U.K. Independent: WikiLeaks 'Whistleblower' is Deemed Fit to Stand Trial
The US Army has deemed Bradley Manning, the Army intelligence analyst accused of giving classified information to WikiLeaks, as “mentally fit to stand trial.”
The determination that Manning is mentally sound has led to his transfer from the Quantico Marine Corps base to a new facility in Kansas. Manning has also been removed from solitary confinement and has been granted privileges such as visits and phone access.
ABC News (Australia): People Smuggler Whistleblower Fears for His Life
A whistleblower who worked with ABC TV in Australia to expose six key "people smugglers" in Indonesia says that he now fears for his life, and that the Australian government has not come forward to help him.
The New York Times: Another Side of Tilapia, The Perfect Factory Fish
This article looks at the rise of consumption and demand for farmed tilapia, the "perfect factory fish" due to its cheap corn-fed diet which allows quick weight gain – resembling the model of the poultry industry. Environmentalists argue that tilapia farming practices in Asia and Latin America, where most of the tilapia Americans eat originates, damages ecosystems in ways that would be illegal in the U.S. Currently, new sustainability standards for aquaculture are being developed, as well as an independent inspection program to identify "responsibly farmed" fish.
The New York Times: A Beast in the Heart of Every Fighting Man
This in-depth article revisits the case of an Army platoon that murdered Afghan civilians for sport – exploring the various and complicated factors which led to these actions. The piece argues that these incidents cannot be explained solely as the random violence of a few soldiers, but must be looked at in the context of deeper, systemic problems. The article discusses the role of whistleblowers in the case who tried to alert the military about the killings.
Lindsay Bigda is Communications Fellow for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower advocacy organization.
