Wikileaks -- Real Anonymous Whistleblowing

There is a lot of talk about online or cyber-activism but what does that really mean. I should have written about this particular site earlier. Wikileaks is an online activist site plus plus. It is more like a forum for online dissidents. These dissidents are anonymous but are responsible for putting into the public sphere confidential and secret documents.

This ability will ultimately outstrip the need for a freedom of information legislation as people can upload documents almost completely anonymously. I guess though, one should never under-estimate "big brother" and the reach that they have. It might not all be black helicopters and secret troops but it is kind of surprising that the Australian founder of Wikileaks, Julian Assange, is still able to claim that not one of the leak sources have been uncovered.

There are now some 1.2 million documents on the site and not one has been censored or removed since being uploaded. This suggests that the documents have withstood all critical evaluation. The site had been focused primarily on corporate deals and government. However, there has been a recent shift in focus to the upload of documents that focus on the more shady sides of religion, cult, and celebrity.

This has seen documents uploaded about Wesley Snipe's tax problems, including his tax returns and bill. Other documents about Church of Scientology and the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

Wikileaks claims to have been responsible for swinging the Kenyan election by releasing document that showed that the then Kenyan leader, Daniel Arap Moi, siphoned off billions of dollars in government money. Other claims that Wikileaks make are that it was the first site to make available the US Rules for Engagement in Iraq and also the Operations Manual for Guantanamo Bay detention facility. This Operations Manual highlighted how the US was going to hide certain detainees from the International Red Cross.

In a mark of credibility, Wikileaks has been referenced 662 times on nytimes.com, 207 times on guardian.co.uk, and 86 times on washingtonpost.com.

Assange, grew up in Australia but moved to East Africa two years ago and has worked as a security consultant, professional hacker, activist and researcher during that time.

So, if any of my readers have documents in their possession that might be considered to blow the lid on some kind of issue, then consider uploading them to Wikileaks. You might not get any credit for exposing the deceit of others but it might just make the world a better place.

Uncle Sam and Oil Dependence

Something for the cynic in all of us.

Starbucks

Now is probably not a good time to be a Starbucks employee in the US. Starbucks are reporting that they are to close 600 of their coffee shops in the US and this will eliminate some 12,000 jobs. Strangely enough the market reacted pretty well to the news and put on as much as 7.2% in Nasdaq trade. The shares eventually closed up 4.7% in after hours Nasdaq trading at USD 16.35.

Starbucks had more than doubled in size in the last three years but despite store growth the company had seen declining earnings. Perhaps if there is a case to be made for a company growing too fast then this might be it. Almost 70% of the stores to be closed are less than three years old. However, the company maintains that it is going to stick to its plan of opening another 200 stores through September 2009.

Analysts are suggesting that Starbucks has fallen victim to surging world oil prices where consumers are less likely to spend income on luxuries such as cafe lattes and caramel machiatto.

I was in Starbucks in Plaza Senayan last night and it was doing a roaring trade for a Tuesday evening at 21.00. It was full and more people were lining up to get their gourmet coffee fix. I would be surprised if the franchise holder in Indonesia was looking at consolidating or closing stores, in fact I would be more surprised if an expansion in the number of stores was not being contemplated. However, I am not privy to the financial books and my observations are completely anecdotal based on drinking coffee in various Starbucks stores and them always being full.

Come to think of it, it is time for a coffee!

But it ain't gonna be no Starbucks but rather it is going to be a Kapal Api!

Travel Warnings for Indonesia -- Dangerously Beautiful

I found this sticker floating around the office. So, I am guessing that they are being handed out somewhere. Or perhaps as is the more usual way in Jakarta, they are being stuck directly on cars or buses! I borrowed it and have scanned it to share!

Anyway, in light of the recent decision by the US to lift its travel warning to Indonesia I thought this sticker exhibited an excellent sense of humor in taking the mickey out of travel warnings in general. I must admit that I have not read the US travel warning / advisory so I am not 100% certain it is Indonesia wide and there might still be some exceptions.

So, this is my contribution to the travel warning issue.