Governments keep secrets. Some important, some not so important. Hopefully with the ushering in of a second major “leaks” site governments around the world will begin to revise their agendas with the threat of pubic examination of the actions they commit and suppress “for interests of the state”.
“A former co-worker of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange plans to launch a rival website Monday called Openleaks that will help anonymous sources deliver sensitive material to public attention.
In a documentary by Swedish broadcaster SVT, to be aired Sunday and obtained in advance by The Associated Press, former WikiLeaks spokesman Daniel Domscheit-Berg said the new website will work as an outlet for anonymous sources.”
More is better. The efforts to smear/silence Julian Assange have kicked into overdrive and rest assured, Berg will be under similar pressure as well.
“The WikiLeaks site has come under attack, while Assange, who is now in a British jail fighting extradition to Sweden on sex crime allegations, has been threatened. Swiss Postfinance, MasterCard Inc., Visa Inc., PayPal Inc. and others have cut ways to send donations to the group, impairing its ability to raise money.”
Clearly, you can see which side Corporate interests lie. It is unsurprising, as Corporations like States have many ugly secrets that they do not want the public to know about. Wikileaks is a grassroots organization, and I suggest you support an agency (see the side bar for links to the main and mirror wikileaks sites)that is dedicated to increasing the publics knowledge of the workings of their governments. The idea of government for the people by the people should be more than just a mumbled platitude.
Update: Find the openleaks page here, nothing to see yet but a logo.




5 comments
December 14, 2010 at 8:06 am
Vern R. Kaine
You’re supporting non-government-interfered competition, Arb? You’re sounding more and more like a Capitalist every day!!! Haha. Note that the government makes the same argument against WikiLeaks and for its interference in the marketplace as it does re: excessive taxation, that it’s all for the “greater good”. B.S. here as it is there.
Competition for WikiLeaks will be good. I also like his suggested format better than Assange’s – it puts pressure back where it should be, on traditional media to do their job and it means that no single person can be the Secrets Czar.
I’m also glad that it puts an extra buffer (the media) between the public and, well, itself. This is the same public that waltzed themselves into a financial crisis, who has failed to stop two wars it pretends it wants solved, and is allowing juvenile diabetes to become an epidemic right under their noses. Maybe if the media gets first dibbs on all the information, they’ll champion some of the causes. The public seems to champion nothing.
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December 14, 2010 at 11:09 am
The Arbourist
You’re supporting non-government-interfered competition, Arb? You’re sounding more and more like a Capitalist every day!!! Haha
It must be my latent libertarian streak showing through. *grins*
But on a more serious note, I am, to a certain extent, for competition in terms the economy, just with a serious overlay of rules and a egalitarian flavour that keeps the wealth modestly distributed so more people have the chance to achieve.
I also like his suggested format better than Assange’s – it puts pressure back where it should be, on traditional media to do their job and it means that no single person can be the Secrets Czar.
Accountability is a good thing, as well as transparency. I do not think Mr.Assange’s assessment of the sound and fury that the posted leaks was accurate. His statements, because he is being persecuted, have sounded quite reactionary as of late.
This is the same public that waltzed themselves into a financial crisis, who has failed to stop two wars it pretends it wants solved, and is allowing juvenile diabetes to become an epidemic right under their noses.
To a good extent I agree with you Vern, but one must note that the Media as it stand today is not there to rabble rouse, but rather build complicity and disengagement. Unmotivated, apathetic people are easier to control than engaged politically and socially active ones. The state you see people in is no accident.
The public seems to champion nothing.
You need to look for the little things Vern, it is them that keep you sane. Always around the periphery of issues good things are happening. For instance, although we disagree on many points we manage to maintain a civil discourse (more or less). Communication and discussion open up and bring debate to the public, potentially activating those who read this blog.
It is small, even minuscule action, but it helps. :)
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December 14, 2010 at 2:41 pm
Vern R. Kaine
The state you see people in is no accident.
Always around the periphery of issues good things are happening.
I’ll be the first to admit that my cynicism is overarching at times. On an individual level, I actually do see and celebrate many great things that happen. I’ve mentioned a few “heroes” so far on my blog. I also don’t truly believe that there is no intelligence in groups. There are intelligent Tea Partiers, Republicans, Democrats, and even ditch diggers. It’s just somehow that when we “group” altogether we all of a sudden get collectively stupid and inept. haha
I never really thought of us dumbing down to be a result of what we’re constantly fed in society – that we start smart and just get numbed into stupid. I’ll ponder that further, and in the meantime enjoy our more/less civil discourse. :)
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December 14, 2010 at 3:36 pm
WIKILEAKS specilal update dec 2010 (ASSANGE:Terrorist or Christ?)(2)
[…] Wikileaks – Open Leaks – Public Accountability becomes a … […]
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December 17, 2010 at 4:40 pm
NCOIC Robert L. Scott
Fundamentally Money is being ‘Worshiped’ at the expense (due to lack of expenditure) of Human Beings who could be Educated into the 21st century rather than being Abandoned to the 6th century Mull ahs/Rabbis/Priests/Ministers/Corporate Moguls/World Bank Predators. A penney to prevent Armageddon while the Wicked profit using Weapons of Mass Deception.
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