JULIAN ASSANGE: Why is it that I am subject – a non-profit, free speech activist – to a $360,000 bail? Why is it that I am kept under electronic house arrest when I have not even been charged in any country?
Wikileaks founder to appeal extradition decision, ABC 25/02/2011 TONY EASTLEY: A London court has ordered that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange should be sent from the UK to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault.His defence lawyers have argued the former computer hacker won’t get a fair trial in a country where they say he’s regarded as “public enemy number one”.Mr Assange has already flagged he’ll appeal against the British ruling. Continue reading →
February 25, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, UK, Wikileaks |
Leave a comment
There is serious concern among Mr Assange’s legal team that other internet companies, including Google and Facebook, may have buckled under the US Patriot Act and surrendered their information without contest.
US targets Twitter in bid to trap Assange, Sydney Morning Herald, Paola Totaro in London, February 15, 2011 The US government’s legal hunt for Julian Assange will begin in a magistrates court in Virginia today when its Attorney General seeks a disclosure order on Twitter to obtain the names, dates and locations of anyone using its services to communicate with WikiLeaks. Continue reading →
February 15, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, USA |
Leave a comment
Keen served as president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, which shut down the nuclear reactor in Chalk River over safety concerns. The government said it had lost confidence in her and terminated her appointment.
Former nuclear regulator named to Eastern Ontario health authority By pauline tam, Ottawa Citizen February 14, 2011 Continue reading →
February 15, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Canada, civil liberties |
Leave a comment
the bill would… shift the risk of building traditional power plants from the utility companies to customers…The bill would also direct the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission to “exercise all necessary caution” to avoid disclosing confidential information it receives from utilities to the public during rate cases or capital projects…The new bill underscores the state’s efforts to keep such information private.
Bill pushing nuke and coal-fired plants gets green light | The Indianapolis Star | indystar.com, John Russell, 11 Feb 2011, Over an outcry, Senate panel passes bill encouraging coal-fired and nuclear power plants Despite strong opposition from environmentalists, senior citizens and consumer groups, an Indiana Senate committee on Thursday endorsed legislation that encourages the construction of coal-fired and nuclear power plants in Indiana and would allow utilities to quickly recover certain costs from customers. Continue reading →
February 12, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, USA |
Leave a comment
Jaitapur’s people are more concerned about being treated as sub-humans by the state, which has unleashed savage repression, including hundreds of arrests, illegal detentions and orders prohibiting peaceful assemblies. Eminent citizens keen to express solidarity with protesters were banned, including a former supreme court judge, the Communist party’s secretary and a former Navy chief. Gadgil too was prevented. A former high court judge was detained illegally for five days. Worse, a Maharashtra minister recently threatened that “outsiders” who visit Jaitapur wouldn’t be “allowed to come out” (alive).
This hasn’t broken the people’s resolve or resistance.
The truth behind India’s nuclear renaissance Jaitapur’s French-built nuclear plant is a disaster in waiting, jeopardising biodiversity and local livelihoods Praful Bidwai guardian.co.uk, 8 February 2011 The global “nuclear renaissance” touted a decade ago has not materialised. Continue reading →
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, environment, India | antinuclear, AREVA, France, indigenous, nuclear secrecy, radiation, reactor |
Leave a comment
“Assange has championed people’s right to know and has challenged the centuries-old tradition that governments are entitled to keep the public in a state of ignorance.”…….Mr Assange’s work was in the tradition of Tom Paine’s Rights of Man and Daniel Ellsberg’s Pentagon Papers – “challenging the old order of power in politics and in journalism”.
Julian Assange awarded Sydney peace medal, Sydney Morning Herald, February 2, 2011 In the estimation of the Sydney Peace Foundation, Australian WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange stands alongside the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela. Continue reading →
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA, civil liberties |
Leave a comment
Assange’s extradition is only the tip of the iceberg Flawed European arrest warrant system means thousands face unjust extradition each year Jago Russell guardian.co.uk, 9 Feb 2011, Julian Assange is fighting extradition to Sweden. Many suffer unjustified extradition ordeals under the present system. Continue reading →
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, EUROPE |
Leave a comment
the TSA had previously been unable to detect incidents when excessive doses of radiation were emitted by X-ray machines used to inspect baggage. Furthermore, TSA officials failed to detect machines whose safety protections were missing or disabled.
(USA) Lawmaker Presses TSA to Release Reports on Airport Scanner Radiation | FairWarning, By Patrick Corcoran February 9, 2011 Members of Congress two months ago started demanding the release of inspection reports regarding the possible ill effects of radiation from full-body X-ray scanners widely used for airport security. Continue reading →
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, USA |
Leave a comment
Nuclear whistleblower treated unfairly, investigation finds Herald Sun, AAP February 09, 2011 A MAN who went public with safety concerns about Australia’s only nuclear reactor was denied procedural fairness when he was suspended from his job on bullying claims, an investigation has found.Australia’s commonwealth workplace regulator, Comcare, investigated the case of Dave Reid, a health and safety representative for the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation Radiopharmaceuticals.It found ANSTO breached health and safety laws in its handling of the case. n the report, obtained by ABC Television, the investigator found Mr Reid was denied procedural fairness when he was suspended from his role after bullying allegations were made against him by other employees. Nuclear whistleblower treated unfairly, investigation finds | Herald Sun
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
AUSTRALIA, civil liberties |
Leave a comment
Last November, Dr. Caldicott was due to speak in Port Hope, Ont., when she found herself persona non grata there. Cameco, a producer of uranium fuel for nuclear power plants around the world, is a major employer in this town of 16,000 on Lake Ontario.
‘Barred’ from Port Hope: An interview with Dr. Helen Caldicott, rabble.ca, By Cathryn Atkinson| February 8, 2011 Renowned Australian physician and anti-nuclear activist Dr. Helen Caldicott has for four decades lectured around the world about the medical dangers inherent in the use of radioactive materials for nuclear energy and weapons. Her work was captured in the 1982 National Film Board of Canada short documentary, If You Love This Planet, which won an Oscar. Continue reading →
February 10, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
Canada, civil liberties |
2 Comments
the civil liberties of Americans are at a greater risk of being compromised than civil libertarians previously thought.
Report shows how FBI chronically compromised civil liberties | CAIVN, by Chris Hinyub 4 Feb 2011, A relatively ignored study has put into stark relief the cons of an emerging surveillance culture in America. According to information uncovered by the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), the Federal Bureau of Investigation has a startling track record of illegal and intrusive intelligence investigation practices. Continue reading →
February 7, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, USA |
Leave a comment
(UK) Undercover police scandal: why we urgently need a judge-led inquiry, The Ecologist, Dan Glass 21st January, 2011 With daily revelations about police spying on activists, we need an independent judicial investigation into the scale and nature of infiltration and use of agents provocateurs, says Ratcliffe defendant Dan Glass
It started with the 26 individuals who had been charged with planning to shut down Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station for one week. The individuals were part of the 114 arrested at the Iona School in Nottingham on Easter Monday, 2009. The incident was the largest pre-emptive arrest of environmental campaigners in recent history and prompted widespread concerns for civil liberties. Now these concerns have deepened to unimagined depths………
They had a trial late last November, and were found guilty after being accused by the prosecution of merely seeking publicity. Undercover police scandal: why we urgently need a judge-led inquiry – Comment – The Ecologist
February 7, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, UK |
Leave a comment
Unmanned drones, controlled by Air National Guard from Hancock Airfield, will fly over the Adirondacks syracuse.com February 06, 2011, If you feel like you’re being watched while floating in a canoe or driving along some lonely road in the Adirondacks this summer, you might be right. Continue reading →
February 7, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties |
Leave a comment
Liu Xiabao was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize last year for his struggle for human rights, democracy and freedom of speech in China, Likewise: WikiLeaks have contributed to the struggle for those very values globally, by exposing (among many other things) corruption, war crimes and torture.”
Julian Assange nominated for Peace Prize TECHWATCH, by Tom Coyne, February 3, 2011, Julian Assange, founder of the whistle blowing website, Wikileaks, has been nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize by a member of the Norwegian government. Continue reading →
February 4, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
2 WORLD, civil liberties |
Leave a comment
The state has unleashed savage repression on Jaitapur’s people. It routinely arrests and serves externment notices to peaceful protesters, and promulgates prohibitory orders, under which eminent citizens like former Navy chief L. Ramdas and former Supreme Court judge P.B. Sawant were barred from Jaitapur, and former Bombay High Court judge B.G. Kolse-Patil was detained for five days without being produced before a magistrate within 24 hours. Others have had false charges framed against them,
Nuclear trouble in Maharashtra, The Daily Star, 3 Feb 2011, Praful Bidwai Continue reading →
February 3, 2011
Posted by Christina Macpherson |
civil liberties, India |
Leave a comment
JULIAN ASSANGE: Why is it that I am subject – a non-profit, free speech activist – to a $360,000 bail? Why is it that I am kept under electronic house arrest when I have not even been charged in any country?
nuclear-news 