Submitted by Mike Krieger via Liberty Blitzkrieg blog [4],
It’s 8pm in Cambodia and time to find something to eat, but before I do, something caught my attention that I just have to share. It has to do with Great Britain’s continued insanity when it comes to it’s own version of the so-called “war on terror.” This topic will come as no surprise to regular readers, as I have previously highlighted the UK’s unique brand of Orwellianism on several occasions. Here are a couple of examples from late last year:
The UK’s Conservative Party Declares War on YouTube, Twitter, Free Speech and Common Sense [5]
The BBC is Using Anti-Terror Surveillance to Find Tax Dodgers [6]
In case you aren’t aware, there is something called the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill 2014-15, currently moving through the UK Parliament [7]. The Bill completed its committee stage in the House of Commons in mid-December, and will enter its report stage and third reading on January 6th and 7th. Accompanying this bill, which is controversial in its own right, is a 39-page consultation document that directs nursery school staff and registered childminders to “report toddlers at risk of becoming terrorists.” Think this is a joke? Think again. From the UK Telegraph [8]:
Nursery school staff and registered childminders must report toddlers at risk of becoming terrorists, under counter-terrorism measures proposed by the Government.
The directive is contained in a 39-page consultation document issued by the Home Office in a bid to bolster its Prevent anti-terrorism plan.
The document accompanies the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill, currently before parliament. It identifies nurseries and early years childcare providers, along with schools and universities, as having a duty “to prevent people being drawn into terrorism”.
The consultation paper adds: “Senior management and governors should make sure that staff have training that gives them the knowledge and confidence to identify children at risk of being drawn into terrorism and challenge extremist ideas which can be used to legitimize terrorism and are shared by terrorist groups.
“They should know where and how to refer children and young people for further help.”
But concern was raised over the practicalities of making it a legal requirement for staff to inform on toddlers.
“The Government should focus on projects to support vulnerable young people – instead they’re playing straight into terrorists’ hands by rushing through a Bill that undermines our democratic principles and turns us into a nation of suspects.”
He added: “It is important that children are taught fundamental British values in an age-appropriate way. For children in the early years, this will be about learning right from wrong and in practitioners challenging negative attitudes and stereotypes.
Who knows what sort of material these extremists might be perusing.
