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N E W S

Thinktanks email trove

NEWS IN BRIEF
Corporations spying on activists and allegations about criminality in British football were among the explosive details contained in confidential emails published by WikiLeaks last week. The whistleblower organisation began releasing over five million messages sent by staff at Stratfor, a US intelligence thinktank with close links to high-level government officials. Stolen by hacker collective Anonymous in December before apparently being passed to WikiLeaks, the huge trove is said to expose the revolving door that operates in private intelligence companies in the United States. Only around 300 emails have so far been released, but already there have been some significant revelations.

MEMORIAL GRANT
Potential students from disadvantaged backgrounds could receive a bursary to study an arts degree at Leeds Metropolitan University. The university hopes to award four 1,000 bursaries to honour nine-year-old schoolgirl Shamirah Grant, killed in a road traffic accident last year in Chapeltown. The fund is available to those who attended secondary school in LS7 and LS8 postcodes.

Documents mention Osama bin Laden, Julian Assange and Jesse Jackson

In addition, Burton alleges that hush money was paid to civil rights activist Jesse Jackson in 2008 by the US Democrat party to prevent him from making remarks that might damage Barack Obamas presidential campaign.

Close eye Hush money

In one message, Stratfor vicepresident Fred Burton claims officials in Pakistans secret service, the ISI, shielded Osama Bin Laden (OBL) at his Abbottabad safehouse. Mid to senior level ISI and Pak Mil[itary] with one retired Pak Mil General that had knowledge of the OBL arrangements and safe house, Burton writes, citing insider sources. It appears the Dems made a donation to Rev. Jesse (no, they would never do that!) to keep his yap shut after his diatribe about the Jews and Israel. A little bird told me it was a nice six-figure donation. Other messages reveal Stratfor was being paid by multinational corporations to keep a close eye on political activists. Coca-Cola hired the firm to monitor animal rights group

PETA, while Dow Chemical got Stratfor to spy on campaigners demanding compensation for a chemical plant disaster in Bhopal 28 years ago. Stratfors analysts suggest criminality is rife across European soccer leagues. One document urges that close attention is paid to British teams. It adds: May seem silly, but European soccer leagues are avenues for money laundering. The trove has also revealed an apparent US plan to charge WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange for publishing government documents. Stratfor has refused to comment on the content of the emails.
RYAN GALLAGHER

HOLI FESTIVAL
The Hindu festival of colours, Holi, will be celebrated at Platt Fields Park, Fallowfield, Manchester on 11 March. The celebration invites people to enjoy live performances as well as Indian food. Visitors will be given the chance to decorate their plain white t-shirts with paints provided and children will be able to take part in games and races, seed sowing and yarn bombing.

HEALTH BOSS RAPPED

Cumbrias public health director has been reprimanded for expressing concerns over the governments health bill. Professor John Ashton said the bill will abolish the NHS as we know it and that it is a move towards an insurance-based system. He was told by his bosses at NHS Cumbria that his comments were inappropriate and called to a meeting to explain his actions.

n disability hate crime

disability hate crime include that of 38-year-old Fiona Pilkington who, after years of being tormented by a gang of youths in Leicestershire, killed herself and her 18-year-old severely disabled daughter Francecca Hardwick in 2007. Successful prosecutions for disabled hate crimes have risen over the last four years. Stephen Brookes, a coordinator of the Disability Hate Crime Network, said: This indicates people are more confident in reporting crimes to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is better at prosecuting them. But many crimes go unreported. Some studies suggest as much as 95 per cent of disability hate crimes go unreported. In 2000 Mencap claimed nine out of ten people with learning disabilities had been harassed or attacked in the previous year. A CPS spokesperson said one

barrier to tackling disability hate crime is the uncertainty around what might constitute one a fear of not being believed or because it happens to someone else. The spokesperson added: We can help agencies by outlining the prosecution process, including what evidence is required and support available for victims and witnesses. The workshop is on 26 March. Details from mick.conboy @cps.gsi.gov.uk
MARK METCALF

LEEDS GUIDE CLOSES

The Leeds Guide, the citys oldest whats-on magazine, has gone into administration after 15 years of publication. The entertainment, arts and culture magazine, aimed at 16-35 year olds, closed without producing a final issue. Last year it went from being printed fortnightly to monthly but the economic climate meant the magazine continued to struggle to find advertising revenue while sales dropped and printing costs were high.

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5-11 MARCH 2012 THE BIG ISSUE IN THE NORTH