Have you got a job with Freedom of Information (FOI) responsibilities? Well you owe the Campaign for Freedom of Information for your job. Have you got a business that gains revenue from FOI? Well that part of your business owes the Campaign too.
Have you used the right of access to Health Records, Social Work Records, Education Records or Housing Records to sort out a personal problem? Well you owe the Campaign for Freedom of Information for that right of access.
Have you used the right of access under FOIA or FOISA to write a blog, news item or find out what you nearest and dearest public authority is doing so you can argue about their decisions? Well you owe that to the Campaign for Freedom of Information too.
The Campaign for Freedom of Information is essential bulwark against a state that can be addicted to secrecy; it is a centre of excellence for FOI advice and consumer protection. If you are ever stuck, the Campaign is an accessible font of FOI knowledge.
Whenever the politicians try to change the FOI regime in Parliament, it is the Campaign that steps up to the plate and presents the heavyweight counter-arguments. Do you think that Whistleblowing is justified? Well the Campaign has significant "battle-honours" in that regard too.
Why am I writing this? Well the Campaign for Freedom of Information is having financial troubles; without their amazing work there would be no Freedom of Information Act or FOISA, no Accessible Record and indeed no category (e) personal data that gives access to all the stuff which, but for category (e), there would be a huge data protection loophole.
It was the Campaign for Freedom of Information which during the Thatcher era lit the FOI torch. Its cross party approach to FOI was maintained, well argued and consistent. It took time, patience and two decades of persistence before the Campaign was ultimately successful. We cannot afford to let that torch be extinguished.
So please make a donation to give the Campaign time to restructure and succeed. As citizens we need the Campaign more than ever. The time has come to give something back.
To donate go to: http://www.cfoi.org.uk/fundraisers/help-the-campaign/
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