rail strikes in the UK…
“A cashless, automated society not only means huge job losses, but it means ultimate surveillance and control of our money and lives. It also raises deep questions about our very humanity…“
Text from the letter to Gloucester Citizen and Gloucestershire Echo, Thurs 30 June 2022
The UK ‘freedom movement’ that has grown over the last two years consists of people from very different backgrounds with a broad range of interests (that we do not all necessarily agree on). We have people of all different political persuasions that have put their differences aside to come together on the issue of resisting the attack on our hard-won democratic rights and freedoms and the looming prospect of a digitally controlled society (tyranny).
One of the central themes many of us have all been campaigning on is the growing prospect of a digitally controlled, cashless society with a CBDC (central bank digital currency). This is already being trialled and explored by the Bank of England, and more and more services, establishments, shops and businesses are going cashless.
The Department of Transport is cutting £4 billion pounds worth of transport funding from TFL and National Rail. This week the RMT (Rail, Transport and Maritime Union) has gone on national strike. In September it has been announced that ALL rail ticket offices will close, going cashless, with thousands losing their jobs. This means that millions who rely on cash will not be able to use trains.
There are also serious public safety concerns with unstaffed stations. The RMT is also asking cleaning staff who work forISS to walk out over being forced to use biometric fingerprint systems to clock in for work.
A cashless rail system and society with biometric ID (being talked about for supermarkets now as well) is the ultimate objective of powerful corporate and banking interests.
A cashless, automated society not only means huge job losses, but it means ultimate surveillance and control of our money and lives.
It also raises deep questions about our very humanity, and whether we want a truly human future, or one where a rampant technology systematically replaces and extinguishes real human relationships in every sphere of life. This is why we, the under signed, support the RMT members and the national rail strike.
Debbie Hicks – Human Rights and Liberties Activist
Piers Corbyn – Astrophysicist and Weather Forecaster
Alan Cooper – Numismatist, Stonehouse
Elleanne Green – Human Rights Activist
Paul Halas – former Labour Party officer, Stroud
Trefor Harris – Activist
Abby Hoffman – Labour Movement Activist
Dr Richard House – Former Labour member, Freedom Activist, Stroud
Mervyn Hyde – Resigned Labour Party member, Gloucester
Dr Heiko Khoo – Researcher, Journalist and Radio Producer
Deborah Smith – former Labour Councillor, Gloucester