Open Tech Calendar

The Open Rights Group is encouraging supporters to talk to politicians during the General Election campaign about human rights, civil liberties and digital issues. By speaking out we can help politicians better understand the issues we campaign on and secure greater support for protecting privacy, digital security and freedom of expression.

One of the ways you can do this is by attending a local hustings event. Hustings are a chance to meet all the candidates who are standing for election in your area and to ask them questions. Unfortunately, hustings aren't always very well publicised although projects such as Democracy Club aim to fix this problem.

We've learned that Cotteridge Church in Selly Oak constituency will be holding a hustings event at 7.30pm on Wednesday 17 May. Please click on the link below for details of the Candidates standing for election.

whocanivotefor.co.uk

We'd love it if you could join us in Selly Oak for the hustings event. You can submit questions in advance by emailing the organisers:

Rev John Nightingale, [masked]

Rev Mike Claridge, [masked] The Open Rights Group recommends we keep our questions fairly general. Here are a couple of suggested questions:

- Will you commit to staying in the European Convention on Human Rights?
- With the passing of the Investigatory Powers Act last year, what is your opinion on the level of surveillance in the UK?

Know about any other hustings events that are happening in Birmingham? If so, please do let us know. If you're on Twitter please tweet us @OpenRightsBrum and we'll share the details with other supporters.

And remember, even if you can't make it to an election event, there are other ways you can make politicians aware of human rights and civil liberties issues. You can ask Candidates via social media. Better yet, if a Candidate knocks on your door during the election, you can have a more detailed conversation about privacy, security and freedom of expression.

To find out who's standing in your local area, visit the excellent Democracy Club's Who Can I Vote for? whocanivotefor.co.uk