I support and work with a number of organisations that share my concerns about accountability and transparency in areas such as intelligence and security, the failed war on drugs, freedom of information, human rights, privacy issues, civil liberties, and the war on terror.
The Campaign for Press and Broadcasting Freedom, which does what it says on the tin! One of the campaign organisers, Barry White, is currently on the NEC of the UK National Union of Journalists, and writes a great blog: www.fromthenecup.org.uk. Here’s a link to a piece I’ve just written on my website.
Pirate Party (NL). Affiliated to the Pirate Parties International, this group campaigns around issues such (digital) civil liberties, transparency, privacy and copyright. PPNL fielded candidates in the Dutch general election in 2010. Shortly before the election, I was invited to provide some media training to the candidates.
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP).
Prohibition has never worked, as proven throughout history. And now around the world many judges,lawyers, prison governors, and officers from police, customs, and intelligence organisations, as well as many other experts, are challenging the failed concept of the “war on drugs”. This policy, in place for decades now in many countries despite its manifest, abject and repeated failure, criminalises great swathes of our populations, causes health problems, social problems and untold suffering, and funds organised crime and terrorist groups. It is time for a mature, calm debate about the issue, rather than hysterical, tabloid headlines.
I am honoured to be one of this group speaking out, and now to be working as the Director of LEAP, Europe.
Make Wars History is a non-profit peace group that aims to end war by upholding the international and national laws that make warfare illegal under any condition except self-defense. It specifically seeks accountability for the illegal and disastrous invasion of Iraq and a formal investigation of the people who were instrumental in starting it. Here’s the launch of the campaign in the Houses of Parliament in January 2008.