Al Jazeera: Panel Says UN Failed to Protect Whistleblower
Summary: The UN Dispute Tribunal, a recently established court that hears employee issues and whose decisions are binding on UN officials (including Secretary-General Ban Ki-Moon), has found the UN liable for failing to protect a whistleblower. The whistleblower in question was a former top UN official in the organization’s operation in Kosovo. He was retaliated against after opening up a corruption investigation on other senior officials.
This case is largely considered a test case for the new court. GAP International Officer Shelley Walden is interviewed.
Key Quote (Shelley Walden): If you’re a UN whistleblower, the first place that you go is the Ethics Office to request protection against retaliation. The problem is that the Ethics Office has a horrendous record of protecting whistleblowers.
Associated Press: In WikiLeaks Case, Manning Presses Prosecutors for Documents
Summary: Bradley Manning, the soldier accused of giving classified information to WikiLeaks, is set to appear at another pretrial hearing this afternoon. His defense team is seeking documents from the US government (the prosecution) that assess the damage done by his alleged ‘leaking’ of diplomatic cables and war communications.
Summary: WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has asked for assurances from the Swedish government that he will not be extradited to the US, if he goes to Sweden to face questions regarding sexual assault allegations. Earlier this month, the UK Supreme Court denied Assange’s appeal to reopen his extradition case.
Assange has applied to Ecuador for political asylum. He has been staying at the Ecuador Embassy in London where British police cannot arrest him. Ecuador’s ambassador to the UK has flown back to Ecuador to discuss the asylum bid with the country’s president.
Al Jazeera: Have Multinationals Hijacked Rio+20?
Summary: Inside Story Americas on Al Jazeera takes a look at the corporatization of Rio+20, the UN conference on sustainable development. Climate Science Watch’s Rick Piltz is one of the guests.
Soda Industry Taking Marketing Lessons from Tobacco?
Summary: A science journal launched a series on "Big Food" last week, starting with a critique of soda company campaigns that seem to mimic tobacco industry efforts to draw consumer attention away from health problems linked to their products. GAP's Food Integrity Campaign explains.
Reuters: IRS Whistleblower Tax Take Plunges, Senator Frets
Summary: In light of the recent coverage exposing the IRS whistleblower program as ineffective, Senator Charles Grassley (R-Iowa) says the agency is driving away whistleblowers, calling the improper handling “inexcusable.” He is considering delaying the nominations of two Treasury Department officials until the IRS has worked to improve the program.
Summary: The former director of the Portland (Oregon) public safety project has filed a whistleblower suit against the city, alleging that she was fired after reporting fraud, mismanagement, and misuse of public funds.
Hannah Johnson is Communications Associate for the Government Accountability Project, the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization.
