We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks is a new documentary about the genesis of Julian Assange’s website and soldier Bradley Manning‘s controversial document dump, which exposed U.S. security secrets on WikiLeaks. Today, Mashable is offering an advance stream of the dramatic soundtrack to the film, featuring music by Brooklyn artist collective Fall On Your Sword. The film was directed by Alex Gibney, who won Best Documentary Feature at the Academy Awards in 2007 for Taxi to the Dark Side. The documentary on WikiLeaks premiered at Sundance earlier this year and releases to the public on May 24. In addition to Gibney’s documentary, a Wikileaks film titled The Fifth Estate is in production and aiming for a November release. It stars Star Trek Into Darkness‘s Benedict Cumberbatch as Assange. Oliver Stone recently met with Assange and described the films as “unhappy” portrayals of WikiLeaks and the site’s founder. We Steal Secrets: The Story of WikiLeaks Original Motion Picture Score comes out May 21 on Back Lot Music but is available to pre-order now [iTunes link]. Below, check out the film’s trailer and let us know what you think of the soundtrack in the comments. Image via Oli Scarff/Getty Images Read more: http://mashable.com/2013/05/20/wikileaks-documentary-soundtrack-listen/
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange has been granted political asylum by Ecuador, the country’s Foreign Minister Ricardo Patino announced Thursday. However, the question remains how he will get out of the country’s embassy in London without trouble from officials, who have said they plan to stop his exit. Assange is hoping to avoid being sent to Sweden, where he is wanted for questioning over allegations of rape and sexual assault. He fears the country will then turn him over to the U.S. Among the first to break the news on Twitter was @BBCBreaking. Julian #Assange says being granted asylum by Ecuador is a “significant victory” bbc.in/OkGFDz #Wikileaks — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 16, 2012 The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office quickly shared their reaction to the government of Ecuador’s decision on Twitter. We are disappointed by the statement from Ecuador’s Foreign Minister that #Ecuador has offered political asylum to Julian #Assange. — Foreign Office (FCO) (@foreignoffice) August 16, 2012 According to the BBC, the UK may be able to revoke diplomatic protection from an embassy under domestic law. However, WikiLeaks has labeled that as impossible under international law. UK Diplomatic & Consular Premises Act 1987 may allow diplomatic immunity of an embassy on British soil to be revoked – BBC’s @stuartdhughes — BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) August 15, 2012 Which is of course just spin. The UK is under a binding obligation to recognize asylum, the rights of refugees and its other UN agreements. — WikiLeaks (@wikileaks) August 16, 2012 WikiLeaks spokesperson Kristinn Hrafnsson told the Agence France-Press on Thursday that she hopes “that the UK authorities are sensible enough not to enter the embassy without permission, which would risk upsetting diplomatic relations all over the world.” Sweden’s government has told the Ecuadorian ambassador to its country that the asylum decision is “unacceptable,” per the Associated Press: BREAKING: Sweden summons Ecuador’s ambassador, calls Assange asylum decision “unacceptable” — The Associated Press (@AP) August 16, 2012 UK-based Citizen journalist James Albury has uploaded video of earlier demonstrations outside Ecuador’s embassy in London. According to Albury, Ecuadorian nationals were protesting the possible intrusion of British law enforcement into Ecuador’s sovereign territory. Your browser does not support iframes. Assange first requested asylum from Ecuador June 19 and has resided at the country’s London embassy ever since. This story initially cited @AntDeRosa as one of the first tweeters, but has been edited. Alex Fitzpatrick contributed to this report. Julian Assange: His History and Story Julian Assange Julian Assange, 40, is an Australian-born political activist and journalist known for his controversial website WikiLeaks, which has published leaked documents that allege government and corporate misconduct. Assange fell into his career path after he was a hacker-activist in his early days. Photo courtesy Wikimedia Exposing the Government From publishing material about extrajudicial killings in Kenya to toxic waste dumping in Côte d’Ivoire, Assange has long sought to bring controversial concepts to the forefront. On 28 November 2010, WikiLeaks and its five international print media partners (Der Spiegel, […]
