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Assange Handed Sydney Peace Medal

Posted by samzenpus on from the love-or-hate dept.

hihihihi writes "WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been awarded the Sydney Peace Foundation's Gold Medal for 'exceptional courage in the pursuit of human rights.' It is only the fourth time in the organization's 14-year history that the prize for extraordinary achievement in promoting peace with justice has been given out. Previous winners are Nelson Mandela, the Dalai Lama and Japanese Buddhist leader Daisaku Ikeda. Foundation director Professor Stuart Rees accused the Australian government of demonizing Mr Assange and aiding US efforts to behave like a totalitarian state."

2 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Sydney says: Me too! by donscarletti · · Score: 4, Interesting

    So it's been around 14 years, so basically before Assange it has only awarded one prize to someone who did not already have a nobel peace prize at the time of the award. Having grown up in Sydney I have got to say I am pretty uninterested in this me-too institution. Since I doubt many Australians will do anything worthy of the attention of the Norweigian government or whoever awards these things, maybe starting with Assange they can make it a sort of domestic competition with lesser criteria.

    --
    When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
  2. Manning? by muffen · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Bradley E. Manning should get this price, he is the real hero. He put his life on the line to release this information, what did Assange risk?
    Manning was held naked in a prison cell without windows for 23 hours a day, Assange won't even go to Sweden to face the charges for sex-crimes (not even after being assured he will not be sent to any other country without britains concent).