Britannia Radio

READ THE NEWS ON ONE CLICK
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk

1. WikiLeaks Et Al & Internet Disclosures - Free Speech Group, ARTICLE 19

The current debate around WikiLeaks highlights the potential of the internet to make previously secret information of public interest widely available. ARTICLE 19 calls for governments to improve their regimes for public access to information, refrain from punishing WikiLeaks and other sites that are releasing information in the public interest, and to protect and encourage whistleblowers. ARTICLE 19 welcomes the use of the internet by new and established organisations as a mechanism to expand and democratise the availability of sources of information. The recent debate around WikiLeaks and the disclosure of secret US government documents related to the Afghan War Diary and Baghdad airstrike video underscores the need for strong legal rights to be in place in all countries for the public to seek, receive and impart information as guaranteed by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international, regional and national human rights instr uments. There has been considerable discussion about the possible prosecution of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and other WikiLeaks activists under state secrets or espionage legislation in the United States or other countries. ARTICLE 19 believes that this would be an improper use of these laws and urges all governments to refrain from taking this step. The statements of defence and state officials, calling for or warning of prosecution, might amount to censorship of media at a time and on issues – the war in Iraq and Afghanistan -– where transparency and the public right to know should govern the government’s relationships with the media and the public.
Statement, ARTICLE 19, Global Campaign For Free Expression
Related Links:
* Shield Laws, WikiLeaks & The Public's Right To Know
Lawrence Davidson, MWC News
* Trying To Exclude WikiLeaks From Shield Law Stinks
Douglas Lee, First Amendment Center

2. China Mass Measles Vaccination Plan Sparks Outcry

A child cries while waiting to receive vaccination
injection against measles at a clinic in Beijing, China
China's plans to vaccinate 100 million children has set off a popular outcry that highlights widening public distrust of the authoritarian government after repeated health scandals. Since the Health Ministry announced the World Health Organization-backed measles vaccination plan last week, authorities have been flooded with queries and Internet bulletin boards have been plastered with worried messages saying the vaccines are dangerous that have spread by cell phone text messages. Feeding into worries about the measles vaccine were media reports in March that vaccines for encephalitis, hepatitis B and other diseases possibly killed four children and seriously sickened dozens in one province. Prominent immunization expert, Wang Yuedan of Peking University said in an interview that he winced at the thought of his 4-year-old daughter suffering a possible fever from the vaccine.
Gillian Wong, Associated Press
Related Links:
* Four Babies Killed By Measles Vaccine
NDTV Correspondent, NDT
* Vaccine Protestors Beaten, Bones Broken
China Digital Times
* Parents Of Vaccine Damaged Children Arrested
Li Shuang, Global Times
* Editor In China Sacked For Exposing Vaccine Deaths
One India
* China: Wave Of Anger Rises Over Vaccine Scandal
Mitch Morley, IPS

3. More Parents Choosing Not To Vaccinate Their Children

The number of kindergartners entering school without vaccines peaked in California last year. It remains high this fall as children head back to school. “About half of my practice does not vaccinate at all," said Dr Laurne Feder. In a recent report, the researchers at the San Diego-based Watchdog Institute examined data from the state department of public health and found a growing trend: more families are choosing not to inoculate children. Lori Gregory says she tried to find concrete evidence that vaccinations would benefit her child “and it wasn’t there.” Gregory says one of her main worries about inoculating him was the risk of autism.
Patricia Nazario, KPCC, Southern California Public Radio
Related Links:
* Hannah Poling: $20M Lifetime Compensation For Autism-Vaccine Damage
Sharyl Attkisson, CBS News
* Finding of Entitlement: MMR Vaccine, Thimerosal-Containing Vaccines, Autsim Spectrum Disorder
United States Court of Federal Claims
* Stunning Vaccination Graphs - The Awful Stats In Action
Raymond Obomsawin Ph.D
* The Synoptic Overview: Issues In Immunization Theory And Practice
Raymond Obomsawin Ph.D

4. Thug Cop Freed After Just Six Days

Whilst still on full pay, thug in police uniform freed after
just six days in jail having attacked Pamela Somerville
(Caption & Pic Courtesy Of One Click)
A police officer jailed for hurling a woman head first on to a concrete cell floor, leaving her with blood pouring from a head wound, was today freed on bail, pending an appeal. Sergeant Mark Andrews, of Wiltshire police, was last week jailed for six months after being convicted of assaulting Pamela Somerville, causing actual bodily harm. But during a hearing behind closed doors at Oxford crown court, Judge Julian Hall granted him bail ahead of his appeal against the conviction. Andrews was caught on CCTV dragging Somerville, then 57, across the floor of Melksham police station in Wiltshire before shoving her into the cell. She needed stitches to a head wound and said that as she was driven to hospital by ambulance, and feared she was going to die. The 37-year-old was suspended on full pay after his conviction. Andrews's appeal is due to take place later this year.
Steven Morris, The Guardian
Related Links:
* Thug In Police Uniform Punched And Kicked Civil Servant, IPCC Refused To Act
Jo MacFarlane, The Mail On Sunday
* Survey Reveals Massive Level Of Complaints Against Police
Matt Dickinson, Press Association, The Independent
* Judge Condemns Two More Anonymous Thugs In Police Uniform Working In Wiltshire
Caroline Gammell, Daily Telegraph
* Police Officer Assaults Woman In Cell Causing Severe Injuries
BBC News
* Disgraced CPS To Review Case Of Man Allegedly Killed By Police At G20 Summit
Owen Bowcott, The Guardian

5. Police Complaints: Statistics for England and Wales

Each year the IPCC publishes a report presenting statistics on complaints recorded by police forces in England and Wales. The first IPCC report presented figures for 2004/05, in years prior to this these statistics were published by the Home Office. The findings in these reports concern the number and type of complaints made by members of the public and how these complaints were subsequently dealt with. They also include demographic data on those who made complaints and those who were subject to a complaint. The most recent report covers the financial year 2008/09 and includes a report containing supplementary tables.
Information Release, IPCC

6. It's Business As Usual For Big Brother UK Coalition Government Detested Database State

As the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats groped about for common ground on which to base their unlikely coalition, the abolition of ID cards and the dismantling of the "database state" suddenly shot to the top of the political agenda. Here was one issue on which both parties could heartily agree. Despite the big headline announcements, behind the scenes it is very much business as usual for the database state. For example, a huge scheme to transfer all medical records in England on to a central database - criticised by the Conservatives and Lib Dems when they were in opposition - is being rolled-out despite concerns from some GPs that patient trust will be compromised. But alarm bells really began to ring for civil liberties' campaigners when Cabinet Office Minister Francis Maude and Treasury Chief Secretary Danny Alexander unveiled the head of the coalition's new Efficiency and Reform group, which is likely to play a crucial role driving thro ugh massive cuts in public spending across government departments. Under transformational government, 445 local authorities in England and Wales and eight government departments are now able to access the Department of Work and Pensions' Customer Information System (CIS), one of the biggest databases of personal information in Europe. The system contains information on about 92 million people, including sensitive data such as relationship history, ethnicity and whether someone is being investigated for fraud. But despite assurances that it is a secure network, public sector workers, including court staff, have repeatedly been caught using it to snoop on personal details.
Brian Wheeler, BBC News
Related Links:
* UK Coalition Government U-Turns On Own Medical Database Policy
Ian Quinn, PULSE
* The UK Database State Scandal
Joseph Rowntree Reform Trust

7. Berlin: Protestors Take To The Street To Call For Better Data Protection

Thousands of demonstrators took to the streets of Berlin on Saturday to call for enhanced data protection powers and less state intrusion of privacy. A particular point of contention was a government database that maintains income information. Marching under the motto "freedom instead of fear" protesters called for limits on the amount of information that the state, as well as private organizations, can hold about individuals. Among the concerns of participants was the centralization of health, financial, telecommunications and employment data. Frank Bsirske, head of the powerful Verdi trade union, used the rally to call for an end to the ELENA employee income database and the retention of data by authorities. Bsirske said the history of the last 80 years in European history showed that data collection could be used for "insane purposes."
Richard Connor, Deutsche Welle

READ THE NEWS ON ONE CLICK
http://www.theoneclickgroup.co.uk