On Sat., Nov. 24 from 6 to 8:30 PM, attend the Earthsave Thanks-Living Vegan
Celebration, hosted by Earthsave Baltimore at Govans Presbyterian Church, 5828
York Rd., Baltimore 21212. Enjoy
Great Vegan Food, Live Music, and more good stuff! RSVP at http://earthsavebaltimore.org/node/77. Attendees will be invited
to share an inspiration or reading or success story, or share some thoughts on
gratitude. We’ll enjoy live music from folk/rock musicians, including
singer/songwriters Norm Hogeland, Don Robertson, and John Cunningham, on vocals
and guitar, and from guitarist Wayne Kern of the popular big band The Mood
Swings. And catch some bluegrass fiddling and picking by Alani Sugar. Enjoy the
music of Louis Eagle Warrior on Native American flute. DINNER GUESTS may choose
to either bring a dish made without animal products (to serve 8) plus $5
(members pay just $2) donation; pay $15 (members pay just $12) to enjoy dinner
and presentation; or pay $5 for presentation only. Eat first, then make
announcements, and then hear the presentation. RSVP by calling 410-252-3043, or
emailing Baltimore@Earthsave.org. See www.VegEvents.com
or https://www.facebook.com/groups/EarthsaveBaltimore/ or https://www.facebook.com/events/562894267486124/.
For
Immediate Release Wednesday,
November 21, 2018
European
Parliament Panel Approves Whistleblower Protections for all EU Countries
Journalists to Receive Whistleblower
Protections under Updated Directive
BRUSSELS - On Tuesday, the Legal Affairs
Committee (JURI) of the European Parliament voted in favor of a proposed
Whistleblower Protection Directive, which would create legally binding free
speech protections for whistleblowers in all EU member states. Among the
compromises within the directive, one of the most notable was the extension of
whistleblower protections to journalists –– a progressive move that would
surpass whistleblower protections in most developed countries.
Highlights of the Directive include:
- A comprehensive, continent-wide
ban on direct or indirect retaliation against all current or former,
public or private workers and volunteers who blow the whistle. as well as
those who assist them including Civil Society Organizations and media that
report on their evidence
- Protection against criminal
prosecution and corporate lawsuits for damages.
- Equal rights for national
security whistleblowers challenging denial or loss of security clearances;
- Provision of psychological
support to deal with the stress of harassment
Whistleblower advocates are hailing JURI’s
decision as a success.
Referring to provisions listed above,
Government Accountability Project Legal Director Tom Devine
said, “The European Union Whistleblower Directive voted out of
committee today would set the global standard for best practice rights
protecting freedom of speech where it counts the most—challenging abuses of
power that betray the public trust. If approved, this will be a landmark
paradigm shift protecting freedom of speech, and give whistleblowers a
meaningful voice to make a difference. The new Directive is far stronger than
U.S. whistleblower rights.”
However, the Directive is unclear about its
application to certain key contexts, such as ‘duty speech,’ when employees
report the same whistleblowing information as part of a job assignment or to a
supervisor, rather than as formal dissent. This is where the overwhelming
majority of whistleblowing information gets communicated, and where the free flow
of truth is needed for healthy organizations. But it also is the setting for
the overwhelming majority of retaliation. The current Directive in unclear
whether protection extends to that context. It must, or the Directive will only
cover the tip and miss the iceberg of what’s needed.”
###
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Government Accountability Project (GAP) is a 30-year-old nonprofit public
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advancing occupational free speech, defending whistleblowers, and empowering
citizen activists. We pursue this mission through our Nuclear Safety,
International Reform, Corporate Accountability, Food & Drug Safety, and
Federal Employee/National Security programs. GAP is the nation's leading
whistleblower protection organization.
Donations can be sent to the Baltimore Nonviolence Center,
325 E. 25th St., Baltimore, MD 21218. Ph: 410-323-1607; Email:
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"The master class has always declared the wars; the
subject class has always fought the battles. The master class has had all to
gain and nothing to lose, while the subject class has had nothing to gain and
everything to lose--especially their lives." Eugene Victor Debs
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