Thanks to Dan Lynch’s reminder, guidance and example, here is my own effort based on the 38Degrees letter template (the bits I added are in bold).
I’d strongly encourage everyone to write to their MP, too, but read Dan’s article first! He has some good advice on how to do it as well as background information about the Bill and what it’s about.
Remember, anything that contributes to keeping supporters of child slavery like Sting in royalty payments can’t be good. So, if nothing else, do it for the children!
Dear Andy Love, MP I’m writing to you today because I’m very worried that the Government is planning to rush the Digital Economy Bill into law without a full Parliamentary debate. The law is controversial and contains many measures that concern me. The controversial Bill deserves proper scrutiny so please don’t let the government rush it through. Many people think it will damage schools and businesses as well as innocent people who rely on the internet because it will allow the Government to disconnect people it suspects of copyright infringement. Industry experts, internet service providers (like Talk Talk and BT) and huge internet companies like Google and Yahoo are all opposing the bill – yet the Government seems intent on forcing it through without a real debate. As the Chief Executive of Enfield Clubhouse, a local charity helping some of the most deprived and socially excluded members of our community to learn and have access to computers and the internet for the first time, this Bill concerns me greatly. Many of our Clubhouse members are anxious enough about going online and protecting their safety and privacy without the government monitoring them with a view to persecuting them for any alleged, but not necessarily proven, illegal use. Recently we were awarded just over £9,000 from Awards For All to buy brand new computers so that our members can work and play together, to build up their skills, friendships and confidence for living more independently, job search and social networking. All of these are vital to continuing recovery and preventing relapse. If this new Bill is passed, one mistake or false accusation could mean that we are no longer able to use the internet and our members will once again be alienated from everyday online society. So, I am writing to you today to ask you to do all you can to ensure the Government doesn’t just rush the Bill through and deny us our democratic right to scrutiny and debate. Yours sincerely, David Marsden Chief Executive Enfield Clubhouse