WIKILEAKS PRESS RELEASE

Fri Sep 16 01:41:01 2011 GMT



WikiLeaks Launches the First of Four Fundraising Auctions



( http://tinyurl.com/wlfund )



The first of four WikiLeaks fundraising auctions features unique items such as a framed, signed limited edition cable describing Hillary Clinton's spying orders against the United Nations, one of two computers used to prepare Cablegate, complete with full historical data, invite-only tickets to Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2012 fashion show in Paris later this month and sealed prison coffee smuggled out of HMS Wandsworth by Julian Assange on December 17. All items have been donated to WikiLeaks by Julian Assange or the guests to his 40th birthday party on July 10, 2011 (while under house arrest). The money raised will be used exclusively to support WIkiLeaks right to publish. Starting prices reflect initial pre-auction bids from the guests. The four auctions will be announced through the WikiLeaks official Twitter account, @wikileaks.



WikiLeaks, a not-for-profit organization, relies entirely on donations from its supporters in order to stay operational. Since December 7, 2010, WikiLeaks has been the subject of an unlawful financial embargo by the Bank of America, Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and Western Union. The blockade has blocked 90 to 95% of its donors from directly expressing their support for the cause they believe in. WikiLeaks has lodged a formal complaint at the European Commission and is gearing up for other actions in the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Iceland. The only formal process to occur found that WikiLeaks was in the clear. US Treasurer, Timothy C. Geitner, stated on January 13 this year that there was no lawful excuse for the US government to start such an embargo. Despite the Treasurer stating that no embargo was warranted, these powerful Washington-connected financial institutions persist, unilaterally, in trying to financially cripple WikiLeaks.



The blockade against WikiLeaks violates individuals' freedom of conscience and consumer's rights to exercise their choice of which organization to support with their own money. Crucially, this unprecedented mixing of politics and finance also threatens the future existence of all non-profit organizations. All now risk having their financial lifelines arbitrarily pulled as a result of their commitment to exposing corruption, environmental degradation or war crimes.



For more information on the banking blockade visit: http://wikileaks.org/support



For items listed for Fundraising Auction #1, see:



http://tinyurl.com/wlfund



For information on how to support us, visit: http://wikileaks.org/support



To donate items worth over $8000 write to wikileaks.auction@mail.be



For press commentators: http://wikileaks.org/Press



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WikiLeaks Fundraising Auction #1 items:



INFAMOUS HILLARY CLINTON UN SPYING CABLE



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Cable on UN Spying, Signed and fingerprinted

Signed and fingerprinted by Julian Assange



Starting: £2,100



To raise money for WikiLeaks this auction includes the rare item of the UN Spying cable that hit headlines when CableGate was launched.



The unique cable details Hilary asking her diplomats to spy on UN officials requesting them to collect details of UN officers, including Ban Ki-moon's DNA.



The cable has been framed by WikiLeaks and is the first numbered copy of only ten in the world to be printed (no other copies have been produced as of the time of writing). The cable is extremely rare and has been signed and fingerprinted by Julian Assange on the 10th of July at his 40th birthday party, held whilst under house arrest. Julian has also written the WikiLeaks' slogan on the cable: 'Courage is Contagious'.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: +44 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.







COFFEE



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Julian Assange's Prison Coffee, Signed and Fingerprinted

Smuggled out of prison by Julian Assange



starting £200



Scarce item of memorabilia from Julian Assange's time in prison. Julian Assange spent ten days in prison in Decmber 2010. When he left to go under house arrest in Norfolk he smuggled out this, one of three sachets of coffee.



This rare item has been signed on one side: 'Julian A, Prison coffee, smuggled out of Wandsworth Prison by me on Dec 17 2010'. On the other side of the sachet Julian has inked a fingerprint.



The sachet is unopened and is being sold to raise money for WikiLeaks.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.







CABLEGATE COMPUTER



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: WikiLeaks CableGate preparation computer

Essential Computer Used by WikiLeaks during CableGate



Starting: £6000



This is a one time offer to raise money for WikiLeaks. Search the cables in true WikiLeaks style on their own exclusive machine.



The WikiLeaks team are offering up their internal CableGate computer. The WikiLeaks team used this computer to prepare the cables for media partners and releases. Each partnership WikiLeaks made meant the team had to create the relevant set of cables on this machine for a particular country or theme. The database machine that allowed the team to search the full set of cables and extract the cables to be sent encrypted to media organisations throughout the world. It lead to hundreds of front pages and was a causative element in ongoing political turmoil and reforms that are playing out as we speak.



In this exclusive auction item you will get the full set of WikiLeaks Cables as released by WikiLeaks, the WikiLeaks computer and its passwords. The entire machine is otherwise encrypted.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: +44 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.





FASHION SHOW



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Vivienne Westwood's Gold Label Fashion Show



Starting £850



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Two completely unique tickets to Vivenne Westwood's (UK's most famous fashion designer) Gold Label catwalk in Paris (Spring/Summer 2012 collection). The show starts at 6:30pm on 30th September 2011, the exact venue is announced just before the show. Tickets to the show are literally priceless, since they are issued by invitation only. The two tickets were personally donated by Vivienne Westwood to Julian Assange at his 40th birthday to help raise money for WikiLeaks.



Vivienne Westwood is one of the most original and influential designers of our time.



This is an unprecedented opportunity and a fashion-lover's dream. Take a friend to watch Vivienne Westwood's latest collection come down the runway before your own eyes. Known for her dramatic shows and incredible designs this is guaranteed to be a fantastic evening.



The tickets can either be sent via post or collected in person in Paris before the show.



Tickets only.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.





ASSANGE PHOTO



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Exclusive Signed Photo of Julian Assange

Signed at Julian's birthday party, under house arrest



Starting: £600



To raise money for WikiLeaks we are auctioning this exclusive photo (13cm x 18cm) of the organisation's founder, Julian Assange.



This is the only copy of this photo of Julian Assange. It was taken by Allen Clark at Ellingham Hall where Julian is currently under house arrest and is not otherwise for sale.



In this framed unique photo Julian Assange leans against a column at the front of Ellingham Hall where he has spent almost three hundred days under house arrest.



The photo was signed "Julian A, Ellingham Hall, 10 July 2011 while under house-arrest two days before high court appeal" at his 40th Birthday party. It is one of only four photos of Julian in the world that were signed on this occasion.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.





COIN



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Exclusive 60 Minutes Challenge Coin

Donated by CBS Producer Howard Rosenberg



Starting: £200



Donated personally to Julian Assange at his 40th birthday party to raise funds for WikiLeaks by Howard Rosenberg, award-winning investigative reporter and CBS Producer, this is a rare 60 Minutes Challenge Coin.



The coin is based on those carried by US Special Operations forces. It bears the familiar 60 Minutes logo and is unavailable for sale to the public.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.





BOOK



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Book by Marina Nemat signed by Marina and Julian Assange

"After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed" rare copy of this book



Starting: £300



The author, Marina Nemat personally donated this book to Julian Assange at his 40th birthday party. This is one of three copies that she donated to Julian to auction in order to raise money for WikiLeaks. This extremely rare copy of "After Tehran: A Life Reclaimed" has been signed by the author and Julian Assange whilst under house arrest.



At the age of 16 Marina Nemat was locked up in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Her crime; a complaint that her teachers were giving lectures on Islamist propaganda in the place of maths and history. She was arrested in the middle of the night, and after being interrogated and tortured, she found herself facing execution by firing squad. Just minutes from death, she was saved by one of her interrogators who - it turned out - had fallen in love with her. But his intervention came at a price. She was forced to marry him and bear his child. As she came to terms with her new life the interrogator - now her new husband - was murdered by the Iranian government. Marina Nemat escaped Iran with her child, and took refuge in Canada. After more than twenty years of silence, this is her story.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.





IRAN SPEAKING ENGAGEMENT



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Marina Nemat Speaking Engagement



Starting: £300



Marina Nemat speaks all over the world. To raise money for WikiLeaks she generously offered, at Julian Assange's 40th birthday party, to donate a speaking engagement. Marina can describe her experience of political upheaval, repression and resettlement and explores the circumstances that may force people to leave their home country.



At the age of 16 Marina Nemat was locked up in Tehran's notorious Evin Prison. Her crime; a complaint that her teachers were giving lectures on Islamist propaganda in the place of maths and history. She was arrested in the middle of the night, and after being interrogated and tortured, she found herself facing execution by firing squad. Just minutes from death, she was saved by one of her interrogators who - it turned out - had fallen in love with her. But his intervention came at a price. She was forced to marry him and bear his child. As she came to terms with her new life the interrogator - now her new husband - was murdered by the Iranian government. Marina Nemat escaped Iran with her child, and took refuge in Canada.



Marina can speak to any school, book club, human rights group or university anywhere in Canada in 2012.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: 0044 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.







GORMET DINNER FOR SIX



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Celebrity Chef will cook at your home

Julian Assange's surety will cook for you



Starting: £800



Sarah Saunders, a surety of Julian Assange, is a celebrity chef. At Julian's 40th birthday party, whilst he was under house arrest, she offered up for auction this rare and amazing experience.



She will cook a gourmet meal for six for you and your friends anywhere in the world, with no secret ingredients.



Not including transport and any accommodation needed, Sarah will supply all the necessary ingredients for a fabulous meal.



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: +44 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.







JOHN PILGER "WAR YOU DON'T SEE" POSTER



WikiLeaks Fundraiser: Signed poster from John Pilger film

Signed by Julian Assange and John Pilger



Starting: £400



Exclusive to this auction is a poster of John Pilger's critically acclaimed film "The War You Don't See", that was donated personally to Julian Assange at his 40th birthday party, whilst he was under house arrest, to raise money for WikiLeaks. This unique poster has been signed by both John Pilger and Julian Assange.



The film, which features an exclusive interview with Julian Assange, is a powerful and timely investigation into the media’s partisan role war, tracing the history of embedded and independent reporting from the carnage of World War One to the destruction of Hiroshima, and from the invasion of Vietnam to the current war in Afghanistan and disaster in Iraq.



As weapons and propaganda become even more sophisticated, the nature of war is developing into an electronic battlefield in which journalists play a key role, and civilians are the victims. But who is the real enemy?



John Pilger says in the film: “We journalists… have to be brave enough to defy those who seek our collusion in selling their latest bloody adventure in someone else’s country… That means always challenging the official story, however patriotic that story may appear, however seductive and insidious it is.



For propaganda relies on us in the media to aim its deceptions not at a far away country but at you at home… In this age of endless imperial war, the lives of countless men, women and children depend on the truth or their blood is on us… Those whose job it is to keep the record straight ought to be the voice of people, not power.”



For confirmation of legitimacy of this item please contact: +44 7554 181 066. For any questions about payment arrangements please contact this number.







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