York PEN: The University of York English PEN Society

However you voted, this is an interesting round-up of all the papers reporting today's shock general election result. Remember that we're keen to publish any articles on anything connected with freedom of speech and human rights, so if you'd be interested in doing a piece- perhaps about how the outcome might have an impact on internet privacy laws, or the mandate for increased surveillance- please do get in touch!

'May's gamble backfires': How newspapers reacted to shock hung parliament General Election result We urge you to turn off your ad blocker for The Telegraph website so that you can continue to access our quality content in the future.

Something interesting from the Evening Standard to add to our discussion on Wednesday about the different party manifestos!

Tory poll lead over Labour slashed by half since manifestos launched The Tory lead over Labour has been halved since the two parties unveiled their manifestos, according to polls. Jeremy Corbyn’s party was given a fresh boost by a new poll showing Theresa May’s Conservatives dropping five per cent to 43, while Labour enjoyed a five per cent boost to 34.

Please take five minutes to register to vote. It is incredibly important that you do. Don't delay, the deadline is TOMORROW. The next five years are decided by your choice to take five minutes to fill out this form.

Even if you aren't there on polling day, get yourself on the register either register to vote by proxy (let someone vote for you) or for a postal vote.

Register to vote - GOV.UK Get on the electoral register so you can vote in elections and referendums.

Do you find this horrifying? Are you worried that the media's ability to report on the government is being increasingly compromised? Come to York PEN's discussion group tonight, 6.30-7.30, in Vanbrough V/123a, to discuss reporting around this election: Is this election different?

Journalists 'locked in a room and banned from watching' as Theresa May visits factory Local news reporters claim they were locked in a room by Theresa May's press officers as the Prime Minister toured a factory during an election campaign visit. Cornwall Live claimed its reporter was shut away in a room while Ms May visited the Water-Ma-Trout industrial estate in Helston.

First meeting of the term today at 18.30 in V/123a. We'll be having an informal chat about the role of surveillance and the general election. All welcome!

Brilliant article from David Mitchell on the slow introduction of a cashless society and the increase in online surveillance in counter-terrorism: 'It would not be safe to give Isis the power of almost infinite surveillance over everything we say or do online, who we talk to, what we like and every penny we spend. But Isis isn’t demanding that. The only issue is whether it’s safe to give it to those who are.'
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2017/apr/09/cant-spend-a-penny-without-being-snooped-on-british-airways

You can’t spend a penny without being snooped on | David Mitchell Coins and notes with the Queen’s head on them, endorsed by a sovereign state, are no longer sufficient for British Airways. It needs to know who we are

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/07/world/europe/wikileaks-cia-hacking.html?_r=0

WikiLeaks Releases Trove of Alleged C.I.A. Hacking Documents The documents describe agency tools used to hack into smartphones and TVs, as well as to bypass encryption on programs like Signal and WhatsApp.

Here's our latest article: a short piece on the state of affairs in Myanmar with Aung San Suu Kyi's administration turning its back on its progressive history and stifling free speech.

The Dilemma of Aung San Suu Kyi Chair Jonathan Tait discusses the alarming repercussions of repressive laws under the democratic party of Myanmar led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Aung San Suu Kyi’s contributions to the establishment of…

Come find us at 6.30 in James College, Q Block, Room 001 - we have free wine!

We really enjoyed meeting everyone at Freshers! Make sure to join us for a free glass of wine and to hear more about what we do at our first meeting at 6.30pm on Wednesday in J/Q/001!

We're here and set up in Vanbrugh Dining Hall, come get your free stationery and biscuits, and for only £4 become a member you get a snazzy membership card, and the opportunity to contribute to our work - previously recommended by the Huffington Post.

Freshers Fair is nearly upon us. All members returning and new are encouraged to find us tomorrow in Vanbrugh Dining Hall. Membership for this year is £4, the mailing list is of course, free. We're there from 10am until 4pm, (9am for those coming during access hour).

Come sign up, grab a biscuit, collect your membership card, and have a chat with us about free speech and human rights.

Tomorrow's vote will affect us all for many years to come. Make sure you get down to a polling station and exercise your right to vote!

We are always eager to welcome new members to the York PEN team and hear your views on freedom of expression and free speech. If any of you would like to contribute to our blog over summer, writing about anything related to human rights, freedom of expression and free speech please get in touch!

All funds from our very successful York PEN's Quiz of the Year have been allocated to the English PEN Prison Writing Competition Appeal.

Below is the link to their campaign, which gives an extensive outline of their fantastic work.

Once again, we would like to extend our thanks to all of those who attended and donated generously.

The wheels are already in motion for next term's plans, we are very excited to share them with you nearer the time.

English PEN Prison Writing Competition Appeal - English PEN English PEN’s prison writing competition gives prisoners across the UK an opportunity to have their work judged by a leading author and to see their writing published. Not only does the experience build skills and self-confidence, it can increase the possibility for rehabilitation. The competition w...

Thanks to everyone who came to the quiz last night, we had an excellent turnout and a very enjoyable time. We hope you did too!

After counting last night's donations we are enthused to announce that we exceeded last year's quiz donations and have raised £163 towards English PEN projects.

Well done to all that participated, and thank you to each and every person who donated so generously to such a great cause.

Best,

Everyone at York PEN.

Our quiz is in full swing!

Just picked up a voucher for High Tea at the lovely Coffee Culture for tonight's raffle!

If you wanted to sign our petition to York MP Rachael Maskell regarding the Snooper's Charter, but didn't get the chance... here is the online version for York students!

Please put on your name and email address and we will add it to the list of students we already have!

https://docs.google.com/a/yusu.org/document/d/134xayL0_pJZZRxWYeAJ-u_MctoPDblffWiHyLdc_5sQ/edit?usp=sharing

Sign in - Google Accounts

We are campaigning against the Snoopers Charter outside the library today! Come sign our petition to York MP asking her to vote against the Bill.

Website Director Ethan Morgan writes about his visit to Nuit Debout, a new French political gathering-place.

https://yorkpen.wordpress.com/2016/05/18/staking-a-place-for-speech-nuitdebout

Staking a Place for Speech #NuitDebout Armed police smiled and looked mildly bored, leaning up against their van at the edge of the square; but then this night was fairly quiet. Included amongst the various tents, stalls and ‘comm…

An excellent article that debunks the idea that mass surveillance makes us safer.
On Thursday York PEN will campaigning on campus against the Investigatory Powers Bill and collecting signatures for our petition asking York's MP Rachael Maskell to vote against the IP Bill a.k.a. the Snooper's Charter!

The Investigatory Powers Bill won’t make us safer - CapX For centuries, western civilization has been admired for its democratic institutions and general respect for civil rights—and rightfully so. Western powers have cherished human rights by ensuring that the governments both honor and protect essential liberties. But in the wake of the tragic terrorist...

Our incoming Website Director Francesca Butler reports on a fascinating talk by an ex-prisoner of the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention centre.

https://yorkpen.wordpress.com/2016/05/07/mozzam-begg-at-yorkx

Mozzam Begg at YorkX Our incoming Website Director Francesca Butler reports on a fascinating talk by an ex-prisoner of the infamous Guantanamo Bay detention centre. YorkX are a new society with an aim to deliver a plat…

Jonathan Tait takes us through the details and controversial aspects of the Investigatory Powers Bill, also known as the Snoopers Charter.

https://yorkpen.wordpress.com/2016/05/03/the-investigatory-powers-bill-an-overview

The Investigatory Powers Bill: An Overview Jonathan Tait takes us through the details and controversial aspects of the Investigatory Powers Bill, also known as the Snoopers Charter. The Snoopers Charter, or the Investigatory Powers Bill, se…

York PEN member Jonathan Tait examines last week's Commons vote on accepting 3000 extra unaccompanied refugee children into the UK.

https://yorkpen.wordpress.com/2016/05/02/child-refugees-missing-mps

Child refugees; missing MPs York PEN member Jonathan Tait examines last week’s Commons vote on accepting 3000 extra unaccompanied refugee children into the UK. Last week was profoundly turbulent for ongoing human rights…

At last night's meeting we discussed - a project that is fighting for freedom for Eritrea's political prisoners, maybe of whom haven't been seen or heard from for nearly 15 years. Eritrea has been ranked as the worst country for freedom of expression and safety of journalists by the World Press Freedom Index yet is largely ignored by the media.
Show the world you have not forgotten Seyoum and his fellow prisoners and sign One Day Seyoum's petition!

One Day Seyoum One Day Seyoum is a human rights movement working for the release of journalist Seyoum Tsehaye who has been illegaly detained since 2001. Join us!

York PEN is currently in P/T/005 where there is free wine, cake and chocolate at the Refreshers Fair! Our founder is currently speaking on the Alumni Panel, extolling the merits of getting involved with us!