0 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:30,000 Dear viewer, these subtitles were generated by a machine via the service Trint and therefore are (very) buggy. If you are capable, please help us to create good quality subtitles: https://c3subtitles.de/talk/145 Thanks! 1 00:00:17,660 --> 00:00:19,489 Well, thank you very much for that, Nick. 2 00:00:19,490 --> 00:00:21,679 And thank you to the CCC for inviting 3 00:00:21,680 --> 00:00:23,509 me back. I had the pleasure of speaking 4 00:00:23,510 --> 00:00:25,579 at the 24th Congress 5 00:00:25,580 --> 00:00:26,689 in Berlin. 6 00:00:26,690 --> 00:00:28,669 So all I can say is the CCC must be a 7 00:00:28,670 --> 00:00:30,649 sucker for punishment to want me to speak 8 00:00:30,650 --> 00:00:31,849 again. 9 00:00:31,850 --> 00:00:34,009 And this has to be the biggest room I've 10 00:00:34,010 --> 00:00:35,089 ever spoken in. 11 00:00:35,090 --> 00:00:36,709 And it's wonderful to see so many people 12 00:00:36,710 --> 00:00:37,710 here. 13 00:00:43,000 --> 00:00:45,129 But, you know, the old adage size 14 00:00:45,130 --> 00:00:46,509 isn't everything, it's what you do with 15 00:00:46,510 --> 00:00:47,510 it. 16 00:00:47,950 --> 00:00:49,839 So let's see what we can do now in very 17 00:00:49,840 --> 00:00:50,840 limited time. 18 00:00:53,320 --> 00:00:55,209 As Nick said, I used to work as a British 19 00:00:55,210 --> 00:00:57,609 intelligence officer for the UK Domestic 20 00:00:57,610 --> 00:01:00,009 Security Service and MI5, 21 00:01:00,010 --> 00:01:02,379 and this was back in the Jurassic era, 22 00:01:02,380 --> 00:01:05,889 in the mid to late 1990s. 23 00:01:05,890 --> 00:01:07,959 And I and my former partner, 24 00:01:07,960 --> 00:01:09,789 Michael David Shayla, were there for 25 00:01:09,790 --> 00:01:11,139 about six years each. 26 00:01:11,140 --> 00:01:13,239 And then we resigned in order to 27 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:14,529 blow the whistle. 28 00:01:14,530 --> 00:01:16,539 In fact, I would suggest that in that 29 00:01:16,540 --> 00:01:18,369 analog age, we were sort of whistleblower 30 00:01:18,370 --> 00:01:19,659 1.0. 31 00:01:19,660 --> 00:01:21,519 And what we're seeing now is the fruits 32 00:01:21,520 --> 00:01:23,109 of our labors with wonderful people like 33 00:01:23,110 --> 00:01:25,239 Edward Snowden coming forth and 34 00:01:25,240 --> 00:01:27,579 changing the global debate around 35 00:01:27,580 --> 00:01:29,919 what is proportionate about surveillance, 36 00:01:29,920 --> 00:01:31,749 intelligence and democracy. 37 00:01:31,750 --> 00:01:33,909 So that's why we're here to celebrate, I 38 00:01:33,910 --> 00:01:34,910 think, 39 00:01:35,500 --> 00:01:36,500 just to recap. 40 00:01:41,780 --> 00:01:43,729 Just to recap very briefly, for those of 41 00:01:43,730 --> 00:01:45,379 you who did not sit through my hour long 42 00:01:45,380 --> 00:01:46,549 presentation last time, 43 00:01:47,690 --> 00:01:50,029 I worked in MI5 in the 1990s 44 00:01:50,030 --> 00:01:52,459 with David Shaila for six years, 45 00:01:52,460 --> 00:01:54,559 and we saw a whole catalog of 46 00:01:54,560 --> 00:01:56,269 crimes being committed by the British 47 00:01:56,270 --> 00:01:58,369 spies, which ended up in us 48 00:01:58,370 --> 00:01:59,329 resigning. 49 00:01:59,330 --> 00:02:01,519 These included files 50 00:02:01,520 --> 00:02:03,619 on government ministers, hundreds 51 00:02:03,620 --> 00:02:05,959 of thousands of files on 52 00:02:05,960 --> 00:02:07,760 political activists within the UK 53 00:02:09,020 --> 00:02:10,788 bombs that could and should have been 54 00:02:10,789 --> 00:02:11,689 prevented. 55 00:02:11,690 --> 00:02:13,729 The exploded on UK streets planted by the 56 00:02:13,730 --> 00:02:15,849 Provisional IRA, which 57 00:02:15,850 --> 00:02:18,079 MI5 could have stopped but 58 00:02:18,080 --> 00:02:19,999 then didn't, and then they lied to 59 00:02:20,000 --> 00:02:22,129 government to cover up their mistakes 60 00:02:23,300 --> 00:02:25,099 innocent people going to prison for 61 00:02:25,100 --> 00:02:26,569 crimes and terrorist acts. 62 00:02:26,570 --> 00:02:28,849 They did not commit illegal 63 00:02:28,850 --> 00:02:29,809 phone taps. 64 00:02:29,810 --> 00:02:31,489 There's a surprise. 65 00:02:31,490 --> 00:02:33,709 And it culminated with what became 66 00:02:33,710 --> 00:02:36,079 known as the Gaddafi plot, which was 67 00:02:36,080 --> 00:02:38,239 Am I six? Which is a sort of James Bond 68 00:02:38,240 --> 00:02:40,849 wing of British intelligence funding 69 00:02:40,850 --> 00:02:43,099 known Islamic extremist terrorists 70 00:02:43,100 --> 00:02:45,409 in Libya to try and assassinate Gadhafi 71 00:02:45,410 --> 00:02:47,389 in 1996. 72 00:02:47,390 --> 00:02:50,599 This operation was illegal under UK law. 73 00:02:50,600 --> 00:02:52,849 It went wrong, manifestly because Gadhafi 74 00:02:52,850 --> 00:02:54,769 survived to be assassinated another day 75 00:02:54,770 --> 00:02:57,229 by CIA and MI6 76 00:02:57,230 --> 00:03:00,439 backed rebel forces in 2011, 77 00:03:00,440 --> 00:03:02,569 and it killed innocent people. 78 00:03:02,570 --> 00:03:03,469 We couldn't think of anything more 79 00:03:03,470 --> 00:03:04,999 happiness than that, so we decided to 80 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:07,309 resign and we ended up 81 00:03:07,310 --> 00:03:08,569 blowing the whistle. 82 00:03:08,570 --> 00:03:10,399 And we ended up actually going on the run 83 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:12,019 around Europe. 84 00:03:12,020 --> 00:03:13,729 This was back in 1997. 85 00:03:15,080 --> 00:03:16,789 We had to go on the run literally for 86 00:03:16,790 --> 00:03:19,339 months with MI5 on our heels. 87 00:03:19,340 --> 00:03:21,559 We had to live in hiding 88 00:03:21,560 --> 00:03:23,719 in a remote French farmhouse for a year. 89 00:03:24,770 --> 00:03:26,689 David had to live in French exile for 90 00:03:26,690 --> 00:03:28,549 three years. He could not return to the 91 00:03:28,550 --> 00:03:30,739 UK and he went to prison not 92 00:03:30,740 --> 00:03:32,179 once, but twice. 93 00:03:32,180 --> 00:03:34,519 First of all, in 1998, when 94 00:03:34,520 --> 00:03:36,469 the British government tried but failed 95 00:03:36,470 --> 00:03:38,539 to extradite him from France 96 00:03:38,540 --> 00:03:40,609 to stand trial for a breach of 97 00:03:40,610 --> 00:03:42,739 the Official Secrets Act, and 98 00:03:42,740 --> 00:03:44,989 then in 2000, he returned 99 00:03:44,990 --> 00:03:47,269 voluntarily to the UK to stand 100 00:03:47,270 --> 00:03:48,259 trial. 101 00:03:48,260 --> 00:03:50,599 And, of course, then ended up 102 00:03:50,600 --> 00:03:52,729 imprisoned, found guilty and he was sent 103 00:03:52,730 --> 00:03:54,199 to prison again. 104 00:03:54,200 --> 00:03:56,599 So he paid a very high price 105 00:03:56,600 --> 00:03:58,489 for his whistleblowing activities. 106 00:03:58,490 --> 00:03:59,989 I paid a very high price for our 107 00:03:59,990 --> 00:04:02,059 whistleblowing activities, and lots 108 00:04:02,060 --> 00:04:04,369 of people around us did as well because 109 00:04:04,370 --> 00:04:06,739 our friends, our family, 110 00:04:06,740 --> 00:04:08,959 student activists, supporters and even 111 00:04:08,960 --> 00:04:11,959 journalists were arrested 112 00:04:11,960 --> 00:04:14,629 and in some cases convicted for 113 00:04:14,630 --> 00:04:16,969 reporting or supporting this 114 00:04:16,970 --> 00:04:17,970 kind of work. 115 00:04:19,010 --> 00:04:20,059 But this is ancient history. 116 00:04:20,060 --> 00:04:21,949 I mean, this is way back in the 1990s 117 00:04:21,950 --> 00:04:24,079 where even Krypton was a mere 118 00:04:24,080 --> 00:04:25,729 twinkle in John Young's eyes. 119 00:04:25,730 --> 00:04:27,079 Although if you go on the site, you will 120 00:04:27,080 --> 00:04:28,639 find a lot of documents still from the 121 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:29,749 Shaila whistleblowing is. 122 00:04:31,850 --> 00:04:33,289 But one thing I learned from that a 123 00:04:33,290 --> 00:04:34,799 couple of things are key things I learned 124 00:04:34,800 --> 00:04:37,009 from that was one how the 125 00:04:37,010 --> 00:04:39,259 media can be controlled. 126 00:04:39,260 --> 00:04:40,339 It can be spun 127 00:04:41,450 --> 00:04:43,669 by the intelligence agencies even 128 00:04:43,670 --> 00:04:45,320 more than our government spin machine 129 00:04:46,370 --> 00:04:49,759 and to the value of privacy. 130 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:51,799 Because during those years and 131 00:04:51,800 --> 00:04:53,239 subsequently too, I still have my 132 00:04:53,240 --> 00:04:55,759 paranoid moments during those years. 133 00:04:55,760 --> 00:04:58,279 We knew that we were being investigated 134 00:04:58,280 --> 00:04:59,569 by the spies. 135 00:04:59,570 --> 00:05:02,479 We knew that our communications 136 00:05:02,480 --> 00:05:04,129 were being intercepted. 137 00:05:04,130 --> 00:05:05,129 We've been on the inside. 138 00:05:05,130 --> 00:05:07,519 We knew how they did it, so we knew 139 00:05:07,520 --> 00:05:09,079 our emails were not safe. 140 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:11,029 We knew that our telephones weren't safe. 141 00:05:11,030 --> 00:05:13,009 We knew as well that there was a high 142 00:05:13,010 --> 00:05:15,109 probability that there were property bugs 143 00:05:15,110 --> 00:05:16,549 planted in our home. 144 00:05:16,550 --> 00:05:18,589 Even in our bedroom where they could 145 00:05:18,590 --> 00:05:19,590 listen to everything, 146 00:05:20,720 --> 00:05:23,329 we also found out subsequently as well 147 00:05:23,330 --> 00:05:24,799 that some of our friends had been 148 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,709 pressured by the secret police in the UK 149 00:05:27,710 --> 00:05:29,029 to report on us. 150 00:05:30,720 --> 00:05:32,849 So this is what it's like to live without 151 00:05:32,850 --> 00:05:34,709 privacy. This is what it's like to live 152 00:05:34,710 --> 00:05:36,989 under Stasi state, secret 153 00:05:36,990 --> 00:05:39,299 police or totalitarian regime. 154 00:05:39,300 --> 00:05:41,609 And we had it early because we 155 00:05:41,610 --> 00:05:43,169 did something rather is rather 156 00:05:43,170 --> 00:05:44,489 extraordinary. We blew the whistle, we 157 00:05:44,490 --> 00:05:46,589 went on the run. We sort of expected that 158 00:05:46,590 --> 00:05:47,789 pushback. 159 00:05:47,790 --> 00:05:50,249 It does not mean it's easy to live with. 160 00:05:50,250 --> 00:05:52,559 It's incredibly corrosive 161 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,439 to the human spirit to 162 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,479 think that everything you say, everything 163 00:05:57,480 --> 00:05:59,189 you do, even if you just want to have a 164 00:05:59,190 --> 00:06:01,349 private conversation with your mother, 165 00:06:01,350 --> 00:06:03,719 is being listened to by some gray 166 00:06:03,720 --> 00:06:05,249 person in a gray office. 167 00:06:07,420 --> 00:06:09,489 And you begin to self-censor, you 168 00:06:09,490 --> 00:06:10,959 begin to worry about what you're looking 169 00:06:10,960 --> 00:06:12,339 at on the internet, you begin to worry 170 00:06:12,340 --> 00:06:14,289 about what you're saying, what you might 171 00:06:14,290 --> 00:06:16,179 be giving away inadvertently by talking 172 00:06:16,180 --> 00:06:17,589 about your private life, your social 173 00:06:17,590 --> 00:06:18,590 life. 174 00:06:19,150 --> 00:06:20,559 And that's what we had to live through. 175 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:24,399 So role for now, of course. 176 00:06:24,400 --> 00:06:26,649 And now we all know now we 177 00:06:26,650 --> 00:06:29,019 all know that we are being listened to 178 00:06:29,020 --> 00:06:31,179 and watched and surveyed 179 00:06:31,180 --> 00:06:34,089 in an enormous, amazingly panopticon 180 00:06:34,090 --> 00:06:35,139 manner. 181 00:06:35,140 --> 00:06:36,819 Way worse than we faced back in the 182 00:06:36,820 --> 00:06:37,820 1990s. 183 00:06:39,230 --> 00:06:41,239 So this is why I continue to fight for 184 00:06:41,240 --> 00:06:42,529 privacy, this is why I continue to 185 00:06:42,530 --> 00:06:44,689 campaign against this 186 00:06:44,690 --> 00:06:46,309 mission creep of the intelligence 187 00:06:46,310 --> 00:06:47,310 services. 188 00:06:48,110 --> 00:06:50,179 However, this talk originally was 189 00:06:50,180 --> 00:06:52,040 pitched as a for war story, 190 00:06:53,270 --> 00:06:55,219 which may seem a little tangential, but 191 00:06:55,220 --> 00:06:56,220 bear with me. 192 00:06:57,560 --> 00:06:59,689 This is something I began 193 00:06:59,690 --> 00:07:02,119 to just state to cogitate 194 00:07:02,120 --> 00:07:04,609 about in the last year because one of my 195 00:07:04,610 --> 00:07:06,709 hats, one of the jobs I have is to 196 00:07:06,710 --> 00:07:08,809 work as the European director of an 197 00:07:08,810 --> 00:07:10,339 organization called Law Enforcement 198 00:07:10,340 --> 00:07:12,499 against Prohibition, 199 00:07:12,500 --> 00:07:15,199 which is a bunch of police officers, 200 00:07:15,200 --> 00:07:17,329 judges, prison governors, intelligence 201 00:07:17,330 --> 00:07:19,249 officers, you name it. 202 00:07:19,250 --> 00:07:21,319 Lawyers who all say through 203 00:07:21,320 --> 00:07:23,509 our professional experience, we 204 00:07:23,510 --> 00:07:26,299 know that the war on drugs has failed 205 00:07:26,300 --> 00:07:28,429 and we know it for these reasons. 206 00:07:28,430 --> 00:07:30,889 So what I want to quickly scoot through, 207 00:07:30,890 --> 00:07:32,719 although my what I call my full wars and 208 00:07:32,720 --> 00:07:34,699 their wars on concepts, this is what 209 00:07:34,700 --> 00:07:36,079 we're facing. 210 00:07:36,080 --> 00:07:37,249 So it's the war on drugs, 211 00:07:38,300 --> 00:07:40,539 the war on terror, the war 212 00:07:40,540 --> 00:07:42,679 on the internet, of which you're 213 00:07:42,680 --> 00:07:45,379 all expert. And of course, the war now 214 00:07:45,380 --> 00:07:46,380 on whistleblowers. 215 00:07:47,420 --> 00:07:49,699 And how do they link in my strange 216 00:07:49,700 --> 00:07:52,039 mind, my little paranoid mind? 217 00:07:52,040 --> 00:07:53,449 I'll explain. 218 00:07:53,450 --> 00:07:55,519 I see these all 219 00:07:55,520 --> 00:07:57,619 as a basic attempt 220 00:07:57,620 --> 00:07:59,989 to subvert the basic freedoms 221 00:07:59,990 --> 00:08:02,149 we in the West particularly 222 00:08:02,150 --> 00:08:04,219 have fought for and spilled our 223 00:08:04,220 --> 00:08:06,109 blood for and died for over the last five 224 00:08:06,110 --> 00:08:08,449 or 600 years in our Western countries 225 00:08:08,450 --> 00:08:10,579 to fight for the Universal 226 00:08:10,580 --> 00:08:12,859 Declaration of Human Rights to fight for 227 00:08:12,860 --> 00:08:15,259 the basic concept of rights. 228 00:08:16,470 --> 00:08:18,989 So that we cannot be extra judicially 229 00:08:18,990 --> 00:08:21,149 murdered. We cannot be kidnaped 230 00:08:21,150 --> 00:08:22,859 and tortured and disappeared. 231 00:08:22,860 --> 00:08:25,529 We cannot be stifled. 232 00:08:25,530 --> 00:08:27,329 Our freedom of expression is enshrined of 233 00:08:27,330 --> 00:08:29,369 freedom of privacy is enshrined. 234 00:08:30,920 --> 00:08:32,449 So what we're looking at now, I think 235 00:08:32,450 --> 00:08:34,548 over the last 50 years or so is 236 00:08:34,549 --> 00:08:36,589 a concerted pushback against those 237 00:08:36,590 --> 00:08:37,939 freedoms. 238 00:08:37,940 --> 00:08:39,678 The Universal Declaration of Human Rights 239 00:08:39,679 --> 00:08:42,109 came into being in 1948 240 00:08:42,110 --> 00:08:44,329 as a direct result, a direct 241 00:08:44,330 --> 00:08:46,399 pushback to the horrors of World 242 00:08:46,400 --> 00:08:47,400 War Two. 243 00:08:48,020 --> 00:08:50,239 And ever since then, we have seen what 244 00:08:50,240 --> 00:08:52,699 President Eisenhower called the 245 00:08:52,700 --> 00:08:54,919 military industrial complex, pushing 246 00:08:54,920 --> 00:08:57,169 back, trying to erode, trying to 247 00:08:57,170 --> 00:08:59,419 get rid of these basic rights in 248 00:08:59,420 --> 00:09:00,420 their own interests. 249 00:09:01,460 --> 00:09:02,899 The war on drugs, I think, is probably 250 00:09:02,900 --> 00:09:05,209 the first version of 251 00:09:05,210 --> 00:09:06,889 this fight back. 252 00:09:06,890 --> 00:09:08,959 And I say this because the aim of the 253 00:09:08,960 --> 00:09:10,669 war on drugs, of course, is a drug free. 254 00:09:10,670 --> 00:09:12,559 Well, drugs are evil, drugs are bad, blah 255 00:09:12,560 --> 00:09:13,560 blah blah. 256 00:09:15,230 --> 00:09:17,359 We have a situation where the war 257 00:09:17,360 --> 00:09:19,969 on drugs is being used for 50 years 258 00:09:19,970 --> 00:09:22,339 to erode 259 00:09:22,340 --> 00:09:24,379 civil liberties across the planet in 260 00:09:24,380 --> 00:09:25,429 every country. 261 00:09:25,430 --> 00:09:26,690 It becomes a reason to 262 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:30,349 to break into people's houses. 263 00:09:30,350 --> 00:09:33,109 It becomes a reason to specifically 264 00:09:33,110 --> 00:09:35,329 target certain ethnic communities and 265 00:09:35,330 --> 00:09:37,999 imprison them disproportionately to 266 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:39,319 the general population. 267 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:41,929 And it specifically became a reason to 268 00:09:41,930 --> 00:09:44,119 intervene as the US likes 269 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:46,399 euphemistically call it into other 270 00:09:46,400 --> 00:09:47,839 countries across the planet where they 271 00:09:47,840 --> 00:09:50,119 might have other strategic interests, 272 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:52,309 particularly Latin America 273 00:09:52,310 --> 00:09:53,839 and particularly Central Asia and the 274 00:09:53,840 --> 00:09:55,039 Middle East and North Africa. 275 00:09:57,050 --> 00:10:00,349 And this trade is worth estimated 276 00:10:00,350 --> 00:10:02,509 about half a trillion dollars per 277 00:10:02,510 --> 00:10:03,510 year. 278 00:10:04,260 --> 00:10:06,389 And that is all going into the pockets of 279 00:10:06,390 --> 00:10:07,979 not only organized crime cartels, 280 00:10:07,980 --> 00:10:08,980 organized criminals. 281 00:10:09,990 --> 00:10:12,419 And not only the official criminals 282 00:10:12,420 --> 00:10:14,459 in our banking system who do very well 283 00:10:14,460 --> 00:10:16,469 out of it. Let's point that out. 284 00:10:16,470 --> 00:10:17,470 But also. 285 00:10:23,300 --> 00:10:25,789 Also into the pockets of 286 00:10:25,790 --> 00:10:27,919 people, organizations that are designated 287 00:10:27,920 --> 00:10:30,409 to be our terrorist enemies. 288 00:10:30,410 --> 00:10:32,449 It is estimated that over half the 289 00:10:32,450 --> 00:10:34,189 organizations on the planet who are 290 00:10:34,190 --> 00:10:35,450 designated to be terrorists. 291 00:10:36,550 --> 00:10:39,189 Are funded primarily through drug money. 292 00:10:39,190 --> 00:10:41,679 So on the one hand, we prohibit 293 00:10:41,680 --> 00:10:43,329 drugs, push the trade underground, 294 00:10:43,330 --> 00:10:45,699 becomes hugely lucrative and then 295 00:10:45,700 --> 00:10:47,349 it creates the war on drugs and then the 296 00:10:47,350 --> 00:10:48,789 other. On the other hand, we want to 297 00:10:48,790 --> 00:10:51,099 fight the war on drug, war on terror, 298 00:10:51,100 --> 00:10:52,359 which is fantastic, isn't it? 299 00:10:52,360 --> 00:10:54,429 This is a cyclical business model. 300 00:10:54,430 --> 00:10:56,619 I mean, some genius somewhere that 301 00:10:56,620 --> 00:10:58,899 up is perfect for the military 302 00:10:58,900 --> 00:11:00,249 security complex. 303 00:11:02,050 --> 00:11:04,299 I mean, even Afghanistan, which we 304 00:11:04,300 --> 00:11:05,979 liberated, and they're so grateful and 305 00:11:05,980 --> 00:11:08,079 they're so happy ten years ago, 306 00:11:08,080 --> 00:11:10,359 over 10 years ago, they 307 00:11:10,360 --> 00:11:12,489 estimate that during the West's 308 00:11:12,490 --> 00:11:14,709 occupation, the acreage undergrowth 309 00:11:14,710 --> 00:11:17,229 for the poppy has doubled 310 00:11:17,230 --> 00:11:19,329 across the country and strangely 311 00:11:19,330 --> 00:11:21,429 under the British run areas, 312 00:11:21,430 --> 00:11:22,839 it's trebled. 313 00:11:22,840 --> 00:11:24,099 And they're going to have a bumper crop 314 00:11:24,100 --> 00:11:25,570 this year. So that worked 315 00:11:27,280 --> 00:11:28,599 anyway. 316 00:11:28,600 --> 00:11:30,909 This is a a major 317 00:11:30,910 --> 00:11:33,009 problem, but I think it is probably 318 00:11:33,010 --> 00:11:34,869 going to go away in the next few years. 319 00:11:34,870 --> 00:11:36,159 There have been massive steps across 320 00:11:36,160 --> 00:11:38,049 Europe in terms of harm reduction. 321 00:11:38,050 --> 00:11:39,849 There have been massive steps across 322 00:11:39,850 --> 00:11:41,649 Latin America, and many countries are now 323 00:11:41,650 --> 00:11:43,599 beginning to legalize certain drug use 324 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:46,029 and tax it and regulate it. 325 00:11:46,030 --> 00:11:47,559 And even in America itself, the 326 00:11:47,560 --> 00:11:49,929 fountainhead of the war on drugs, 327 00:11:49,930 --> 00:11:52,509 even in America, two states now 328 00:11:52,510 --> 00:11:54,849 have fully legalized cannabis 329 00:11:54,850 --> 00:11:56,189 use, even for fun. 330 00:11:56,190 --> 00:11:57,190 Hey. 331 00:12:03,210 --> 00:12:05,729 And over 20 states have already legalized 332 00:12:05,730 --> 00:12:07,319 for medicinal use. 333 00:12:07,320 --> 00:12:09,029 So this war is over. 334 00:12:09,030 --> 00:12:10,379 The reason it's over is not because of 335 00:12:10,380 --> 00:12:11,969 common sense prevailing at the U.N. 336 00:12:11,970 --> 00:12:13,479 it's not for common sense prevailing in 337 00:12:13,480 --> 00:12:16,319 on campaigning or with our politicians. 338 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,299 It's because they don't need it anymore, 339 00:12:18,300 --> 00:12:19,469 in my view. 340 00:12:19,470 --> 00:12:22,499 We have now the war on terror. 341 00:12:22,500 --> 00:12:24,149 Bright, new, shiny toy. 342 00:12:24,150 --> 00:12:26,249 Much more effective for intervening 343 00:12:26,250 --> 00:12:27,250 across the planet. 344 00:12:34,180 --> 00:12:35,200 The war on terror 345 00:12:36,430 --> 00:12:38,619 after 9-11, when the intelligence 346 00:12:38,620 --> 00:12:41,079 gloves came off has provided the perfect 347 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:43,629 pretext, the perfect pretext 348 00:12:43,630 --> 00:12:45,729 for eroding all our hard 349 00:12:45,730 --> 00:12:48,369 won civil liberties in all our countries. 350 00:12:48,370 --> 00:12:50,559 It has produced the most amazing 351 00:12:50,560 --> 00:12:52,719 pretext for intervening in any country we 352 00:12:52,720 --> 00:12:54,459 deemed to be harboring terrorists, 353 00:12:54,460 --> 00:12:56,589 whatever that is, or might be 354 00:12:56,590 --> 00:12:58,329 threatening a national security, whatever 355 00:12:58,330 --> 00:12:59,589 that is, that's never been legally 356 00:12:59,590 --> 00:13:00,590 defined anywhere. 357 00:13:01,990 --> 00:13:04,479 And we have this situation 358 00:13:04,480 --> 00:13:06,819 where it's not just our rights 359 00:13:06,820 --> 00:13:09,279 going. We have a situation where 360 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:11,799 the president on a Tuesday in the US 361 00:13:11,800 --> 00:13:13,869 sits down and he's presented with 362 00:13:13,870 --> 00:13:16,089 a list from the CIA 363 00:13:16,090 --> 00:13:18,549 based on hearsay or 364 00:13:18,550 --> 00:13:20,889 snitches or, you know, 365 00:13:20,890 --> 00:13:22,959 electronic intelligence, saying 366 00:13:22,960 --> 00:13:24,160 this person is a terrorist 367 00:13:25,480 --> 00:13:27,579 and that is the CIA kill list that he 368 00:13:27,580 --> 00:13:28,689 signs every week. 369 00:13:28,690 --> 00:13:30,519 And when he puts his signature at the 370 00:13:30,520 --> 00:13:32,229 bottom of that list, those people are 371 00:13:32,230 --> 00:13:33,579 fair game. 372 00:13:33,580 --> 00:13:35,289 Those people will be attacked 373 00:13:36,400 --> 00:13:38,799 by kids in America, playing 374 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:41,109 video snuff movies, using 375 00:13:41,110 --> 00:13:43,569 drones to take out that person 376 00:13:43,570 --> 00:13:45,429 on the say so of anonymous intelligence 377 00:13:45,430 --> 00:13:46,430 agents. 378 00:13:47,060 --> 00:13:49,249 Where whole families and wedding parties 379 00:13:49,250 --> 00:13:51,769 and village councils are eradicated 380 00:13:51,770 --> 00:13:53,899 from unseen threats in the sky. 381 00:13:55,070 --> 00:13:56,539 That is what we have coming out of 382 00:13:56,540 --> 00:13:58,609 America now. And also the UK, by 383 00:13:58,610 --> 00:14:00,289 the way, there is a RAAF base in 384 00:14:00,290 --> 00:14:02,359 Lincolnshire, in the UK that is doing 385 00:14:02,360 --> 00:14:04,099 the same thing. 386 00:14:04,100 --> 00:14:05,210 This is disgusting. 387 00:14:18,500 --> 00:14:20,839 We have a situation where the UK 388 00:14:20,840 --> 00:14:23,029 spies have been caught out 389 00:14:23,030 --> 00:14:25,189 and tried and found guilty 390 00:14:25,190 --> 00:14:27,949 and had to pay reparation for torturing 391 00:14:27,950 --> 00:14:29,569 terrorist suspects, kidnaping them, 392 00:14:29,570 --> 00:14:30,570 torturing them. 393 00:14:32,390 --> 00:14:33,769 And nobody is being put on trial. 394 00:14:33,770 --> 00:14:35,629 Nobody's being held accountable, nobody 395 00:14:35,630 --> 00:14:38,209 has been put in prison for engaging 396 00:14:38,210 --> 00:14:39,829 in torture. These might be people I used 397 00:14:39,830 --> 00:14:41,959 to work with go to, 398 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:43,309 you know, go out for dinner with or some 399 00:14:43,310 --> 00:14:45,529 is just, it's just horrible. 400 00:14:45,530 --> 00:14:47,719 And they are being covered up for 401 00:14:47,720 --> 00:14:48,889 their being protected by the 402 00:14:48,890 --> 00:14:49,890 establishment. 403 00:14:51,530 --> 00:14:54,049 And this is all part of what I see as the 404 00:14:54,050 --> 00:14:56,689 growing fascism. 405 00:14:56,690 --> 00:14:57,919 Let's not mince words. 406 00:14:57,920 --> 00:14:59,570 It's a growing fascism. 407 00:15:08,400 --> 00:15:10,739 I say that advisedly using Benito 408 00:15:10,740 --> 00:15:12,749 Mussolini definition of fascism, which 409 00:15:12,750 --> 00:15:14,729 was the merger of the corporate and the 410 00:15:14,730 --> 00:15:16,079 state. 411 00:15:16,080 --> 00:15:18,449 That is precisely what we've seen. 412 00:15:18,450 --> 00:15:20,099 That is precisely what we're seeing. 413 00:15:20,100 --> 00:15:22,409 You will know better than I then 414 00:15:22,410 --> 00:15:24,239 about the war on the internet. 415 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:26,039 I don't really need to go into that 416 00:15:26,040 --> 00:15:28,799 detail here in this crowd, 417 00:15:28,800 --> 00:15:29,800 but. 418 00:15:30,240 --> 00:15:32,129 The disclosures of Edward Snowden have 419 00:15:32,130 --> 00:15:34,349 laid bare the sheer scale 420 00:15:34,350 --> 00:15:37,169 and depth and complicity 421 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:39,449 of the corporate side of the internet, 422 00:15:39,450 --> 00:15:40,739 as well as the government side of the 423 00:15:40,740 --> 00:15:41,969 internet. 424 00:15:41,970 --> 00:15:44,429 This is not just about trying to stop 425 00:15:44,430 --> 00:15:46,469 the free flow of information where they 426 00:15:46,470 --> 00:15:48,599 can spy on what we send to each other. 427 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:50,069 This is also about trying, of course, 428 00:15:50,070 --> 00:15:52,409 with the copyright wars to stop 429 00:15:52,410 --> 00:15:54,269 the free flow of interesting information 430 00:15:54,270 --> 00:15:55,409 because they want to control that 431 00:15:55,410 --> 00:15:57,869 information and get us to pay for it. 432 00:15:57,870 --> 00:16:00,659 So they've got us in a pincer movement 433 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:02,699 and the corporate lobbyists. 434 00:16:02,700 --> 00:16:05,009 The big corporations have been laid 435 00:16:05,010 --> 00:16:06,899 bare as being complicit with the NSA 436 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:08,879 snooping. Snowden disclosed very early 437 00:16:08,880 --> 00:16:11,099 on, but they also have shown their true 438 00:16:11,100 --> 00:16:12,239 colors by trying to push through all 439 00:16:12,240 --> 00:16:14,819 these ghastly international trade 440 00:16:14,820 --> 00:16:17,099 agreements around the Pacific Rim 441 00:16:17,100 --> 00:16:19,199 across the Atlantic, and 442 00:16:19,200 --> 00:16:21,689 we need to be aware of this sheer 443 00:16:21,690 --> 00:16:23,609 scale of corporatism. 444 00:16:23,610 --> 00:16:24,809 What is going on? 445 00:16:24,810 --> 00:16:25,949 How many rights we're losing? 446 00:16:25,950 --> 00:16:27,479 The fact that these corporations, these 447 00:16:27,480 --> 00:16:29,039 lobbyists, can actually put these 448 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,229 proposals in writing 449 00:16:31,230 --> 00:16:33,599 and tell our elected representatives 450 00:16:33,600 --> 00:16:34,799 who are supposed to represent our 451 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:36,150 interests assistance. 452 00:16:37,290 --> 00:16:39,059 You sign here. You can't read it. 453 00:16:39,060 --> 00:16:40,889 Just rubberstamp it. 454 00:16:40,890 --> 00:16:41,890 If that is not. 455 00:16:43,230 --> 00:16:45,239 A definition of corporatism is that it's 456 00:16:45,240 --> 00:16:46,769 not an analogy with what was going on in 457 00:16:46,770 --> 00:16:47,699 1930s Germany. 458 00:16:47,700 --> 00:16:49,049 I do not know what is. 459 00:16:58,520 --> 00:17:00,649 And then, of course, the corollary of 460 00:17:00,650 --> 00:17:03,199 that, the inevitable 461 00:17:03,200 --> 00:17:04,339 pushback of that 462 00:17:05,480 --> 00:17:07,009 is the whistleblowers. 463 00:17:07,010 --> 00:17:09,289 This is someone described it as the last 464 00:17:10,369 --> 00:17:12,618 ditch regulator of this degree 465 00:17:12,619 --> 00:17:14,629 of corruption, not just within the 466 00:17:14,630 --> 00:17:16,578 intelligence agencies mean, you know, 467 00:17:16,579 --> 00:17:18,259 we've had this whole slew of 468 00:17:18,260 --> 00:17:19,549 whistleblowers coming against the banking 469 00:17:19,550 --> 00:17:20,539 sector. 470 00:17:20,540 --> 00:17:21,889 We have seen the whistleblowers come into 471 00:17:21,890 --> 00:17:23,088 health everything. 472 00:17:23,089 --> 00:17:25,009 They are just there and they need a 473 00:17:25,010 --> 00:17:26,329 voice. They need protection. 474 00:17:27,349 --> 00:17:29,989 And Snowden, he's just 475 00:17:29,990 --> 00:17:31,969 and he has done the most amazing thing 476 00:17:31,970 --> 00:17:33,259 for the planet. I mean, there have been 477 00:17:33,260 --> 00:17:34,819 many other whistleblowers in the past, 478 00:17:34,820 --> 00:17:36,349 including coming out of the NSA like 479 00:17:36,350 --> 00:17:39,019 Thomas Drake and Bill Binney 480 00:17:39,020 --> 00:17:41,449 and John Kiriakou, who is the CIA officer 481 00:17:41,450 --> 00:17:43,159 who exposed their use of torture, who's 482 00:17:43,160 --> 00:17:45,199 currently in prison, although the 483 00:17:45,200 --> 00:17:47,449 torturers are not in prison. 484 00:17:47,450 --> 00:17:49,039 A whole slew of whistleblowers are coming 485 00:17:49,040 --> 00:17:51,229 out, and the old adage that 486 00:17:51,230 --> 00:17:52,849 you shoot the messenger but you do not 487 00:17:52,850 --> 00:17:55,039 address the message is becoming more 488 00:17:55,040 --> 00:17:57,079 and more and more entrenched, and it's 489 00:17:57,080 --> 00:17:58,789 still working. 490 00:17:58,790 --> 00:18:01,909 We have a situation where in America 491 00:18:01,910 --> 00:18:02,839 they have a law. 492 00:18:02,840 --> 00:18:04,819 The 1917 Espionage Act. 493 00:18:06,270 --> 00:18:07,289 That is being used against 494 00:18:07,290 --> 00:18:08,909 whistleblowers, not spies. 495 00:18:08,910 --> 00:18:11,309 And President Obama, in his two terms, 496 00:18:11,310 --> 00:18:13,019 has used this law against whistleblowers 497 00:18:13,020 --> 00:18:15,029 more than all the other presidents 498 00:18:15,030 --> 00:18:16,030 before. 499 00:18:17,600 --> 00:18:19,249 That is a war on whistleblowers, in my 500 00:18:19,250 --> 00:18:20,149 view, and if we don't have 501 00:18:20,150 --> 00:18:21,619 whistleblowers, we will never know what's 502 00:18:21,620 --> 00:18:23,719 going on. We need to know. 503 00:18:23,720 --> 00:18:25,939 Otherwise, we can't take steps to change. 504 00:18:28,020 --> 00:18:30,119 So we are in a situation where if we do 505 00:18:30,120 --> 00:18:32,279 not have these people or if they 506 00:18:32,280 --> 00:18:34,379 cannot survive the process of coming 507 00:18:34,380 --> 00:18:35,380 forward. 508 00:18:36,230 --> 00:18:37,639 Then we will not have future 509 00:18:37,640 --> 00:18:39,709 whistleblowers coming forward, 510 00:18:39,710 --> 00:18:41,809 and this is one of the 511 00:18:41,810 --> 00:18:43,939 things that one WikiLeaks has been so 512 00:18:43,940 --> 00:18:46,189 good trying to support and help people 513 00:18:46,190 --> 00:18:48,739 like Edward Snowden and to produce 514 00:18:48,740 --> 00:18:50,389 avenues and conduits where they can 515 00:18:50,390 --> 00:18:51,379 publish the information of 516 00:18:51,380 --> 00:18:52,380 whistleblowers. 517 00:19:00,250 --> 00:19:02,589 But it's also something that we all need 518 00:19:02,590 --> 00:19:04,929 to support. We all need to protect. 519 00:19:04,930 --> 00:19:07,029 We'll need to encourage 520 00:19:07,030 --> 00:19:08,589 future whistleblowers. 521 00:19:08,590 --> 00:19:10,899 There is the free Snowden 522 00:19:10,900 --> 00:19:13,029 website and you can all donate 523 00:19:13,030 --> 00:19:14,739 to his defense fund. 524 00:19:14,740 --> 00:19:17,109 I mean, he you know, he 525 00:19:17,110 --> 00:19:19,329 is not going to not have a few 526 00:19:19,330 --> 00:19:21,460 legal fights in his future, shall we say. 527 00:19:23,860 --> 00:19:25,539 There are other campaigns. 528 00:19:25,540 --> 00:19:28,209 Jeremy Hammond, Julian Assange, 529 00:19:28,210 --> 00:19:29,210 John Kiriakou, 530 00:19:30,460 --> 00:19:32,469 even on a Carter. I mean, this is so many 531 00:19:32,470 --> 00:19:34,329 of them. We need people who have the 532 00:19:34,330 --> 00:19:36,309 courage to stand up and fight. 533 00:19:36,310 --> 00:19:38,739 But if if the ones who come before 534 00:19:38,740 --> 00:19:40,569 are seen to be crushed are seen not to 535 00:19:40,570 --> 00:19:42,729 survive, not only to lose their jobs or 536 00:19:42,730 --> 00:19:45,549 face imprisonment, but lose everything, 537 00:19:45,550 --> 00:19:47,949 then future potential whistleblowers. 538 00:19:47,950 --> 00:19:50,649 And there may be some here. 539 00:19:50,650 --> 00:19:52,809 There may be some here who 540 00:19:52,810 --> 00:19:55,069 think I'm working in this organization. 541 00:19:55,070 --> 00:19:56,549 I see this going wrong. 542 00:19:56,550 --> 00:19:58,749 I, as a single 543 00:19:58,750 --> 00:20:00,399 single person, I can make a difference. 544 00:20:00,400 --> 00:20:01,779 One person can make a difference. 545 00:20:01,780 --> 00:20:03,129 Such a difference, as we've seen with 546 00:20:03,130 --> 00:20:04,659 Snowden. We need to encourage that. 547 00:20:04,660 --> 00:20:06,429 We need to show they can survive the 548 00:20:06,430 --> 00:20:09,609 process, not just survive, but flourish. 549 00:20:09,610 --> 00:20:11,739 So what we are now doing 550 00:20:11,740 --> 00:20:13,899 is setting up a sort of umbrella 551 00:20:13,900 --> 00:20:16,179 protective organization 552 00:20:16,180 --> 00:20:17,180 to help. 553 00:20:25,910 --> 00:20:26,869 And this will help. 554 00:20:26,870 --> 00:20:28,669 This will channel funds, this will 555 00:20:28,670 --> 00:20:30,979 channel support and just show 556 00:20:30,980 --> 00:20:32,839 the world that we value these people's 557 00:20:32,840 --> 00:20:34,999 courage and this indeed is 558 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,429 what it's going to be called courage. 559 00:20:37,430 --> 00:20:39,589 The fund to protect journalistic 560 00:20:39,590 --> 00:20:41,659 sources Many, 561 00:20:41,660 --> 00:20:43,849 many journalists break great stories with 562 00:20:43,850 --> 00:20:45,169 whistleblowers. They make the careers. 563 00:20:45,170 --> 00:20:46,759 It's fabulous. They get awards. 564 00:20:46,760 --> 00:20:47,929 What happens? The whistleblower? 565 00:20:47,930 --> 00:20:49,369 Usually they're left swinging in the 566 00:20:49,370 --> 00:20:50,329 wind. 567 00:20:50,330 --> 00:20:52,759 We want to show that they are 568 00:20:52,760 --> 00:20:54,829 valued and important and incredibly 569 00:20:54,830 --> 00:20:55,969 brave. 570 00:20:55,970 --> 00:20:58,159 So there will be this new foundation, 571 00:20:58,160 --> 00:21:01,069 which I will be involved in courage. 572 00:21:01,070 --> 00:21:03,169 I think it's a fantastic name 573 00:21:03,170 --> 00:21:05,239 and we want to 574 00:21:05,240 --> 00:21:07,339 support the whistleblowers out there 575 00:21:07,340 --> 00:21:08,389 already. 576 00:21:08,390 --> 00:21:10,909 But crucially, we want to encourage 577 00:21:10,910 --> 00:21:12,079 other whistleblowers to come forward. 578 00:21:12,080 --> 00:21:13,279 There will be another one in a year or 579 00:21:13,280 --> 00:21:15,619 two, of course, and we want to make sure 580 00:21:15,620 --> 00:21:17,539 they immediately get protection. 581 00:21:17,540 --> 00:21:18,919 They immediately get support, they 582 00:21:18,920 --> 00:21:20,899 immediately get recognition because it's 583 00:21:20,900 --> 00:21:23,119 a very, very frightening and very 584 00:21:23,120 --> 00:21:25,369 lonely process to go through 585 00:21:25,370 --> 00:21:27,349 when you're on the run and you're being 586 00:21:27,350 --> 00:21:29,899 threatened with decades of imprisonment. 587 00:21:29,900 --> 00:21:32,869 So please keep an eye out for that. 588 00:21:32,870 --> 00:21:34,819 You can find the new site. 589 00:21:34,820 --> 00:21:36,259 I think it's been registered in various 590 00:21:36,260 --> 00:21:38,449 names, including Courage Fund, Doxy 591 00:21:38,450 --> 00:21:40,679 H. You can find it through my website. 592 00:21:40,680 --> 00:21:42,739 Initially, it's just being started, 593 00:21:42,740 --> 00:21:45,139 and we want to encourage 594 00:21:45,140 --> 00:21:46,969 future whistleblowers because without 595 00:21:46,970 --> 00:21:49,009 them, we haven't got a clue what's going 596 00:21:49,010 --> 00:21:50,359 on behind the scenes. 597 00:21:50,360 --> 00:21:52,099 More and more, the laws are crushing 598 00:21:52,100 --> 00:21:53,269 dissent. More and more, the laws are 599 00:21:53,270 --> 00:21:56,389 crushing any resistance. 600 00:21:56,390 --> 00:21:58,129 And actually, that is what we need. 601 00:21:58,130 --> 00:22:00,139 And that's what we need as an 602 00:22:00,140 --> 00:22:02,269 organization, as a group, 603 00:22:02,270 --> 00:22:03,919 as a community to do. 604 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:06,649 Because I've said this many, many times, 605 00:22:06,650 --> 00:22:08,209 the political process is broken. 606 00:22:09,350 --> 00:22:11,150 Democracy has been corporatized. 607 00:22:19,840 --> 00:22:21,969 We can't resist in the same way that 608 00:22:21,970 --> 00:22:23,349 we used to think we could, you know, 609 00:22:23,350 --> 00:22:26,259 civil society, protest groups, whatever 610 00:22:26,260 --> 00:22:27,819 they are infiltrated, they are spied on. 611 00:22:27,820 --> 00:22:29,709 We are all surveyed. We have no privacy. 612 00:22:29,710 --> 00:22:30,639 We can't plan. 613 00:22:30,640 --> 00:22:31,839 We can't think. We can't, right? 614 00:22:31,840 --> 00:22:33,579 We can't communicate freely. 615 00:22:33,580 --> 00:22:35,769 But your community, our community, 616 00:22:35,770 --> 00:22:38,019 this is the one community 617 00:22:38,020 --> 00:22:40,269 that can offer a line of defense. 618 00:22:40,270 --> 00:22:41,569 I think you should stop calling yourself 619 00:22:41,570 --> 00:22:43,689 the resistance because that is indeed 620 00:22:43,690 --> 00:22:44,619 what you are. 621 00:22:44,620 --> 00:22:46,030 Please go forth and fight. 622 00:23:48,290 --> 00:23:50,569 So thank you very much for the applause 623 00:23:50,570 --> 00:23:52,639 and having that be ready for 624 00:23:52,640 --> 00:23:55,219 another one in one minute. 625 00:23:55,220 --> 00:23:57,139 Thank you, Annie, for this. 626 00:23:57,140 --> 00:23:59,299 She cut the talks down to 20 minutes. 627 00:23:59,300 --> 00:24:01,099 She could tell you a lot more. 628 00:24:01,100 --> 00:24:03,469 I'm so sorry you had to cut it because 629 00:24:03,470 --> 00:24:05,329 there was some fuck up. 630 00:24:05,330 --> 00:24:08,449 I was involved in two so 631 00:24:08,450 --> 00:24:09,649 huge applause again. 632 00:24:09,650 --> 00:24:10,670 Please thank you.