Guantanamo Bay: A Medical Ethics–free Zone?
American physicians have not widely criticized medical policies at the Guantanamo Bay detainment camp that violate medical ethics. We believe they should. Actions violating medical ethics, taken on behalf of the government, devalue medical ethics for all physicians. The ongoing hunger strike at Guantanamo by as many as 100 of the 166 remaining prisoners presents a stark challenge to the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) to resist the temptation to use military physicians to “break” the strike through force-feeding.
June 26: International Day in Support of Victims of Torture
Protest Torture and Support the Guantanamo Prisoners Hunger Strike!
On 12 December 1997, by resolution 52/149, the UN General Assembly proclaimed 26 June the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture, with a view to the total eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, (resolution 39/46), annex, which entered into force on 26 June 1987.
Manning and Snowden Acting on Their Conscience: We Must Act On Ours
On the afternoon of Sunday June 9th the internet was abuzz with news that the person who leaked information on the depths and true nature of the NSA spying apparatus had come forward. We learned it was Edward Snowden. It was one of those moments in history, and I think especially for people who have long been opposing and resisting the crimes of this government in the post 9/11 era, that was one of awe, hope, and fear.
Five Points of Orientation On the Revelations of Government Surveillance
On June 5, an article by Glenn Greenwald in the British newspaper the Guardian revealed that the FBI and the National Security Agency (NSA) used the PATRIOT Act to obtain a secret warrant ordering Verizon—one of the nation's largest phone networks—to turn over data on every single call that went through its system.
That was the tip of an iceberg.
We will not be Complicit… We DO NOT Consent!
Emergency Forum Wednesday June 19
Through an act of tremendous courage and self-sacrifice, Edward Snowden has revealed the most massive government spying in history into the communications and activities of billions of people on the planet.
If you are outraged by these revelations, by the trampling on fundamental rights, and by the war crimes being carried out in our name--you need to be at Cooper Union this Wednesday night.
To Those Americans Who Say “I Have Nothing to Hide”
Many Americans think right now that they “have nothing to hide” and that if the government says that it’s necessary for them to be spying on everyone, then all right then, it must be the truth. After all, my government would not lie to me.
There are multiple dimensions to this issue but I’m going to confine myself to just one for the time being.
Prosecuting Whistleblowers, Obliterating the Consitution
NSA Whistle-blower Thomas Drake, Attorney Jesselyn Radack, journalist Kevin Gosztola Discuss National Security State, Hours Before Edward Snowden Went Public
Watch video from the presentations and discussion:
“Modest Encroachments”? The NSA Spying Scandal, the Significance of Snowden and Manning, and the Duplicity of Barack Obama
It is hard to overestimate the significance of this moment.
As I wrote at the end of my last article on June 7,
The revelations that the NYT is reporting about come from an unidentified U.S. intelligence individual who is whistleblowing. Despite Obama’s vicious and vindictive retaliation against the heroic Bradley Manning in order to try to stem the tide of whistleblowers, Obama’s efforts based on this week’s fresh revelations have not worked in intimidating others from speaking the truth about the horrid lies and practices that this government and Obama in particular are committing.