Founder announces suspension of publishing and says site has been deprived of 95% of its revenue and could fold by new year WikiLeaks could be driven out of existence by the new year if it is unable to challenge a financial blockade by banks and credit card companies including Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, the website’s founder Julian Assange has said. Announcing a “temporary suspension” of the whistleblowing website’s publishing activities, Assange said the site had been deprived of 95% of its revenue by the “dangerous, oppressive and undemocratic” blockade, and now needed to direct its energy purely into “aggressive fundraising” to fight for the organisation’s survival. “This financial blockade is an existential threat to WikiLeaks. If the blockade is not borne down by the end of the year the organisation cannot continue its work,” Assange told a news conference in central London. The announcement is the most open acknowledgement of the site’s perilous financial situation since a clutch of financial operators blocked donations in the days after its publication of leaked US embassy cables in November last year. Paypal, Visa, MasterCard, Bank of America, Western Union and Post Finance cut financial ties following the release, through the Guardian and other media partners, while Every DNS withdrew its domain hosting service. The website has begun “pre-litigation action” in Britain, Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, the United States and Australia against the blockade, said Assange, and an action pressing the European competition authorities to investigate the “wrongdoing of Visa and MasterCard” is ongoing. Assange said the financial companies had bowed to pressure from “a political grouping in the US” to block payments to the site, while the US treasury, among other organisations, had found no grounds for the blockade. “The most powerful players in the banking industry have been shown to be an arm of rightwing America,” he said, adding: “A handful of US financial companies cannot be allowed to decide how the whole world votes with its pocket.” Donations had slumped from a monthly average of €100,000 (£87,000) at the end of 2010 to an average of €6-7,000 during 2010. Based on the rate of donations on the day the blockade was imposed, WikiLeaks argues it has been deprived of between €40m and €50m. Assange, 40, remains on bail pending a ruling on his appeal against extradition to Sweden to answer allegations of rape and sexual assault. Asked about his own legal fees in that case, he said: “WikiLeaks collected monies have never gone to the Swedish case to which I am subject.” He is soliciting donations towards his personal legal fees, but through separate accounts, he said. The website needs $3.5m (£2.2m) to get through the next 12 months, Assange said. “Unusually for a hi-tech organisation,” he said, “it is now accepting cheques and cash sent in the post as well as donations via more modern means such as by text message.” A new fundraising page on the WikiLeaks website urges supporters to use bank transfers, post cash or cheques or buy “revenue-generating gifts” – WikiLeaks- or Assange-branded merchandise including T-shirts and wallets and “dog bandanas” – to raise money. A number of smaller online suppliers including BitCoin and Flattr will process WikiLeaks donations. Assange acknowledged, however, that the organisation would also need to recruit “a constellation of wealthy individuals from different nations” to help it to meet legal and publishing costs. • James Ball on why the bankers’ blockade of WikiLeaks must end WikiLeaks Julian Assange Esther Addley guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
Founder announces suspension of publishing and says site has been deprived of 95% of its revenue and could fold by new year WikiLeaks could be driven out of existence by the new year if it is unable to challenge a financial blockade by banks and credit card companies including Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, the website’s founder Julian Assange has said. Announcing a “temporary suspension” of the whistleblowing website’s publishing activities, Assange said the site had been deprived of 95% of its revenue by the “dangerous, oppressive and undemocratic” blockade, and now needed to direct its energy purely into “aggressive fundraising” to fight for the organisation’s survival. “This financial blockade is an existential threat to WikiLeaks. If the blockade is not borne down by the end of the year the organisation cannot continue its work,” Assange told a news conference in central London. The announcement is the most open acknowledgement of the site’s perilous financial situation since a clutch of financial operators blocked donations in the days after its publication of leaked US embassy cables in November last year. Paypal, Visa, MasterCard, Bank of America, Western Union and Post Finance cut financial ties following the release, through the Guardian and other media partners, while Every DNS withdrew its domain hosting service. The website has begun “pre-litigation action” in Britain, Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, the United States and Australia against the blockade, said Assange, and an action pressing the European competition authorities to investigate the “wrongdoing of Visa and MasterCard” is ongoing. Assange said the financial companies had bowed to pressure from “a political grouping in the US” to block payments to the site, while the US treasury, among other organisations, had found no grounds for the blockade. “The most powerful players in the banking industry have been shown to be an arm of rightwing America,” he said, adding: “A handful of US financial companies cannot be allowed to decide how the whole world votes with its pocket.” Donations had slumped from a monthly average of €100,000 (£87,000) at the end of 2010 to an average of €6-7,000 during 2010. Based on the rate of donations on the day the blockade was imposed, WikiLeaks argues it has been deprived of between €40m and €50m. Assange, 40, remains on bail pending a ruling on his appeal against extradition to Sweden to answer allegations of rape and sexual assault. Asked about his own legal fees in that case, he said: “WikiLeaks collected monies have never gone to the Swedish case to which I am subject.” He is soliciting donations towards his personal legal fees, but through separate accounts, he said. The website needs $3.5m (£2.2m) to get through the next 12 months, Assange said. “Unusually for a hi-tech organisation,” he said, “it is now accepting cheques and cash sent in the post as well as donations via more modern means such as by text message.” A new fundraising page on the WikiLeaks website urges supporters to use bank transfers, post cash or cheques or buy “revenue-generating gifts” – WikiLeaks- or Assange-branded merchandise including T-shirts and wallets and “dog bandanas” – to raise money. A number of smaller online suppliers including BitCoin and Flattr will process WikiLeaks donations. Assange acknowledged, however, that the organisation would also need to recruit “a constellation of wealthy individuals from different nations” to help it to meet legal and publishing costs. • James Ball on why the bankers’ blockade of WikiLeaks must end WikiLeaks Julian Assange Esther Addley guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Founder announces suspension of publishing and says site has been deprived of 95% of its revenue and could fold by new year WikiLeaks could be driven out of existence by the new year if it is unable to challenge a financial blockade by banks and credit card companies including Visa, MasterCard and PayPal, the website’s founder Julian Assange has said. Announcing a “temporary suspension” of the whistleblowing website’s publishing activities, Assange said the site had been deprived of 95% of its revenue by the “dangerous, oppressive and undemocratic” blockade, and now needed to direct its energy purely into “aggressive fundraising” to fight for the organisation’s survival. “This financial blockade is an existential threat to WikiLeaks. If the blockade is not borne down by the end of the year the organisation cannot continue its work,” Assange told a news conference in central London. The announcement is the most open acknowledgement of the site’s perilous financial situation since a clutch of financial operators blocked donations in the days after its publication of leaked US embassy cables in November last year. Paypal, Visa, MasterCard, Bank of America, Western Union and Post Finance cut financial ties following the release, through the Guardian and other media partners, while Every DNS withdrew its domain hosting service. The website has begun “pre-litigation action” in Britain, Iceland, Denmark, Belgium, the United States and Australia against the blockade, said Assange, and an action pressing the European competition authorities to investigate the “wrongdoing of Visa and MasterCard” is ongoing. Assange said the financial companies had bowed to pressure from “a political grouping in the US” to block payments to the site, while the US treasury, among other organisations, had found no grounds for the blockade. “The most powerful players in the banking industry have been shown to be an arm of rightwing America,” he said, adding: “A handful of US financial companies cannot be allowed to decide how the whole world votes with its pocket.” Donations had slumped from a monthly average of €100,000 (£87,000) at the end of 2010 to an average of €6-7,000 during 2010. Based on the rate of donations on the day the blockade was imposed, WikiLeaks argues it has been deprived of between €40m and €50m. Assange, 40, remains on bail pending a ruling on his appeal against extradition to Sweden to answer allegations of rape and sexual assault. Asked about his own legal fees in that case, he said: “WikiLeaks collected monies have never gone to the Swedish case to which I am subject.” He is soliciting donations towards his personal legal fees, but through separate accounts, he said. The website needs $3.5m (£2.2m) to get through the next 12 months, Assange said. “Unusually for a hi-tech organisation,” he said, “it is now accepting cheques and cash sent in the post as well as donations via more modern means such as by text message.” A new fundraising page on the WikiLeaks website urges supporters to use bank transfers, post cash or cheques or buy “revenue-generating gifts” – WikiLeaks- or Assange-branded merchandise including T-shirts and wallets and “dog bandanas” – to raise money. A number of smaller online suppliers including BitCoin and Flattr will process WikiLeaks donations. Assange acknowledged, however, that the organisation would also need to recruit “a constellation of wealthy individuals from different nations” to help it to meet legal and publishing costs. • James Ball on why the bankers’ blockade of WikiLeaks must end WikiLeaks Julian Assange Esther Addley guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …
WASHINGTON — The Obama administration pulled its ambassador out of Syria over security concerns, blaming President Bashar Assad’s regime for the threats that made it no longer safe for him to remain. Ambassador Robert Ford returned to Washington this weekend after the U.S. received “credible threats against his personal safety in Syria,” State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Monday. Ford has been the subject of several incidents of intimidation by pro-government thugs, and enraged Syrian authorities with his forceful defense of peaceful protests and harsh critique of a government crackdown that has now claimed more than 3,000 lives. “We hope that the Syrian regime will end its…
Continue reading …In honor of World Food Day Monday, the United Farm Workers launched an action alert to help spread the word about the issues related to world hunger and to thank the farmers who feed the world. UFW and other groups are also lobbying Congress on a set of issues related to food and farming. Dozens of organizations are partners in supporting World Food Day. They are asking supporters to e-mail Congress to support a set of goals that would help lessen world hunger, improve health and farm working conditions and increase food security: Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness Expand access to food and alleviate hunger Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids Support fair conditions for food and farm workers The United Farm Workers action alert : An unprecedented number of consumers across America are questioning the system that puts food on their tables. From examining high fructose corn syrup to buying local to tracking food miles to supporting organic production, consumers are demanding more sustainable sources of food. Yet all too often, farm workers are left out of this discussion. In California, farm workers have literally been paying with their lives when their employers fail to provide shade and drinking water during extreme temperatures. Nationally, farm workers die in workplace incidents five times more often than non-agricultural workers. Agriculture for most farm workers is hardly a sustainable profession. Yet it should be, as we depend upon farm workers to put the wine, milk, fruits, vegetables and other products on our tables every day. Today, consumers around the country are celebrating Food Day. Please add our voice to this movement for a healthier, more nutritious, just, humane and sustainable food supply. We ask that you take a moment not only to remember but to thank the workers who are in the fields rain or shine, hot or cold, to make sure our families enjoy the rich bounty of food we have come to expect. We’ve drafted a message below you can send to farm workers. We encourage you to personalize that message. We’ll take your responses, print them and distribute them to the thousands of UFW members across the U.S. so they know how important you think they are in creating a more just food system.
Continue reading …In honor of World Food Day Monday, the United Farm Workers launched an action alert to help spread the word about the issues related to world hunger and to thank the farmers who feed the world. UFW and other groups are also lobbying Congress on a set of issues related to food and farming. Dozens of organizations are partners in supporting World Food Day. They are asking supporters to e-mail Congress to support a set of goals that would help lessen world hunger, improve health and farm working conditions and increase food security: Reduce diet-related disease by promoting safe, healthy foods Support sustainable farms & limit subsidies to big agribusiness Expand access to food and alleviate hunger Protect the environment & animals by reforming factory farms Promote health by curbing junk-food marketing to kids Support fair conditions for food and farm workers The United Farm Workers action alert : An unprecedented number of consumers across America are questioning the system that puts food on their tables. From examining high fructose corn syrup to buying local to tracking food miles to supporting organic production, consumers are demanding more sustainable sources of food. Yet all too often, farm workers are left out of this discussion. In California, farm workers have literally been paying with their lives when their employers fail to provide shade and drinking water during extreme temperatures. Nationally, farm workers die in workplace incidents five times more often than non-agricultural workers. Agriculture for most farm workers is hardly a sustainable profession. Yet it should be, as we depend upon farm workers to put the wine, milk, fruits, vegetables and other products on our tables every day. Today, consumers around the country are celebrating Food Day. Please add our voice to this movement for a healthier, more nutritious, just, humane and sustainable food supply. We ask that you take a moment not only to remember but to thank the workers who are in the fields rain or shine, hot or cold, to make sure our families enjoy the rich bounty of food we have come to expect. We’ve drafted a message below you can send to farm workers. We encourage you to personalize that message. We’ll take your responses, print them and distribute them to the thousands of UFW members across the U.S. so they know how important you think they are in creating a more just food system.
Continue reading …
We get a lot of children’s books in the mail. This is great, but we’re a few decades away from the target demographic. Wouldn’t children’s book reviews be so much better if they were written by, well, children? And so we turned to the Associate Books Editor, who has three younger sisters: Isabel (7), Olivia (6) and Sofia (4). Who better to give expert opinions on this fall’s hottest children’s books? This season contains some unusual treats, including a new book from “Where The Wild Things Are” author Maurice Sendak and a posthumously published volume of poems by Shel Silverstein. Pulitzer-prizewinner Michael Chabon also took a shot at his first children’s book. Which ones will keep the little one’s entertained, and which are little more than replacement roofs for dolls houses? Here’s what the girls (as well as their mother) had to say:
Continue reading …We get a lot of children’s books in the mail. This is great, but we’re a few decades away from the target demographic. Wouldn’t children’s book reviews be so much better if they were written by, well, children? And so we turned to the Associate Books Editor, who has three younger sisters: Isabel (7), Olivia (6) and Sofia (4). Who better to give expert opinions on this fall’s hottest children’s books? This season contains some unusual treats, including a new book from “Where The Wild Things Are” author Maurice Sendak and a posthumously published volume of poems by Shel Silverstein. Pulitzer-prizewinner Michael Chabon also took a shot at his first children’s book. Which ones will keep the little one’s entertained, and which are little more than replacement roofs for dolls houses? Here’s what the girls (as well as their mother) had to say:
Continue reading …
There’s no shortage of multitouch-friendly all-in-one desktops to choose from these days, but you can now add one more to the list: Lenovo’s new C325. This one packs a 20-inch 1600 x 900 display (also available sans multitouch in the basic configuration), along with a dual-core AMD E450 processor, integrated Radeon HD 6320 graphics, up to 8GB of RAM, a maximum 1TB hard drive, and a built-in DVD burner (no Blu-ray option, unfortunately), among other standard fare. It’s also available in your choice of black or white, with prices starting at $699. Check out the gallery below for a closer look. Gallery: Lenovo C325 all-in-one Continue reading Lenovo announces multitouch-friendly C325 all-in-one desktop Lenovo announces multitouch-friendly C325 all-in-one desktop originally appeared on Engadget on Mon, 24 Oct 2011 19:11:00 EDT. Please see our terms for use of feeds . Permalink
Continue reading …Matthews: Republicans ‘Look Hot and Horny for Executions in That Reagan Library Debate’
October 24, 2011 No Comment
You have to wonder if a day has gone by since the September 7 GOP presidential debate without someone on MSNBC referring to audience members cheering when NBC's Brian Williams asked Texas governor Rick Perry about capital punishment in his state. Likely the most colorful description of this incident to date occurred on Monday's Hardball when host Chris Matthews said Republicans “look hot and horny for executions out in that Reagan library” (video follows with transcript and commentary): CHRIS MATTHEWS, HOST: John Heilemann , I have to go through a riff right now, because I think you and I cover — so as Sam does — this incredible portrayal by the Republicans of themselves. First of all, they look hot and horny for executions out in that Reagan library debate. Then they talk about letting the guy on the gurney die because he doesn't have health insurance. Then they mock the gay soldier. And then you've got Bachmann out there saying, if you don't have health insurance, fine, you can go to the poorhouse. And now this guy saying, hip hip hooray for foreclosures! This party has become a cartoon of Ebenezer Scrooge or worse. They play right into the president's hands, and he couldn't be weaker in terms of the economy. And they want to make him, what, are they trying to save this presidency, these guys? JOHN HEILEMANN , NEW YORK MAGAZINE: Chris, there's nothing I like better than being on television with you when you’re using the word “horny.” Let’s just start, start with that. MATTHEWS: Okay, randy, better word. Go ahead. SAM STEIN, HUFFINGTON POST: No, stick with horny. Which is worse: people getting “hot and horny” over justice being served in their community, or a married man admitting on national television that he gets a thrill up his leg when another guy talks? That asked, it seems a metaphysical certitude that the badly misinterpreted and overhyped actions of audience members at these debates is going to be part of this campaign right through Election Day. With fresh allegations of a second rape occurring at an Occupy protest event, will Matthews and his ilk ever concern themselves with the truly abhorrent and illegal behavior happening on the other side of the aisle? Or will audience responses continue to rule the day?
Continue reading …