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In Our Words: United Whistleblower Speak Sept 18, 2011

Please contact me for further information. Our website shows our agenda, our participants, and our goals:

http://internationalwhistleblower.org/

We plan to release further press releases very frequently this week

http://www.opednews.com/articles/5th-Annual-Whistleblower-C-by-James-Murtagh-110831-261.html

Dr. James John Murtagh, FCCP

Co-chair, IAW

404 626 4520

 

 

 

In Our Words: United Whistleblower Speak Sept 18, 2011:

 

"Americans must be free to practice their trade and to tell the public the

truth." http://internationalwhistleblower.org/

 

WASHINGTON, DC – This September 18, the whistleblowers and persons of

conscience will hold the fifth annual gathering on Capitol Hill. As the

Nation's budget crisis continues to grow, lawmakers must look to corporate

and federal whistleblowers to stop out of control spending. The united

message is the nation’s top priority must be to protect whistleblowers so that

truth-tellers can protect the public, the public’s health, and our national

security.

 

Five years of concentrated advocacy led to this meeting. Dr. Jeffrey Wigand

(aka, “The Insider”) helped to found, guide and shape the International Association of

Whistleblowers (IAW). Other Advisors include Coleen Rowley, Reuben Guttman and

Cyrus Mehri. Our ranks are growing stronger everyday.

 

America knows what is said about whistleblowers. This conference is a chance to hear from the whistleblowers in their own words. A spectrum of statements include:

• NSA whistleblower Thomas Drake, recently revealed on 60 Minutes that 9/11 could have been prevented. The IAW demands an end to counter-productive policies that make America more vulnerable to future attacks:

 

"If recent history is any guide, coming forward with the truth and blowing the

whistle on evidence of gross waste, fraud, abuse, wrongdoing, corruption,

malfeasance, illegalities or dangers to public health and safety within public or

private institutions is increasingly viewed as a criminal act. In so doing,

whistleblowers not only risk their personal lives and professional careers they are

often relentlessly and maliciously dismissed, victimized, hounded and even

prosecuted out of reprisal, retribution, and retaliation for speaking truth to power – a clear and distinct 'shoot the messenger' syndrome. Whistleblowers are often the only witness to wrongdoing where they work. Existing laws are simply not sufficient to protect whistleblowers. http://www.whistleblower.org/blog/31/1128

• Navy whistleblower Kirk Wiebe vigorously supports the IAW message:

 

Whistleblowers are not a threat to government or to any organization, rather they

seek to ensure integrity of service to the people they serve. The IAW Conference

provides an excellent platform for whistleblowers to find their voice and to meet

one another in a positive environment of mutual support.

http://www.whistleblower.org/blog

 

NSA whistleblower Randy Kelly amplifies:

 

These are sad and dark days in the history of America. The American taxpayer has little or no confidence in our elected officials or government in general. The

American people should be outraged at the level of corruption and criminal activity within the federal government and politics in this country. It is easy to understand why many members of the Senate and of the House of Representatives do not want any level of whistleblower reform. Too many politicians fear they themselves will become publically exposed as to the atrocities they condone by being unwilling to take any action against the prevalence of fraud, waste and abuse within all levels and sectors of our government. All honest citizens are affected by government fraud, waste and abuse. These are intentional and criminal acts that benefit but a few. And, they are taking place to the detriment of, and at the expense of, the honest and hard working citizens of this country. It is the 'whistleblowers' that are trying to right the wrongs. Yet the term 'whistleblower' remains painted with a dark and sinister image. The American people must come to realize that the 'whistleblowers' of this country are some of the true patriots of America. Now, more than ever, whistleblowers need the understanding and support of the American people!

• Bill Binney points out the Constitutional issue:

 

When our Constitutional form of government does not function, that is, when

Congress does not have effective oversight of the agencies of the executive branch, those agencies set their own agenda and spend money accordingly. That is exactly what has happened at my former agency (NSA). Over the past 30 years, my former agency has made acquiring money the main objective - not solving operational problems. Their vision statement over these years has evolved into "Keep the problem going, so the money keeps flowing." In other words, don't solve the problem use the problem to keep getting more and more money.  This is and has been a disservice to our people and country. In effect, these agencies are trading our security for money.

• Mike McCray, co-chair of the IAW agrees:

 

Starting today, every agency and department should know that this administration stands on the side not of those who seek to withhold information, but those who seek to make it known.  We encourage all 264 organizations and corporations that signed the Whistleblower letter to join us! We are already bonded by a shared principle that "whistleblower protection is a foundation for any change in which the public can believe. It does not matter whether

the issue is economic recovery, prescription drug safety, environmental protection, infrastructure spending, national health insurance, or foreign policy."

 

The IAW is independent, transpartisan, and non-aligned. It is united by a single principle: that Americans deserve to be protected by the truth. Only truth-telling patriots with extraordinary courage to tell truth to power can stop the barrage of preventable disasters that beset America. We are uniting to lobby Congress, and we will be heard. Every whistleblower will tell their story, and will be interviewed for U-tube. An extraordinary archive of these American and International stories will be collected.

 

All citizens who want to make America truly stronger are invited to:

 

Contact today Atlanta Whistleblower

Phone: 404 626 4520

INTERNATIONAL

ASSOCIATION

OF WHISTLEBLOWERS

(IAW) CAUCUS IN WASHINGTON DC

September 18, 2011

 

DC Public Library

Martin Luther King Jr. branch,

RoomA-5,

901 G Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

(202) 727-0321

 

Please post additional comments to:

http://www.opednews.com/articles/In-Our-Words-United-Whist-by-Carol-Czarkowski-110911-240.html

New International Association of Whistleblowers Caucus (IAW) to join Gap and others at National Whistleblower Conference starting September 18 in Washington DC.

 

Here is the website for the IAW.  All Whistleblowers, those who were whistleblowers, or those who may become whistleblowers are enthusiastically invited to join. 

Our website explains what we, the IAW, are about:

http://internationalwhistleblower.org/

 

 

Opening day of the conference is Sunday, September 18, 2011.  The IAW Caucus will be conducting activities at the DC Public Library – Martin Luther King Jr. Branch, Room A-5, 901 G Street, NW, Washington DC 20001

 

Some of the activities will include a welcome by co-chairs Mike McCray Esq. And James Murtaugh, MD.

 

This will be followed by:

 

-         The Atlanta Whistleblower plenary panel, “Have Georgia Judges Gone Wild?”

-         Tapping the Power of the Media:  “How can we use the power of story, and new internet media, to promote social justice?”

-         Whistleblower support fund – plenary panel, “How can we save priceless documents from the legendary cases of whistleblowers like Ernie Fitzgerald?”

-         “Empty Chair” ceremony honoring whistleblowers who cannot be present due to retaliatory imprisonment  or untimely death.  Statements will be read on behalf of:

o       Martin Salazar, former Dept. of energy employee

o       Bradley Birkenfeld, former UBS banker

o       Mordechai Vanunu, former Israeli nuclear technician

o       Karen Silkwood, Kerr-McGee technician, deceased

-         Waste of Funding within Federal Government Procurement Panel

-         Medical Whistleblower plenary panel, “Can the Patient Quality Care Project Bring Integrity Back to Medicine?” This will include VA whistleblower panelists as well as medical doctors.

 

For those of you interested in joining the IAW, work sessions will take up the rest of the afternoon on matters concerning planning, charting IAW’s organizational directions, viewing of whistleblower authored books, and continued videotaping of whistleblower story videos for publication on U-Tube.  You will meet a lot of dynamic, creative, and determined people.  It will be well worth your time and effort to get here.

 

All of this will be followed by an informal participant dinner at the Dubliner at the Phoenix Park Hotel. 

 

The rest of the week will continue with events and presentations by various whistleblowers, whistleblower organizations and others.  This will be an exciting and informative week where you will learn a lot and make all kinds of good contacts and build up your supportive networks. 

 

GFS

 

 

ATTENTION! SEC ADOPTS NEW WHISTLEBLOWER RULES

I attended one of these sessions recently.  You do not have to be an attorney to attend.  I recommend that you all attend and read Mr. Kohn's new book.  It is written to make the complexities understandable even for people who are not attorney's.    Your fee includes a copy of Mr. Kohn's new book and handouts.  He was very open to answering participant questions.  GFS

 

 *******

 

On May 25th, the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) adopted whistleblower rules that fundamentally changed and enhanced the right of employees to obtain legal protection and large financial rewards (see Washington Post article).  The National Whistleblowers Center and its legal staff were extensively involved in this process, providing the SEC with nine formal rulemaking submissions and personally meeting one-on-one with each of the five SEC commissioners.  Many of the NWC's proposals were adopted by the SEC, and the Final Rules cited to NWC formal comments forty-four times.  The new regulations will prove an invaluable asset in the representation of corporate whistleblowers, and the new regulations if properly utilized will prove to be an invaluable asset in successfully representing employees and preventing corporate fraud.

 

As a result, the National Whistleblowers Center is conducting a series of nationwide seminars that will focus on the new SEC regulations, and the historic whistleblower protections contained in the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.  The seminars will explain the new anti-retaliation rules governing corporate employees and the financial reward provisions.  These rules require the SEC to pay large financial awards to qualified whistleblowers for which there is no cap and can result in multiple millions of dollars in recoveries.

 

 

 

 

Dodd-Frank Act

3-hour CLE Seminar

NEW Corporate Whistleblower Protections and Reward Provisions

 

 

On July 21, 2010, Congress enacted the Dodd-Frank Act. Corporate whistleblowing was forever changed. The Act established the right of whistleblowers to obtain multi-million dollar rewards for reporting violations of Securities and Commodities Exchange Acts. These "qui tam" provisions were modeled on the False Claims Act -- a law that already has resulted in whistleblowers obtaining over $2.7 billion dollars in rewards for reporting federal contracting and procurement violations to the Justice Department. Dodd-Frank also enhanced employment protections available to whistleblowers. Retaliatory discharge cases can now be filed directly in federal court, with the right to a jury trial. Under Dodd-Frank, mandatory arbitration agreements cannot be enforced.

$150 ATTORNEY REFERRAL SERVICE MEMBERS

($95 For Early Bird Special!)

 

$295 ATTORNEYS

($150 For Early Bird Special!)

 

$75 WHISTLEBLOWERS

 

Call (202) 342-1903 for Early Sign-up or ARS Discount Codes

 

To REGISTER visit our UPCOMING EVENTS page

Locations:

 

Washington, DC -- June 10th, 2011 (Teleconference Available)

         National Whistleblowers Center

         3238 P Street NW

         Washington, DC 20007

 

         Register on or before June 7th for Early Bird Special

 

         Contact Seminar Director Estelle Kohn at ek@whistleblowers.org or Associate

         Seminar Director Philip Barrett at whistle@whistleblowers.org or call

         (202) 342-1903 to register

 

Denver, CO -- June 23rd, 2011

         The Browne Palace Hotel & Spa

         321 17th Street

         Denver, CO 80202

 

         Register on or before June 10th for Early Bird Special

 

San Francisco, CA -- June 27th, 2011

         TURN-The Utility Reform Network

         115 Sansome Street, Suite 900

         San Francisco, CA 94104

 

         Register on or before June 10th for Early Bird Special

 

Los Angeles, CA -- June 28th, 2011

         Carlsmith Ball LLP

         444 South Flower Street, 9th Floor

         Los Angeles, CA 90071-2901

 

         Register on or before June 10th for Early Bird Special

 

New York, NY -- July 25th, 2011

         New York Marriott Downtown

         85 West Street at Albany Street

         New York, NY 10006

 

         Register on or before July 15th for Early Bird Special

 

CURRICULUM:

Learn how to use the new corporate whistleblower laws and regulations to effectively represent employees, combat fraud and qualify for large whistleblower rewards. Gain insight into how whistleblower protections laws can be integrated into your law practice as powerful legal tools for maximizing your client's ability to have their case heard before a jury and obtain entitlement to large monetary damage awards and rewards.

 

FACULTY:

Stephen M. Kohn, Esq. is the Executive Director of the National Whistleblowers Center and one of the nations leading advocates on whistleblower law.  Mr. Kohn will present this unique seminar on the latest whistleblower laws and rewards provisions. Mr. Kohn has represented numerous high profile whistleblowers for over 27 years. He has authored seven books on whistleblower law, including the recently published The Whistleblower's Handbook: A Step-by-Step Guide to Doing What's Right and Protecting Yourself (Lyons Press, 2011). Mr. Kohn was the principal author of the NWC's rulemaking petitions and personally met with all five SEC Commissioners and the responsible Commission staff.

 

To Register or For More Information:

Please visit our UPCOMING EVENTS page or contact Estelle Kohn or Philip Barrett by phone: (202) 342-1903 or email: ek@whistleblowers.org or whistle@whistleblowers.org.  

If you cannot make the seminar, you can purchase the course materials, The Whistleblower's Handbook, online for $16.95 plus shipping. 

GAP's 2010 National Whistleblower Assembly is May 24-25

The Government Accountability Project & Make it Safe Coalition

Present:

2010 NATIONAL WHISTLEBLOWER ASSEMBLY

THE FINAL COUNTDOWN: HONORING 10 YEARS OF COMMITMENT

Monday, May 24, 2010 - Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Join the whistleblower community on May 24 and 25 for an intensive conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC. Co-Sponsors of this year's Assembly include National Treasury Employees Union and Project On Government Oversight

The Conference Will Feature: A morning plenary session with our congressional allies, theme-based workshops led by prominent whistleblowers and good government organizations, a national security panel with star whistleblowers in the industry, street law update informational sessions, a meet and greet with the new appointees to the MSPB, OSHA, and ARB, and Lobby training and intensive lobbying appointments with congressional offices.

The 2010 National Whistleblower Assembly aims to:

• Establish a cohesive social network between whistleblowers
• Provide an outlet for direct legislative campaigning
• Celebrate ten years of devoted advocacy to strengthen the Whistleblower Protection Act

Confirmed Speakers and Guests Include:

 

• Whistleblowers Frank Serpico, Jack Spadaro, Coleen Rowley, Franz Gayl, George Sarris, and Robert MacLean
• MSPB Chairwoman Susan Grundmann, Vice Chairwoman Anne Wagner and Member Mary Rose
• ARB Chairman Paul Igasaki and Vice Chairman Cooper Brown
• OSHA Assistant Secretary Dr. David Michaels

• Special Counsel to the President for Ethics and Government Reform Norm Eisen

We look forward to your valued attendance. If you have any questions, or to RSVP, please contact Becky Jones at the Government Accountability Project or call us at (202) 457-0034 ext. 127.

Please click here for more information, including a working schedule for the Assembly

GAP's mission is to promote corporate and government accountability by protecting whistleblowers, advancing occupational free speech, and empowering citizen activists.

GAP has been the nation's leading whistleblower protection and advocacy organization since 1977.

The Government Accountability Project

1612 K Street NW, Washington DC 20006

Need a Whistleblower Expert to Interview?

Whistleblower Experts Available For Interviews On Oversight Provisions In The Stimulus Bill   On January 28, 2009 the U.S. House of Representatives passed a highly controversial amendment to the stimulus bill to include whistleblower protection for federal employees.  Although endorsed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi in her floor speech, this amendment faces opposition in the U.S. Senate.   The National Whistleblowers Center is making three experienced whistleblower advocates/attorneys, Stephen M. Kohn, David K. Colapinto, and Michael D. Kohn, are available for interviews to discuss:   *    Why whistleblower protections are critical to ensure oversight and accountability in stimulus spending; *    The conclusions of a PricewaterhouseCoopers international audit of 5400 companies which found that whistleblowers were the single most important source for detecting corporate fraud; *    Department of Justice findings that whistleblowers were responsible for 67% of all civil fraud recoveries obtained by the United States.     AVAILABLE FOR INTERVIEWS   Stephen M. Kohn is the President of the National Whistleblowers Center and one of the nation's foremost experts in whistleblower law.  He has written six books on whistleblowing, including the first legal treatise ever published on the subject.  Since 1984, Mr. Kohn has successfully represented whistleblowers in numerous cases high profile cases, such as the O.J. Simpson murder case, the World Trade Center bombing cases, the Oklahoma City bombing case and the Linda Tripp Privacy Act case. For more information on Stephen M. Kohn click here .   David K. Colapinto is the General Counsel of the National Whistleblower Center. The co-author of Whistleblower Law: A Guide to Legal Protections for Corporate Employees, Mr. Colapinto is a highly experienced and highly successful litigator who has represented numerous whistleblowers including FBI Dr. Frederic Whitehurst,. Mr. Colapinto is responsible for the lawsuit that forced President Clinton to issue a historic directive granting whistleblower rights to FBI employees.  For information on David K. Colapinto click here.   Michael D. Kohn is the General Counsel for the National Whistleblower Center.  He has represented whistleblowers since 1985 in numerous high profile cases, and is currently lead counsel for Bunny Greenhouse, the former top-contracting officer of the Army Corps of Engineers who blew the whistle on an illegal no-bid contract awarded to Halliburton for the Reconstruction of Iraq. Mr. Kohn is the co-author of The Labor Lawyers Guide to the Rights and Responsibilities of Employee Whistleblowers and Whistleblower Law: A Guide to Legal Protections for Corporate Employees.   For more information on Michael D. Kohn click here.     To view the whistleblower provision in the House stimulus bill click here.   To view the Statement of Speaker Pelosi click here.