You can't wait around for someone else to act
jkeogh Sun, 06/09/2013 - 9:42pm
Edward Snowden: the whistleblower behind revelations of NSA surveillance
The 29-year-old source behind the biggest intelligence leak in the NSA's history explains his motives, his uncertain future and why he never intended on hiding in the shadows.
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance
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US citizens - petition Obama for Edward Snowden's pardon
Of course, he hasn't yet been formally charged, but there's no need to wait for that to happen before taking action.
https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/pardon-edward-snowden/Dp03vGYD
Misguided
It is the Executive branch that is outside the Constitution and the law, not Edward Snowden.
The Administration are the ones who should seek a pardon. Ed owes no apologies.
Use all available communication channels
Last time I checked, the state appeared better equipped and more likely to be planning something nasty for him, than vice versa. The more high profile channels that are used to express popular support for his actions, the better.
I know this sounds like hyperbole, but I think this event provides an unexpected and remarkable opportunity for citizens from all countries to help slow down the systematic removal of civil liberties.
Though PNAC anticipated "a catastrophic and catalysing event" which would allow them to sell a wartime paradigm, on rare occasions, shocking and catalysing events occur to unite and embolden people to make a stand against authoritarianism. This seems to be one such case. Even much of the world's mainstream media seems to be enraged.... I'm a little surprised there isn't more discussion about the topic on this site.
Appreciate
I appreciate the sentiment and largely agree, but we don't start the fight with surrender and a mercy plea.
The point of petitioning
Petitioning for a presidential pardon in relation to charges that haven’t even been announced, is a means of trying to influence the government’s behaviour before they publicly announce what action they will take. They will probably seek extradition anyway, the narrative reported by the media will not be the same. We should try to make clear from the outset that they face popular resistance on a wide scale.
I don’t think that combative metaphors are helpful, especially when dealing with a security-led state.
100k signature threshold has been exceeded
Good to see.
Sales of '1984' on the rise
Concerning the possible effect of these revelations, I just saw this:
http://gma.yahoo.com/blogs/abc-blogs/sales-orwells-1984-increase-details-nsa-scandal-emerge-170154278.html
I'm hoping new readers don't miss this passage, about an exchange between Winston and Julia:
"Once when he happened in some connexion to mention the war against Eurasia, she startled him by saying casually that in her opinion the war was not happening. The rocket bombs which fell daily on London were probably fired by the Government of Oceania itself, 'just to keep people frightened'. This was an idea that had literally never occurred to him."
Latest from Corbett
The Post-911 World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WsrEqC2ABlg
Those skilled in the art.
NSA Deception Operation? Questions Surround Leaked PRISM Document’s Authenticity
http://www.globalresearch.ca/nsa-deception-operation-questions-surround-leaked-prism-documents-authenticity/5338673
They have to justify their existance.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N46ryO4ehfI
Ellsberg and ACLU
Daniel Ellsberg has partnered with the ACLU on their petition campaign. I just signed.
~~~~~
Daniel Ellsberg, the well-known whistleblower and lifelong advocate for freedom who leaked the “Pentagon Papers” 40 years ago, said, “there has not been in American history a more important leak than Edward Snowden's release of NSA material.”
Snowden’s disclosure publicly revealed that, under provisions of the Patriot Act and the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA), the National Security Agency (NSA) has direct access to the systems of Microsoft, Google, Facebook, Apple and other major U.S. internet companies, and the phone calls of nearly every American.
In an email this week to ACLU supporters, Ellsberg noted:
I’ve seen firsthand how the consequences of [this] kind of government abuse threaten our most fundamental liberties…we may find ourselves in a dangerous situation in which average citizens, along with Congresspersons, journalists and their sources, even judges, are watched around the clock and afraid to dissent. The core fixtures of our democracy—the right to protest, the right to live freely in the pursuit of life, liberty, and happiness without government intrusion—could be weakened beyond repair.
We simply can’t afford to do nothing. We have no choice but to act now. It's time that we put an end to the government's secret surveillance state by asking the president to call for the repeal of section 215 of the Patriot Act and section 702 of FISA. Join the strong public outcry against this program by joining me in signing this petition today:
https://www.aclu.org/secure/stop-spying?Ms=autofire_acluaction_ellsbergspying_130619
As usual... it's much worse.
NSA Whistleblower: NSA Spying On – and Blackmailing – Top Government Officials and Military Officers
http://www.washingtonsblog.com/2013/06/nsa-whistleblower-nsa-spying-on-and-blackmailing-high-level-government-officials-an...
Rap News 19: Whistleblower
LOL.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hnMPQmIPibE
(No subject)
Amnesty International statement
http://www.amnesty.org/en/news/usa-must-not-hunt-down-whistleblower-edward-snowden-2013-06-24
Widney Brown, Senior Director of International Law and Policy at Amnesty International:
"No one should be charged under any law for disclosing information of human rights violations by the US government. Such disclosures are protected under the rights to information and freedom of expression,"
"It appears he is being charged by the US government primarily for revealing its and other governments’ unlawful actions that violate human rights.”
Integrity
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49J--fgJEZY
Full NDR (German TV) Interview
http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x1aefb0_snowden-interview-in-english_news
Naomi Wolf on change.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adHxAYcSo9E
Colbert trolls RSA Conference
P1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f7gGtVScrQo
P2: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3QH4d4qNOQ
Edward Snowden (in Avatar) @ Ted Conf
http://youtu.be/yVwAodrjZMY
Russell Tice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iYcyu9UgV4k
Luke Rudkowski interviews Russ Tice
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQwUUCSFj_0
Glenn Greenwald on The Washington Journal
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L0MnFgnBgTI
"We've actually been criticized in some quarters that don't get a lot of attention for not publishing enough documents, for for sort of holding on to too many. Now, and I actually find that criticism that we haven't published enough documents much more valid and compelling. That's the one keeps me up at night and worries me much much more than the claim that we've published too much." -Glenn Greenwald
NBC Old Media
"I take the threat of terrorism seriously, and I think we all do. And I think it's really disingenuous for the government to evoke and sort of scandalize on our memories, to sort of exploit the national trauma that we all suffered together and worked so hard to come through to justify programs that have never been shown to keep us safe but cost us liberties and freedoms that we don't need to give up, and our Constitution says we should not give up." -Edward Snoden
http://www.nbcnews.com/feature/edward-snowden-interview/watch-primetime-special-inside-mind-edward-snowden-n117126
Why We Must Oppose Bilderberg
As the Bilderbergers gather in Denmark to discuss this year's agenda, James Corbett presents "Why We Must Oppose Bilderberg" to the We The People Anti-Bilderberg Conference taking place in Copenhagen. Learn more about the history, aims, and goals of the Bilderberg Group, why they must be opposed, and how best to do it on this special edition of The Corbett Report podcast.
Glenn Greenwald - Jung & Naiv - Episode 168
http://youtu.be/L9baC7B60ZU
Doing right by sources, done right [31c3] by Sarah Harrison
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBNx3DCcT4w
Citizenfour
http://cryptome.org/Citizenfour.7z
http://cryptome.org/Citizenfour-HD.7z
The (evil) Art Of Deception
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/document/2014/02/24/art-deception-training-new-generation-online-covert-operations/
Former NSA Technical Director Talks About The Elephant
http://911blogger.com/news/2015-03-20/media-100-ignoring-nsa-director-binney-who-just-questioned-911-and-wtc-7-film
M. C. McGrath: Watching the Watchers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xipI-0HU010
The Intercept discusses problem-reaction-solution.
https://firstlook.org/theintercept/2015/05/13/greatest-threat-free-speech-comes-terrorism-claiming-fight/
Binney: Seeking Blackmail Power, U.S. Officials Enabled 9/11
http://www.truthdig.com/avbooth/item/nsa_whistleblower_william_binney_seeking_the_power_to_blackmail_20150515
Justin, Thanks for keeping a running record.
The title of this thread entry and the original article contain profound statements and ACTS of courage. Real guts. I mean "real guts!"
Even I don't know if I could confront this kind of courageous action. Some of these folks like Edward Snowden, Sibel Edmonds, etc. "ride much taller in the saddle" than I.
~ ["ride tall in the saddle" -To act or conduct oneself in a manner that is imposing, impressive, resolute, or manly.]
... "you can't wait around for someone else to act. I had been looking for leaders, but I realised that leadership is about being the first to act.".... -- Edward Snowden
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/jun/09/edward-snowden-nsa-whistleblower-surveillance
What is the alternative media?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=59rf5wzkUrM
On July 7, 2015, James Corbett was asked to present to a course on alternative media in the International Relations department of Japan's prestigious Ritsumeikan University. The lecture covers how James came to start The Corbett Report, the technology that has enabled the alternative media revolution, and the promises and perils of that revolution.