George Wallace
Army.ca Dinosaur
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Wikileaks and Julian Assange Mega-thread
- Thread starter 2010newbie
- Start date
What is the world coming to?
- Reaction score
- 2,849
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Because Assange is the wrong genderModlrMike said:
(I guess the actual contribution is a secondary consideration)
I also thought that this was unfair:
They'll have to start killing their fellow Egyptians earlier in the year next time if they hope to get nominated -- because the logic of nominating people who "riot for peace" is as brilliant as "smashing Starbucks' windows to teach the G20 leaders a lesson." :
- Reaction score
- 5,973
- Points
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Journeyman said:... because the logic of nominating people who "riot for peace" is as brilliant as "smashing Starbucks' windows to teach the G20 leaders a lesson." :
Or:
Feeling somewhat less sovereign after reading this. But then again Harper did just give them the run around and didn't pass anything.
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5765/125/
Wikileaks Cables Show Massive U.S. Effort to Establish Canadian DMCA
PDF | Print | E-mail
Friday April 29, 2011
Wikileaks has released dozens of new U.S. cables that demonstrate years of behind the scenes lobbying by U.S. government officials to pressure Canada into implementing a Canadian DMCA. The cables include confirmation that Prime Minister Harper personally promised U.S. President George Bush at the SPP summit in Montebello, Quebec in 2008 that Canada would pass copyright legislation, U.S. government lines on copyright reform that include explicit support for DMCA-style digital lock rules, and the repeated use of the Special 301 process to "embarrass" Canada into action. In fact, cables even reveal Canadian officials encouraging the U.S. to maintain the pressure and disclosing confidential information.
This post highlights some of the key cables. An earlier post discussed confirmation that public pressure delayed the introduction of a copyright bill in 2008 and a parallel post focuses on the linkages between CRIA and the U.S. government lobbying effort.
Prime Minister Harper Promises Copyright Reform
The cables include clear confirmation that the copyright issue has escalated to the very top with Prime Minister Harper repeatedly seeking to assure the U.S. that Canada would pass copyright legislation consistent with their demands. A 2008 cable notes "the Prime Minister told the President last August that Canada would pass copyright legislation." Moreover:
"senior GOC officials, especially Industry Minister Prentice, repeatedly assured the Ambassador and senior Mission Canada officers that the copyright bill would be introduced "soon." Specifically, assurances were given that the legislation had been finalized and would be introduced prior to the Christmas recess, and then again immediately upon Parliament's return in January. Neither of which occurred."
This came on the heels of an April 2007 letter from Harper to U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins promising action. U.S. officials were not impressed by the letter, noting that it seemed to justify inaction on the file. The Harper letter was in response to a Wilkins letter seeking digital lock legislation within a month.
Canadian Officials Provide Inside Information
The cables also suggest that the U.S. is often privy to inside information on what is on the way. In the summer of 2007, U.S. officials met with Ailish Johnson from PCO, who revealed that "the mandate letters from the Prime Minister to the incoming Ministers of Industry [Prentice] and Canadian Heritage [Verner] charged both Ministers with introducing a copyright reform bill before the end of the year." Let me repeat that - PCO told U.S. officials the content of the private mandate letters to two Ministers from the Prime Minister. At the same meeting, Johnson encouraged the U.S. to keep raising the issue, noting:
Both Johnson and Gray [of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce] said that U.S. Embassy pressure has been helpful in moving this issue forward. They both also indicated that it would be helpful for the Embassy to continue to raise the issue with Canadian officials and Members of Parliament, but said that public pressure from the Emabssy could be counter productive at this point.
U.S. Lobbying Pressure on Copyright
There are numerous cables that highlight U.S. strategies to pressure Canada on the copyright reform file. In a June 2005 cable, the U.S. talks about the "need to engage the legislative branch as well as relevant departments", proposes creating a bi-lateral working group, and offers to conduct training sessions for Canadian officials. A June 2006 cable discusses meetings with Ministers Bernier and Oda. A March 2007 cable chronicles repeated meetings and attempts to elevate the issue as a top priority.
Another cable discusses a strategy with Canadian copyright lobby groups that would allow for a "good cop, bad cop" approach:
some industry associations plan to use the anticipated USG insistence on notice and takedown as a chance to play good cop to our bad cop, and they will present their acceptance of notice and notice as a signal to the GOC that they are willing to be "more reasonable than the Americans".
The cables show even the U.S. had a hard time taking Canadian claims of independence seriously. For example, when then Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda told the media that anti-camcording legislation was an independent policy change that was not the result of lobbying pressure from the U.S., a U.S. cable called her response "disingenuous."
The U.S. also admits that the case for digital locks isn't an easy one, noting in a cable that:
Efforts to encourage the GOC to ratify its WIPO obligations have been hindered by the sheer complexity of copyright law and IP-related issues, and perceptions by consumers and artists
that technological protection measures might be harmful.
U.S. on Bill C-60
The cables also confirm U.S. opposition to Bill C-60, the Liberal 2005 copyright bill. The U.S. was displeased with a statement several months in advance of the bill that foreshadowed its content, particularly on digital locks and ISP liability. Once the bill was introduced, one cable notes "faced with such a flawed document, some industry representatives are stuck hoping that the legislation, for which they pushed so long and hard, will die in committee." Another cable includes the U.S. embassy putting out the call for assistance, saying "to make the case for stronger rules in areas such as Internet Service Provider liability, please provide a clear USG reaction to the draft legislation for us to use in discussion with stakeholders, legislators, GOC agencies and the press."
U.S. on Bill C-61
In the months leading up to the introduction of the Conservative's Bill C-61, the U.S. also expressed concern with a new policy to give the House of Commons review of all international treaties (I raised this as an issue at the time). The Embassy notes:
Of more direct interest to the USG, the new procedures could complicate the government's efforts to bring Canadian law into compliance with the WIPO Internet treaties, which Canada signed in the late 1990's but has not yet ratified. It remains unresolved whether the WIPO treaties will have to be tabled in Parliament for the 21-sitting-days before the associated copyright legislation is introduced.
After Bill C-61 was introduced, a cable noted the media coverage of the bill was generally negative and the bill was likely to die on the order paper.
U.S. on the 2009 Copyright Consultation
The U.S. took a very cynical view of the 2009 consultation on copyright with a cable titled "Copyright Reform in Canada: Day 4,235". Tanya Peatt, who has served as Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore lead advisor on copyright, told U.S. officials that the Canadian government was "conducting these consultations in part because of the heavy criticism for not
holding consultations over the last copyright bill." The Embassy was not confident that a bill would be introduced in 2009 (it wasn't with C-32 not introduced until June 2010). The Embassy also sought speaking lines for its view on copyright, which include digital lock legislation to match the U.S. DMCA.
http://www.michaelgeist.ca/content/view/5765/125/
Wikileaks Cables Show Massive U.S. Effort to Establish Canadian DMCA
PDF | Print | E-mail
Friday April 29, 2011
Wikileaks has released dozens of new U.S. cables that demonstrate years of behind the scenes lobbying by U.S. government officials to pressure Canada into implementing a Canadian DMCA. The cables include confirmation that Prime Minister Harper personally promised U.S. President George Bush at the SPP summit in Montebello, Quebec in 2008 that Canada would pass copyright legislation, U.S. government lines on copyright reform that include explicit support for DMCA-style digital lock rules, and the repeated use of the Special 301 process to "embarrass" Canada into action. In fact, cables even reveal Canadian officials encouraging the U.S. to maintain the pressure and disclosing confidential information.
This post highlights some of the key cables. An earlier post discussed confirmation that public pressure delayed the introduction of a copyright bill in 2008 and a parallel post focuses on the linkages between CRIA and the U.S. government lobbying effort.
Prime Minister Harper Promises Copyright Reform
The cables include clear confirmation that the copyright issue has escalated to the very top with Prime Minister Harper repeatedly seeking to assure the U.S. that Canada would pass copyright legislation consistent with their demands. A 2008 cable notes "the Prime Minister told the President last August that Canada would pass copyright legislation." Moreover:
"senior GOC officials, especially Industry Minister Prentice, repeatedly assured the Ambassador and senior Mission Canada officers that the copyright bill would be introduced "soon." Specifically, assurances were given that the legislation had been finalized and would be introduced prior to the Christmas recess, and then again immediately upon Parliament's return in January. Neither of which occurred."
This came on the heels of an April 2007 letter from Harper to U.S. Ambassador David Wilkins promising action. U.S. officials were not impressed by the letter, noting that it seemed to justify inaction on the file. The Harper letter was in response to a Wilkins letter seeking digital lock legislation within a month.
Canadian Officials Provide Inside Information
The cables also suggest that the U.S. is often privy to inside information on what is on the way. In the summer of 2007, U.S. officials met with Ailish Johnson from PCO, who revealed that "the mandate letters from the Prime Minister to the incoming Ministers of Industry [Prentice] and Canadian Heritage [Verner] charged both Ministers with introducing a copyright reform bill before the end of the year." Let me repeat that - PCO told U.S. officials the content of the private mandate letters to two Ministers from the Prime Minister. At the same meeting, Johnson encouraged the U.S. to keep raising the issue, noting:
Both Johnson and Gray [of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce] said that U.S. Embassy pressure has been helpful in moving this issue forward. They both also indicated that it would be helpful for the Embassy to continue to raise the issue with Canadian officials and Members of Parliament, but said that public pressure from the Emabssy could be counter productive at this point.
U.S. Lobbying Pressure on Copyright
There are numerous cables that highlight U.S. strategies to pressure Canada on the copyright reform file. In a June 2005 cable, the U.S. talks about the "need to engage the legislative branch as well as relevant departments", proposes creating a bi-lateral working group, and offers to conduct training sessions for Canadian officials. A June 2006 cable discusses meetings with Ministers Bernier and Oda. A March 2007 cable chronicles repeated meetings and attempts to elevate the issue as a top priority.
Another cable discusses a strategy with Canadian copyright lobby groups that would allow for a "good cop, bad cop" approach:
some industry associations plan to use the anticipated USG insistence on notice and takedown as a chance to play good cop to our bad cop, and they will present their acceptance of notice and notice as a signal to the GOC that they are willing to be "more reasonable than the Americans".
The cables show even the U.S. had a hard time taking Canadian claims of independence seriously. For example, when then Canadian Heritage Minister Bev Oda told the media that anti-camcording legislation was an independent policy change that was not the result of lobbying pressure from the U.S., a U.S. cable called her response "disingenuous."
The U.S. also admits that the case for digital locks isn't an easy one, noting in a cable that:
Efforts to encourage the GOC to ratify its WIPO obligations have been hindered by the sheer complexity of copyright law and IP-related issues, and perceptions by consumers and artists
that technological protection measures might be harmful.
U.S. on Bill C-60
The cables also confirm U.S. opposition to Bill C-60, the Liberal 2005 copyright bill. The U.S. was displeased with a statement several months in advance of the bill that foreshadowed its content, particularly on digital locks and ISP liability. Once the bill was introduced, one cable notes "faced with such a flawed document, some industry representatives are stuck hoping that the legislation, for which they pushed so long and hard, will die in committee." Another cable includes the U.S. embassy putting out the call for assistance, saying "to make the case for stronger rules in areas such as Internet Service Provider liability, please provide a clear USG reaction to the draft legislation for us to use in discussion with stakeholders, legislators, GOC agencies and the press."
U.S. on Bill C-61
In the months leading up to the introduction of the Conservative's Bill C-61, the U.S. also expressed concern with a new policy to give the House of Commons review of all international treaties (I raised this as an issue at the time). The Embassy notes:
Of more direct interest to the USG, the new procedures could complicate the government's efforts to bring Canadian law into compliance with the WIPO Internet treaties, which Canada signed in the late 1990's but has not yet ratified. It remains unresolved whether the WIPO treaties will have to be tabled in Parliament for the 21-sitting-days before the associated copyright legislation is introduced.
After Bill C-61 was introduced, a cable noted the media coverage of the bill was generally negative and the bill was likely to die on the order paper.
U.S. on the 2009 Copyright Consultation
The U.S. took a very cynical view of the 2009 consultation on copyright with a cable titled "Copyright Reform in Canada: Day 4,235". Tanya Peatt, who has served as Canadian Heritage Minister James Moore lead advisor on copyright, told U.S. officials that the Canadian government was "conducting these consultations in part because of the heavy criticism for not
holding consultations over the last copyright bill." The Embassy was not confident that a bill would be introduced in 2009 (it wasn't with C-32 not introduced until June 2010). The Embassy also sought speaking lines for its view on copyright, which include digital lock legislation to match the U.S. DMCA.
- Reaction score
- 0
- Points
- 210
Not news anymore but: (shared according to law)
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/u-cables-dissect-canada-leaders-wikileaks-214206357.html
Time for more trustworthy leaders I think.
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/u-cables-dissect-canada-leaders-wikileaks-214206357.html
Time for more trustworthy leaders I think.
- Reaction score
- 3
- Points
- 430
Bumped for an update.
In what F'n world (other than the distorted UN commission's mind) would a person who voluntarily hides himself in another country's embassy be considered arbitrarily and illegally detained? :facepalm:
Julian Assange is being 'arbitrarily held', UN panel to say
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35490910
In what F'n world (other than the distorted UN commission's mind) would a person who voluntarily hides himself in another country's embassy be considered arbitrarily and illegally detained? :facepalm:
Julian Assange is being 'arbitrarily held', UN panel to say
http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-35490910
J
jollyjacktar
Guest
And the POS is playing it up for all it's worth.
- Reaction score
- 4,269
- Points
- 1,260
No other stand-alone thread I could find for Julian, so here's the latest ...
A bit more detail from the Wikileaks Twitter feed, as well as my editorial commentary, attached
* - Interesting coming from a guy living in a country where there may be freedom of expression, but not much freedom after expression.
** - More on Manning's saga in this Army.ca thread.
- op edit with newer info -
- "Julian Assange: Wikileaks co-founder arrested in London" (BBC)
- "Julian Assange dragged from Ecuadorian embassy" (BBC)
- " WATCH Julian Assange dragged out of Ecuadorian embassy shouting 'UK must resist' " (Russia Today)
- "Frail-looking Assange arrested by British police after seven years in Ecuador embassy" (Reuters)
- "Assange arrest a 'dark moment' for press freedom: Snowden"* (Reuters)
- "Julian Assange not a ‘hero,’ Obama DHS chief Jeh Johnson says" (FOX News)
- "Russian Officials Condemn Julian Assange's Arrest in London" (Moscow Times, independent RUS media)
- "U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday they had charged Julian Assange, founder of the WikiLeaks website, with conspiracy in trying to access a classified U.S. government computer with former U.S. Army intelligence analyst Chelsea Manning in 2010 ..." (Reuters) **
A bit more detail from the Wikileaks Twitter feed, as well as my editorial commentary, attached
* - Interesting coming from a guy living in a country where there may be freedom of expression, but not much freedom after expression.
** - More on Manning's saga in this Army.ca thread.
- op edit with newer info -
Attachments
- Reaction score
- 4,269
- Points
- 1,260
Tough call -- he IS a refugee in Russia, in asylum since 2013, one who's "helped" the Russian government, so maybe he just appreciates the freedom he has there. For now, anyway ...Dimsum said:
- Reaction score
- 4,269
- Points
- 1,260
Bumping necrothread with the latest ....
theconversation.com
www.theguardian.com
www.dw.com
apnews.com
www.abc.net.au
Julian Assange will be freed after striking plea deal with US authorities
Julian Assange has reached a deal with the United States Justice Department to allow him to return to Australia after pleading guilty to violating American espionage law.
theconversation.com
Australia’s most senior diplomat in UK flying with Julian Assange to Saipan
WikiLeaks founder due to be sentenced at a hearing in Northern Mariana Islands
www.theguardian.com
Assange to plead guilty, return to Australia, after US deal – DW – 06/25/2024
Wikileaks founder Julian Assange agrees to plead guilty to espionage under a deal with the United States. He is on his way to Australia after 62 months in a UK jail.
www.dw.com
Australian leaders cautiously welcome expected plea that could bring WikiLeaks founder Assange home
Australian leaders are cautiously welcoming an expected plea agreement that could set free WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange. The U.S.
apnews.com
Remote Pacific island to host Julian Assange's court hearing
Trusted and independent source of local, national and world news. In-depth analysis, business, sport, weather and more.
www.abc.net.au
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