Political Websites

There’s been a lot of talk about Wikileaks over the last part of this year, and we thought we’d show you the site, and some similar websites that encapsulate the democratic spirit of the world wide web.


There’s been a lot of talk about Wikileaks over the last part of this year, and we thought we’d show you the site, and some similar websites that encapsulate the democratic spirit of the world wide web.

Wikileaks itself is not associated with Wikipedia or the Wikimedia Foundation, it is an independent, not for profit publisher of sensitive information which it obtains, collates and makes available to the news organisations of the world.

Because some of the information is often classified as confidential by governments, Wikileaks has attracted much attention from government leaders who are nervous about how the revelation of what they really know, think and feel on massive issues, such as the Iraq War and Afghanistan, will impact their credibility with people. The site itself is a simple layout of the documents they have obtained, able to be searched by who, when, or what the document contains, and its classification.

If Wikileaks inspires you, have a look at Avaaz.org, which describes itself as a global web movement to bring people powered politics to decision making everywhere. Avaaz.org identifies which issues are important to its members each year by a poll. Once the key issues are identified, it begins campaigning by coordinating its global reach with petitions, information, pressuring the bodies involved, and assisting other organizations working on specific issues around the world. Recent highlight achievements listed by the site include helping save the oceans, elephants and the Amazon.

Dealing with Australian issues is GetUp.org.au, an organization which has developed a successful tactic of highlighting issues, then receiving member donations to take out advertising on the issue, pressuring decision making bodies at the critical stages of when an issue is being determined. Through this collective action, GetUp counter balances the financial clout of big industry and polluters who can influence public opinion through their own advertising. Get Up’s campaigns include the Gunn Pulp Mill in Tasmania, The Murray Darling basin, and many others.