corrupt British justice system

Sevim Dagdelen, member of German Bundestag, has been an authorised observer for all or most of Assange's trial. Her account is detailed and informative. Among other observations: US prosecution members are worried that this will be a mistrial due to the procedural unfairness and court bias against Julian Assange, who cannot properly hear what is going on, has no access to his papers, and little access to his lawyers - even in the court. No British parliamentarians are present, yet this is the most internationally important case so far of the 21st century and it has brought British justice into controversy and opprobrium. WikiLeaks Editor-in-Chief Kristinn Hrafnsson was temporarily banned from viewing the proceedings, and Assange's family left the court and refused to return if he was not let back in.

In the second part of this episode, Buglife CEO Matt Shardlow speaks about the growing threat of the extinction of insects worldwide. He discusses lobbying efforts by insecticide companies and how they will affect post-Brexit Britain, the continued prevalence of harmful insecticides in the EU and around the world, the crisis of the extinction of bees and many other insects, without which birds and other species will starve.

Anti-war lyricist and singer, Roger Waters, who is identified world-wide with Pink Floyd, discusses Wikileaks founder Julian Assange’s latest extradition hearing at Westminster Magistrates Court and why it makes him ashamed to be English. The British magistrate is acting like an American puppet, taking advice from the US barrister. He explains why he believes the UK and US are attempting to kill Julian, why the extradition case shouldn’t even be happening and is a mockery of British justice. He talks about the protest that Australian journalist, John Pilger, and he, led recently, before a crowd of a thousand people. No British mainstream media reported it. That is how they control the kind of information people need to know. He compared British head-in-the-sand behaviour with the mass protests in Chile against the neoliberal US-backed President Sebastián Piñera and how the military crackdown is reminiscent of the Pinochet era.

In this episode, Afshin Rattansi of Going Underground speaks to legendary journalist and filmmaker John Pilger about Julian Assange’s latest extradition hearing on Monday, which Pilger attended. Pilger discusses how Assange appeared at the trial, the bias of the judge against the journalist, the lack of mainstream media coverage of his persecution, his health and conditions in Belmarsh Prison, CIA spying on the WikiLeaks founder, and more. Next, Afshin Rattansi speaks to Chris Williamson MP about Assange’s extradition hearing, Williamson's motion in the House of Commons to condemn Assange's treatment, why his persecution is of international importance, the silence of mainstream media on Julian Assange, the lack of vocal outrage from Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour front bench over Assange’s treatment, and more!