2011-11-16 #WikiLeaks News: a day for Julian #Assange, Stop the Stop Online Piracy Act
This is a "WikiLeaks News Update", a news update of stories relating directly to WikiLeaks and also freedom of information, transparency, cybersecurity, and freedom of expression.
November 17 is a day of global support for Julian Assange, WikiLeaks, and Bradley Manning.
On the occasion of President Obama’s visit to Australia to mark the 60th anniversary of the Australian-US war alliance and the announcement of the expansion of U.S. Military presence in the country, an antiwar protest in Canberra, outside the Parliament House, will start at 10:30 am.
This protest is also in support of WikiLeaks and Julian Assange, who currently risks extradition to the United States, should his application for a Supreme Court appeal be rejected by the High Court and extradition to Sweden granted. In which case the U.S. could apply for his ‘temporary surrender’. This would enable him to be extradited to the U.S.
Christine Assange, Julian’s mother, wrote an open letter this week to help bring more visibility to the protest. In it, Christine expresses concern over the possibility of an extradition to the U.S. and urges action be taken against it:
“(…)The situation is URGENT! Australians from all walks of life overwhelmingly support his work at Wikileaks to expose corporate and government corruption. His only hope now is that his fellow Aussies demand that our government stand up to US bulliying and guarantee his protection, against a US extradition.”
If you are not in Australia, there are other ways you can join the global protest.
For instance, if you live in the UK, contact your MP ahead of a Parliamentary debate on extradition, on November 24, where Julian Assange’s case will be discussed.
Please bring his case to the attention of your MP: the EAW for Julian Assange was issued in abuse of process as it is being used for questioning, not for the purpose of having him prosecuted for an offense.
Julian Assange has been under house arrest for 345 days without charge.
More about EAW irregularities in this case.
Your MP should be easy to find on this list.
Other supporters can also take action on this day by:
- Donating to WikiLeaks or the Julian Assange defence fund
- Sending at least one of the several call to action and petitioning draft letters addressed to European organizations and Members of the European Parliament requesting action over the unjust treatment of Julian Assange.
- Signing this petition demanding Julian Assange be protected by the Australian Parliament from extradition to the United States.
Stop the Stop Online Piracy Act
Today the American Congress held a hearing on the Stop Online Piracy Act, a proposed copyright bill that concerns many rights groups and freedom of information advocates for its potential to silence websites that expose institutional abuses, such as WikiLeaks, as well as whistleblowers, and virtually any Internet user.
americancensorship.org illustrates the consequences the SOPA would have once implemented (click in order to read).
Although Google, Facebook and Twitter all opposed the bill today, Google copyright policy counsel Katherine Oyama found it appropriate to refer to the unlawful financial blockade against WikiLeaks as an example of an future measure to counter online copyright violations.
Should the ‘Stop Online Piracy Act’ be approved, any website suspected of copyright infringement could be cut off by a payment processor without notice, similarly to what happened to WikiLeaks, only under the SOPA such an embargo would be legal.
- Gavin MacFadyen, founder of the Center for Investigative Journalism, commented on Julian Assange’s extradition and selective media reporting about him.
- A new interview with Julian Assange, conducted by philosopher Peter Singer, was published today by a new german publication ‘Philosophy Magazine’. Der Standard published a few excerpts from the interview online.
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November 14 to November 18: a Call-in to The White House and Military to Demand UN Access to Bradley Manning is happening this week.
The first two contacts, whose phone lines are to be flooded with calls demanding the authorization of a UN visit to Bradley Manning are:
* Secretary of the Army Public Affairs Officer Lt. Anne Edgecomb: 703-697-3491
[email: Anne.edgecomb@us.army.mil]
* Army Chief of Staff Public Affairs Officer Lt. Col Alayne Conway: 703-693-4961
[email: Alayne.conway@us.army.mil]
More information at bradleymanning.orgNovember 17: Led by Christine Assange, Julian Assange's mother, an antiwar protest, also against Julian's extradition and U.S. government’s measures against WikiLeaks will occur in front of the Parliament House in Canberra on the occasion of US President Obama's visit to Australia. Please join.
Know more about this protest.November 17: whistleblower Rudolf Elmer's appeal hearing will take place. Prosecution requests 'convicted on all charges' verdict and increased sentence.
Before November 24: the UK Parliament will, on November 24 debate the extradition of Julian Assange, among other cases. If you live in the UK, write your MP on the subject ahead of this debate. Here’s how. (All details about this case at Sweden vs. Assange)
November 28: a new WikiLeaks online submission system is to be launched.
November 28: Julian Assange and Kristinn Hrafnsson debate the topic The WikiLeaks effect: the rebirth of investigative journalism at the GEN News World Summit (Hong Kong).
November 29: Channel 4 the airs new special ‘WikiLeaks: Secrets and Lies’.
December 5: Public hearing for Julian Assange’s appeal at the Royal Courts of Justice (London).
December 17: Vigil for Bradley Manning on his 24th Birthday:
Saturday, December 17 · 12:00am - 11:30pm
[For more details, see Vigil for Bradley Manning on his 24th Birthday's facebook page.]
Send small gifts and birthday cards to the following address - If you live in Australia: click here to complain to the ACCC (Australian Competition & Consumer Commission) about the Banking Blockade against WikiLeaks.
Bradley Manning 89289
830 Sabalu Road
Fort Leavenworth, KS 6602
Other action campaigns in support of WikiLeaks/Julian Assange