[All] "WikiLeaks" in GREN

Tue May 24 12:15:35 EDT 2011

Dear Daphne and Grenlings,

Far too much is circulated around the internet.  It's best to pick up the phone and talk to someone directly if it concerns matters that are sensitive.  Sometimes things get circulated unintentionally.  I have a friend who was working as an assistant to the Saskatchewan premier and pressed the wrong button when sending out a document which was meant just for the cabinet.  It went off to the opposition party and the media as well and he lost his job.

Wikileaks is a different matter.  I subscribe to the Guardian, the British newspaper selected by Wikileaks to get its messages.  They have used the material to show how various parties mislead the public and the hidden agendas that guide the truly powerful in the world.  However the Guardian was careful to apply a set of ethical screening criteria to any material they used.  By and large, I think Wikileaks has been a positive force.

PBS, channel 61,9 pm tonight, is featuring a very good documentary about the US soldier who supplied the thousands of documents used by Wikileaks.  The story behind him is quite different than we might think, and shows why the US army needs to start treating gays fairly.

- Greg
________________________________
From: all-bounces at gren.ca [all-bounces at gren.ca] on behalf of Daphne NICHOLLS [gordanddaph at sympatico.ca]
Sent: Tuesday, May 24, 2011 9:57 AM
To: GREN
Subject: [All] "WikiLeaks" in GREN

Dear members of GREN,
Until now I've assumed that GREN is a network of people concerned about various aspects of the environment, and a place where we can learn from each other and share information. While I recognize that the internet makes it VERY easy to share information with a larger audience, I've asked permission before I've circulated information. I felt it was an unwritten rule of courtesy. Obviously a wrong assumption!

WikiLeaks works here too.

I thought you should be aware that on Tuesday, at the River Rd. extension public consultation centre, I learned  that the Regional engineer, Wayne Cheater, and the IBI planner, Don Drackley, had both been receiving messages I sent out on behalf of the Friends of Hidden Valley. They were not on my list.

As concerned citizens few of us have training in planning or environmental  issues, no secretaries and lots to learn. It's hard work to do our "jobs" well. The planners and regional staff have access to experts who help them do their jobs. If they become aware of our plans, our questions, our uncertainties, it makes it easier for them to undermine us and find our weaknesses. Such communications are sneaky, not transparent.

I don't know who passed on my emails without asking my permission, but I was very disappointed. The value of GREN as a supportive network has been diminished for us all.

Is that how you want it to be? How can we change it?

Sincerely,

Daphne

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