You haven’t met WikiLeaks!
WikiLeaks is a website that publishes leaked documents exposing various corporate and governmental misbehaviour, in a manner that guarantees the anonymity of the leaker or whistleblower. Here’s a video report that describes the operation.
Because it operates (apparently out of Iceland) on a transnational basis, WikiLeaks has managed to evade libel lawyers and censors around the world. Technically, WikiLeaks passes leaked material through a worldwide network of servers so that the identity of the leaker cannot be traced.
The website enjoys the support of an impressive array of “legitimate” news media organizations, and in 2009 won Amnesty International’s New Media Award.
And to think there are some public officials around Hawke’s Bay who think BayBuzz is bad news!
While we’re on the subject of websites, I’m pleased to note that my “other” website, The Agitator, was just picked as the #1 “most popular” blog covering the nonprofit world in America in a survey conducted by the leading publication on philanthropy in America. The Agitator provides fundraising and communications advice to NGO professionals. The results are presented by way of this “word cloud” in which BIG is best.
There’s a point here about “economic development” in Hawke’s Bay.
Lest some of you think I’m just a grumpy old man, I actually earn a living via a blog I produce in Havelock North that’s read primarily in the US and Europe. I spend my income in HB. The only environmental footprint of my business is the electricity used by my computer and modem. And further, The Agitator website was developed by Mogul, who also spend their earnings here in HB.
With all due respect to HB’s land-based economy (which I do highly respect, especially when conducted sustainably), there’s something to be said for the “other 60%” of HB’s economy (see Baybuzz article, The Other Economy), that often produces higher incomes with less environmental stress.
Tom Belford
Tom I think we're lucky to have someone like you who raises issues that we should all care about.
Whether or not we agree with all you say doesn't matter. The fact that you create conversation is incredibly healthy.
Cheers
Rod
Congratulations!! It's always nice to celebrate someone's success in Hawkes Bay – especially when its footprint is so environmentally neutral. Mogul's involvement as the website developer -from right here in Hawkes Bay – is spectacular too. Imagine what we could do business-wise if we had a reliable broadband system and cell phone coverage that worked throughout the Bay.
yOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB DUDES !
THAT SOME PUBLIC OFFICIALS DONT LIKE YOUR EFFORTS ,INDICATES THAT YOU ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK
Regarding Wiki leaks, its pretty interesting in itself, According to Wayne Madsen, Washington, DC-based investigative journalist –
""Wikileaks is running a disinformation campaign, crying persecution by U.S. intelligence- when it is U.S. intelligence itself. Its [Wikileaks'] activities in Iceland are totally suspect." Wikileaks claims it is the victim of a new COINTELPRO [Counter Intelligence Program] operation directed by the Pentagon and various U.S. intelligence agencies. WMR's sources believe that it is Wikileaks that is part and parcel of a cyber-COINTELPRO campaign, such as that proposed by President Obama's "information czar," Dr. Cass Sunstein. In January 2007, John Young, who runs cryptome.org, a site that publishes a wealth of sensitive and classified information, left Wikileaks, claiming the operation was a CIA front. Young also published some 150 email messages sent by Wikileaks activists on cryptome."
With all this political disinfo happening in the states at the moment its hard to know whats truth and whats not, i suppose discernment is key.
Congratulations on the success of The Agitator Tom, it's due largely to the research and dedication you provide to the organisation.