Julian Assange | Sam Adams Awards | Oxford Union

Julian Assange gives his address live via Videolink to the Oxford Union Society.
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Julian Assange begins his address by saying that in 2007-08 he was looking at what was happening in Iran. He says that a lot of people did good work, especially Thomas Fingar in:
Trying to correct the movement towards war with Iran based on lies.
He says one of the worst modern deceptions of the western world happened only in 2003 where we went to war with Iraq based on lies where over 100, 000 people were killed and millions of Iraqi refugees displaced as a result.
In 2008 WikiLeaks published Iraq's classified rules of engagement for the US army. In those rules there was a section that permitted a border skirmish to start up that allowed US troops to go into Iran under a variety of circumstances. Because of the leak Iran held a press conference saying that in no way are the US allowed into their territory. After this a second rules of engagement was published omitting the border skirmish. Between 20% and 50% of all wars have started as a result of these border skirmishes. 45 hostile military bases surrounds Iran's borders, because of this there is a constant fear of being invaded making for a very tense atmosphere in the country.
He makes the point that WikiLeaks is not against intelligence agencies but mentions that corruption within intelligence agencies is born out of secrecy.
Intelligence analysts mustn't be held responsible to the public through cultural bias but must be responsible to historical record.
He mentions the WikiLeaks movie saying that it's a mass propaganda attack against the WikiLeaks organisation, also it fans the flames for war on Iran as is demonstrated in the opening scene of the film that is read out by Assange who has the script. The movie shows Iran as having an active nuclear program when intelligence reports have revealed in high confidence that this is not the case.
Filmed on Wednesday 23rd January 2013
ABOUT JULIAN ASSANGE:
Known worldwide as the founder and public face of WikiLeaks, Julian Assange has made headlines across the world by exposing government misconduct. He has championed the principle of freedom of information, yet some have criticised his activities as reckless and dangerous. Under Assange's leadership, WikiLeaks has published innumerable classified diplomatic cables and played a crucial role in shaping the international political landscape. He is currently living as a fugitive in the Ecuadorian Embassy in London
ABOUT THE OXFORD UNION SOCIETY:
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Filmed by Oxford Media Solutions www.oxfordmedia...

[@marthapaterson-cohen7489]

heartbreaking and enraging to think what has happened to him. Thank you. I believe this work has contributed to the collective awareness of the truth and will ultimately save us from barbarism.

[@MDeeb-lv3xi]

Assange Imprisonment = Total Freedom of Warmongers and the Looters! What a decent, dignified, and responsible human being; Australia and the world should be proud of someone with such a high principles towards humanity!

[@oniongingertomato2216]

Extraordinary moral clarity

[@colleenadams9350]

Right on Julian for telling the truth. You are my Australian of the Year.

[@rfn944]

I like Julian, he is all about the truth. There should be no secrets. Keep up the good work, you are a world hero.

[@MinuitMarie]

Thank you so much for this upload! Once again the internet proves to be the “great antidote to TV”. Whenever I listen to what Julian’s got to say, I feel so relieved that there are still people willing to give him a platform. The traditional media obviously won’t provide it and I’m kind of afraid that they will one day success in shutting him up. I never want to see that happen because to me it’s going to mark the end of free speech…

[@CGetz]

Free at last!

[@gtmumma]

how when we hear the truth we KNOW! thanks Julian.

[@adelaidefowl3994]

Bravo for Julian Assange...this is why we have to give him the support he deserves. He definitely deserves to be Australian of the Year.

[@Littlebirdie2010]

Free Assange, Manning & every other innocent person who has told the truth about War crimes. Stop wars, end corruption, stop poisoning planet earth! Peace & Love.

[@elenarf879]

#FreeAssangeNOW

[@Fatrelease]

An amazing man and always our modern day hero.

[@Orf]

8:30 Internet is most important invention since printing press. People are always lied into war.

[@katialeitao2004]

It is good for such a conventional world recognized institution to host Assange, for it is time, he is given the credit, he deserves. It is also warming for the UK to show their support for such a bright mind, and in doing so, to shed the rumours - which are usually spread on inconvenient figures - lending an ear and also encouraging a much needed and wanted public speech. In fact it is the case, I believe, that Mr Assange's lends renewed credibility to the Institution. Thank you. Thank you.

[@tracygallagher4632]

It’s a travesty that he’s now in a Uk prison.

[@careyking777]

What worries me more is not the fact that governments and corporations are becoming increasingly more ruthless secretive and scheming, it's the fact that so many of the population have their perceptions tuned and also totally distracted into some hypnotic state

[@rfn944]

It's the truth that will set you free.

[@3laz3r]

Thanks for posting!

[@cobra60six]

Could not agree more...

[@allhype555]

we love you coz you're a Victorian! from bay 13 MCG

[@Zincink]

I enjoyed this and it flowed well. Can't understand why some people would be looking around the room. HD full screen is almost like sitting at the table with..

[@caroleAnime]

well done Oxford union for giving Julian a platform. Shame about the mainstream media. can another video but with sound fixed be uploaded please. Julian, keep up the great work. You have many supporters including John Pilger, Glenn Greenwald etc etc.

[@nickidaisyreddwoodd5837]

Free Julian Assange.

[@Fatrelease]

Pity we cant really hear what you are saying Julian, but those present at Oxford Union at that time heard your important message. That's what is important....

[@MacSteve83]

Assange = Hero

[@chawwan44]

Respeto a los derechos humanos de Julián ASSANGE.libertad .

[@phelanmarkj]

censoring the background image tarnishes oxford

[@MegaJos4]

I would just like to express my utter support for Assange's work, and my utter disappointment with the movement in Oxford (and indeed elsewhere) that claims that the sexual assault charges levelled against him was sufficient reason to deny him a platform. Not only is the irony involved in denying a freedom of information activist a platform almost laughable, but it is almost impossibly naive to see the charges as anything short of political corruption. Above all, it just is not relevant.

[@muzzleray]

Julian Assange oughta be Australian of the year

[@Khono]

The sound was fine for me the entire video. Strange. Never heard of this happening in other videos.

[@caroleAnime]

another way to listen to this video is use youtube downloader program, download mp4 format then using program like apples quicktime change the sound setting (under window/a/v and set the balance to left or right). there maybe other ways. amazing speech. thanks OXUni

[@OxfordUnion]

Thanks for your feedback. We are aware there are issues with the audio when playing on mobile devices and we are working on getting this fixed as quickly as possible. The audio can be heard on desktops or with headphones on laptops.

[@katialeitao2004]

Australian?... Global citizen of the year! He is ours!!! Not just Australian. ; ) xxxx

[@codependent864]

21:00 Of course I will subscribe, although I reckon it will be hard to find a 'new weekly speaker' like THIS ONE. You can try a million weeks for all I care...

[@Orf]

5:50 great stuff. Don’t just follow orders

[@Orf]

19:00 great end points.

[@fdghtjhfgd]

He`s not siding with the US!

[@henkgrui]

Assange for President......

[@KarenRei]

And as I'm sure you've seen me point out repeatedly in detail (need I go into it yet again?), the extradition-to-America conspiracy theory is so patently absurd that parents in Narnia could use it as a bedtime story for their kids.

[@newsfromnowhere5343]

Well, the laugh's on you now KarenRei. I wonder if you've learned a little more humility and self-doubt since. I doubt if somehow.

[@FreiheitKim]

5:58 It is not enough to agree to carry out a task for superiors - that is Nuremberg defense. We must all look to ourselves and understand whether what we are doing is right and just - not just according to the views of our superiors but according to the long view of history. According to human rights and to our feelings of compassion - if we have any.

[@CathyVogan]

ATTENTION VIEWERS: Because of a phasing problem between the left and right channels of the audio, you will hear very little if you listen to this in mono. If you use headphones or hook up a stereo, the sound will be fine. I have written to the organisers and asked them to fix this. Hopefully another version will appear soon.

[@Orf]

11:15 on fifth estate movie

[@giantsring]

The audio is broken so it only plays on stereo speakers. On some systems it might work if 'balance' is set to one side.

[@Orf]

2:05 Rules of Engagement

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)... a UK supreme court ruling. Fifth, the concept of him being extradited to the US from Sweden is so far into fantasyland that parents in Narnia could use it as a bedtime story for their children. It would be difficult to design a *more* difficult situation to extradite from than him being in Sweden, surrendered under an EAW, charged with a local crime, and the "extradition" being related to intelligence. There's a reason Assange called Sweden his "shield" and wanted to live there.

[@vaderownage2000]

I just want to post that the audio cuts out shortly after the start of the video. Please fix. Hopefully, none of this is deleted.

[@raphi72]

Why does the sound quality suddenly drop after 20 seconds? It's impossible to listen to on a mobile device. :( Please fix that!

[@nationofgandhis]

yes sound dies after very beginning?

[@katialeitao2004]

Exactement!

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd) (And yes, I posted this first in another thread, I just copied it here so that I didn't have to write all that again. Again, I encourage you to respond)

[@zeroxcliche]

He is making some important big picture points here and getting better at it - looking forward to his run for the Senate in Australia - also for the people stuck on the Julian debate and the odd agency watching - you are too late - mirror sites allowing anonmyous dumping of info is spreading - just the nature of teh internet gives access to greater detail - Assange is a harbringer, not a one off for those in power - your days are numbered

[@fredwal5680]

why is it impossible to post a link to another video? for goodness sake! it's so frustrating!

[@ItMustBeKate]

The audience saw the Collateral Murder video behind him when he was speaking.

[@PETEtheTRAINER]

INTERESTING INFO to encourage and empower the masses, who crave real and positive change to strengthen the "New World Harmony" .

[@DragonballZHZH]

The translate captions do not work well. Is it due to the newly uploading or due to its speaker?

[@nationofgandhis]

I cannot hear the audio on laptop hardly either, can someone please re-edit this and enhance the audio? I could send you enhanced audio if needs be.

[@SkidRowRadio]

it would be very easy to fix the audio. why have you uploaded it this way?

[@KarenRei]

", all I know is that what he did IN TERMS OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION is something I admire and support" Which has ABSOLUTELY NO BEARING on whether he's getting away with rape. "If a rapist cured cancer would you deny him a nobel prize" In general, yes, criminals DO lose accolades. Because doing something unrelated right doesn't excuse a wrong. Maybe *you* want to hand out "I'm-Awesome-Enough-That-I-Should-Be-Excused-For-Rape" cards, but that doesn't make it right.

[@andjack]

He is all about the truth, as long as it isn't about him.

[@MegaJos4]

If you genuinely believe that most rape charges go unreported because the victims fear that people will support their attacker's rights to perform actions entirely separate from happened to them, then fair enough. Fortunately, the world does not conform to what you believe. People are innocent until proven guilty, they have multifaceted lives, and emotions and speculation do not alter the facts. God save us if you ever get what you want. Nobody will be safe from your speculative justice.

[@katialeitao2004]

This will not let me write the site adress here so I will try to break the adress down to get through the system:

[@agitcam]

Hey Julian, counter with a movie of your own explaining Wikileaks.

[@nationofgandhis]

funny how the sound comes back after Assange stops speaking..

[@DrFlashburn]

What happened to the uncensored version of this video? What did the students see? Search "Julian Assange speech that was censored by the Oxford Union". Stop the censorship.

[@KarenRei]

First off, fugitives don't get to decide the terms of their captivity. Secondly, *five courts in two countries* have already ruled against him, two specifically on the strength of the evidence, and two supreme courts. Three, the one who's turned this into a circus and required added resources is Assange, by hiding in the embassy (and yes, when there's a standoff, even if the person hiding is a nobody, it *always* takes lots of resources). Fourth, to not do so would be to explicitly (more)

[@residentzombie]

The Collateral Murder video that got Bradley Manning in trouble.

[@buzwad]

What was the view behind Assange that has been censored?

[@joelsjunk]

For the unredacted, full audio fidelity version search for: "Julian Assange speech that was censored by the Oxford Union" apparently this comment field does not allow even portions of URLs to be posted The video ID is: x1r7-ralebI

[@MegaJos4]

Whether I like him or not is besides the point. I'm sure him and I probably would not get on as it happens, all I know is that what he did IN TERMS OF FREEDOM OF INFORMATION is something I admire and support and wish to hear more from him about. I think you're missing the fundamental point which is that the rape charges are not relevant. If a rapist cured cancer would you deny him a nobel prize for their scientific achievement? Perhaps, but I would not.

[@tylerdurden6398]

they sabatoged the video

[@emotionalinvalid]

I get sick and tired of videos being deleted from my playlists

[@Orf]

6:40 move to war w Iran

[@patrog21]

Wonderful expose', things we know from our experience in the modern world, things we suspect, and summed up somewhat obliquely yet plainly by Mr Assange. Too bad he is/was vulnerable to spying and profiteering on his perhaps extravagant sex life; but hey, what red blooded man wouldn't do it if they could? Praise be to Ecuador for having the moral courage to help him.

[@KarenRei]

Ooh, you got me! I don't actually care about people getting cheered on for running from rape charges! Oh no, I'm *actually* in league with Satan! You got me aaaaalll figured out!

[@MegaJos4]

If he were not such a high profile and controversial figure, his hiding in the Ecuadorian embassy would indeed be suspicious, but as he is, it is both understandable and possible, as the Ecuadorian embassy is only protecting him on the grounds that they also believe he is at risk. In terms of reforming the way we view rape, something I'm sure we can all agree is much needed, condemning a potentially innocent man is hardly constructive. Just try to think more, and assume less.

[@KarenRei]

Let's be explicit: CONSENT TO ONE TYPE OF SEXUAL ACTIVITY IS NOT A LICENSE TO DO WHATEVER YOU WANT TO A GIRL, WHENEVER YOU WANT. Not morally. Not legally. Period. End of question. Got it? Quit blaming your inability to not rape a girl on your penis. Believe it or not, most of the world's male population does NOT rape.

[@N05K177]

I have no sound :/

[@darkedge221]

Dude, he's only an actor. He didn't make the script.

[@060in3seconds]

sound?

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)... on the victim in a dark alley with a weapon, beats the screaming victim to within an inch of their life, and when it's over the victim runs bleeding to the police". The most common type of rape is date rape. The most common weapon is "incapacitation" of the victim - drugs, alcohol, sleep. As for date rape, I want you to stop and think for a minute as to what that means. That means that the victim goes into the situation actually *liking* the perpetrator. Often they (more)

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)..brother, who described her as looking shaken when the topic turned to Assange. She finished buying the breakfast that Assange told her to get for him, they ate and she went to sleep. This is the part that *nobody* disputes. Now what she says happened next is that she woke up to Assange f*ing her unprotected. His story is she woke up, became fully cogent, and consented to it. To unprotected sex, first time in her life, with the guy she's mad at. Any wonder that he keeps losing trials?

[@KarenRei]

Sorry, that's not how a debate works. If you have a point you want to make, make it, don't just respond "watch this video".

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)... The person going to your home is NOT "yes". The person consenting to some activities is NOT "yes" to whatever activities you want to do to them. The person consenting to activities at one point in time is NOT "yes" to you doing whatever you want, whenever you want in the future. NOBODY has the right to sexually use another's body for other than what they consent to, right then. To do otherwise IS RAPE. As for the particular case: the woman in question (SW) has a long, well (more)

[@KarenRei]

No, most go unreported because *people automatically side with the attacker against the victims*, and most victims don't want to put themselves through that crap. The exact same thing that you and the rest of Assange's legion of followers are doing *right now* "People are innocent until proven guilty" ...IN A COURT OF LAW. The person who's derailing that latter aspect is Assange.

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)... consent to do certain activities, but not others. When the person overrides their express refusal to do certain sexual activities, the victim is generally in shock. A person they thought was a good person, F*ing them in ways they told them not to. Rather than blame the perp, they often blame themselves. They try to make excuses for their attacker's behavior. It's a serious self-blame issue. But make no mistake: sex without consent IS RAPE, regardless of the other details.(more)

[@BritishMoralHQ]

People dont - Watch - The fifth Estate Movie - Eat PopCorn - and form an Ill- informed Opinion about Free Speech ( AKA ) WikiLeaks. Free Bradley Manning

[@naryanr]

Real, uncensored interview here: /watch?v=x1r7-ralebI Oxford lost some credibility the day it ran from truth and posted this.

[@MrGotmymojoworkin]

This commenter does not possess existence .

[@Khono]

It's due to Google fail.

[@katialeitao2004]

take the word site off. that is the adress. strange, I could not write a web address here...!??? Why not?! I hope that clears your doubt. I understand that you cannot just believe a person. But when in doubt don't just take a side. Inform yourself fisrt and also, remember that person is innocent until proven guilty. Now you can see clearly, let others know too. xxxx

[@MegaJos4]

It does have a bearing, there is a genuine, and justifiable fear that he will be extradited to the US, and who knows what will happen to him there. It is unlikely to be justice whatever his crime. If he had conclusively been proven to have raped someone, I would have less sympathy, but he hasn't. Does the amount of resources that have been spent attempting to defame and detain him not strike you as suspicious? If it wasn't politically motivated, why the disproportionate effort chasing him down?

[@KarenRei]

(cont'd)... documented history of paranoia about unprotected sex, to the point that her previous boyfriend testified that not once in their 2,5 years together did she allow it, and made him get STD tested anyway. After a night at her place, but *before* the incident in question, she called and texted a friend complaining about how he kept trying to F* her unprotected despite her telling him no, and how mad she was getting at him for that and for bossing her around. She also ran into her (more)

[@Cuccaweepoo]

censored his background footage of the attack lol whose side are you on oxford

[@woritsez]

mic check..

[@fredwal5680]

and WHY? you don't seem to understand why? or you just not trying to understand?

[@pbezunartea]

Shame on Oxford Union. Original uncensored video: watch?v=x1r7-ralebI at TheWikiLeaksChannel

[@agitcam]

Boycott the movie.

[@zh3e]

how much did the U.S government pay you to say that.

[@darmok072]

Pffft. Go watch more of your pal Assange on RT. If you're unwilling to see the explicit irony and hypocrisy of this guy then I'm afraid it's you that is blind. The sooner he disassociates himself from Wikileaks the better.

[@KarenRei]

It's perfectly understandable why fugitives run from the law. Facing justice sucks. What should *not* happen is other people cheering someone on for running from rape charges and then demand that, for example, Britain ignore its explicit supreme court ruling and just let him go, aka giving out "get out of rape" free cards to people you like. Five courts ruled. Two of them supreme courts. He needs to stand trial for what he did once and for all. Period. Nobody gets a get-out-of-rape-free card.

[@IH8FAGS81]

This is bad

[@vicocaetano]

bla bla bla