Julian Assange claims WikiLeaks is more accountable than governments

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

WikiLeaks is more accountable than democratically elected governments because it accepts donations from members of the public, Julian Assange has claimed, in his first formal public appearance since being arrested in December following accusations of rape and sexual assault.

Questioned at a public debate about the whistleblowing organisation's own transparency, Assange told an audience of 700 people, many of them supporters: "We are directly supported on a week-to-week basis by you. You vote with your wallets every week if you believe that our work is worthwhile or not. If you believe we have erred, you do not support us. If you believe we need to be protected in our work, you keep us strong.

"That dynamic feedback, I say, is more responsive than a government that is elected after sourcing money from big business every four years."

The WikiLeaks founder, who is currently appealing against his extradition to Sweden to face allegations of sexual assault, told the audience at a packed debate organised by the New Statesman and the Frontline Club that whistleblowing was essential in a democracy because "the only way we can know whether information is legitimately kept secret is when it is revealed".

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/apr/09/julian-assange-wikileaks-public-debate

[northoftheborder]

1. haven't heard of many leaks lately.

Why didn't we hear more leaks about a bank, supposedly BOA? One little leak, is that all there is?

[Blue_In_AK]

2. Given Bradley Manning's current status,

can we be too surprised that whistleblowers aren't whistling?

[Hissyspit]

11. Major Saudi Arabia info this week.

Why are you repeating the mainstream D.C. talking point?

Thanks to the attacks on WikiLeaks and those who enable them, we may never see the BOA leak.

[HankyDubs]

17. maybe I'm missing something here

the rumors of the BOA leak have been swirling for months, but nothing happens.

I strongly support Wikileaks, I'd be very disappointed if the whole thing was a tease.

[Hissyspit]

22. There's no reason to believe it was a tease.

There is reason to believe the efforts to cripple or slow WikiLeaks down have been effective.

[SoapBox]

12. Ditto

...where was all the news about the banks...we heard a lot
of breathlessness and then,

nada.

[Hissyspit]

15. There have many, many additional cable leaks that are rocking the world's governments

to this degree or that over the past month. MSM has done its usual great job of ignoring them.

The bank leak has not occurred yet. It may still, it may not.

[HankyDubs]

20. hissyspit

can you point toward some specifics? No sarcasm intended whatsoever.

[Hissyspit]

21. Here's one:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/apr/08/yemen-told-saudis-bomb-mohsen

[sabrina 1]

14. Do you know anything about Wikileaks and the banks they have

helped expose? Heard about what happened in Iceland, eg?

The leaks from Wikileaks so far, even if they quit right now, have had world changing effects as a news organization should have when there is so much corruption in governments around the world.

Have you done anything to stop the persecution of Wikileaks eg? Like write a letter, sign the petitions, anything to let this government know we will not stand by and watch them persecute people for telling the truth?

This government is trying to get him here to charge him with espionage if they can find a way to do it, which if they were successful could mean the death penalty. It is a shameful part of the history of this country.

For several years now he and others from Wikileaks have risked their lives to expose corrupt governments, winning awards along the way.

But the biggest threat to the life of Assange, who was well known for his work around the world before the U.S. ever heard of him, has been from the Government of the U.S.


How shameful is that?

[MilesColtrane]

3. Assange to supporters, "C'mon, cough it up. My legal bills ain't gonna pay themselves."

[BenzoDia]

16. Is he using the donations to pay for his legal bills?

If so, then that's pretty crappy.

[JDPriestly]

18. Why is that crappy?

He owes the bills because of the work he does. If you believed in the work enough to give him money, you probably would not mind.

Maybe you think it is crappy because you don't think his work is worth it. But that does not make it crappy. It is just your opinion.

[MilesColtrane]

19. To be fair, no one really knows where the donations to Wikileaks go.

They haven't opened up the books to full scrutiny.

My tongue in cheek post is sheer speculation based on my years of observing human nature in regards to money.

[Demeter]

4. The Leaks Continue--We Just Don't Hear About Them In This Country

Check out the British, European, Asian, and Al-jazeera websites.

[stockholmer]

6. +100 , Danish, Swedish, Norwgian, German, Italian, etc too

[stockholmer]

5. kind of snotty, dodgy article from the Guardian, then again, they do employ Monbiot n/t

[RUMMYisFROSTED]

7. -

[villager]

8. And he'd be right.

Especially considering governments aren't accountable at all. Well, except to their bosses and masters.

[Devil_Fish]

9. Hard to believe this is LBN. NT

[jberryhill]

10. People donate to Newt Gingrich too

What does that have to do with accountability?

[No Elephants]

26. People who do not believe they are getting whatever they donated to get stop donating.

That's why lobbyist dollars never stop.

[lunasun]

13. e only way we can know whether information is legitimately kept secret is when it is revealed".TRUE!

[MrMickeysMom]

23. The forth estate...

should be the media, but the have become instead, a Nobless Oblige

Asange has done the work of the forth estate ...

All NPR could do all day Friday was talk all about the govt shutdown....

It's disgusting as hell ... we should be actively hearing and discussing what Wiki Leaks has brought to light.

[joshcryer]

24. Release the cables then, Julien. You have, what, 85-95% to go?

[grahamhgreen]

25. Yup.

[No Elephants]

27. People donate to government, too. It's called "taxes."

[bemildred]

28. Since Wikileaks support is entirely voluntary, he is right. nt

[jberryhill]

29. So the Roman Catholic Church is now "transparent"?

They get more donations than Wikileaks.

[bemildred]

30. The word was "accountable", it's right up there, not "transparent".

And yes the Catholic Church nowadays is more accountable than our government, because it is also unable to compel support.

If it makes you feel better, none of them look "transparent" to me.

[nalnn]

31. Ahhh! I Found Waldo!

I had been wondering when DU would make mention of Julian again. Had started to miss him. :evilgrin: