Church of Scientology falsely accuses internet group 'Anonymous' of 2007 school shooting

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Wikinews has learned that the Church of Scientology has begun to falsely accuse the internet protest group Anonymous of a 2007 school shooting in Finland.

The Church, on October 18, 2008 accused Anonymous of being involved in the November 2007 shooting at Jokela High School, in which a man named Pekka-Eric Auvinen shot and killed nine people, and himself.

"Anonymous member Pekka-Eric Auvinen shot and killed seven students, a nurse and a teacher at Joleka High School in Finland before turning the gun on himself and taking his own life," said the Church in the October 18 press release. On October 17, the President of the Church of Scientology in New York City, John Carmichael, also accused Anonymous of being behind the shooting.

>>Click here for the story you'll only see on Wikinews.

Libel case against Wikimedia Foundation dismissed

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*Image copyright Wikimedia Foundation. All rights reserved.

Wikinews has has confirmed through several sources that a lawsuit filed against the Wikimedia Foundation, the parent organization of the popular online encyclopedia Wikipedia, by the 'Barbara Bauer Literacy Agency' has been dismissed. As a result of the associated conflict, edits pertaining to Bauer on Wikipedia were deleted and, following the commencement of legal proceedings, Wikinews exclusively obtained the offending texts and edits.

At the start of the court action, Wikimedia asked the court to dismiss the case. "Wikimedia asks the Court to dismiss the claims against it, with prejudice. The claims against Wikimedia are frivolous because they are barred as a matter of law by the Communications Decency Act (47 U.S.C. § 230( c), "Section 230" or the "CDA"), by the First Amendment, and by New Jersey law. Wikipedia is an online encyclopedia written by its users, the content of which can be created, edited, or removed by anyone. The claims arise from statements made on numerous Internet websites, which Plaintiffs assert describe them as being among the "20 Worst Literary Agents" and having "no...significant track record of sales to commercial (advance paying) published" states the motion filed in Superior Court of New Jersey, Monmouth County," said the organization.

Before the case started, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) issued a press release that defends against a suit Bauer filed against Wikimedia which states that contributors on Wikipedia posted "libel statements" against Bauer that labeled her as number three on a list of twenty people grouped as the "worst" publishing agents, and included allegations that she had "no documented sales" through her firm. Complaints filed against her and her firm state that Bauer had a bad record when dealing with "commercial publishers,", and questioning her practice of, "charge[ing] in advance of making a sale, against the generally-accepted industry practice."

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Wikinews International: You report "The Ides of March" 'Anonymous' protest against Scientology

That's right...we want you to be the reporter for the protest of "The Ides of March", 'Anonymous' VS. The Church of Scientology and to cover the celebrations of the Church's founder L. Ron Hubbard's Birthday.

Are you going to be in or near any of the following areas on March 15th 2008? If so, we want your pictures, your audio, video and interviews of the days protest:

Please add you name and information such as whether you plan to use video, audio, still photography, or all of the above by clicking here.

The protests are scheduled to take place on March 15 at 11:00 a.m. (YOUR local time) at any Church anywhere.

Church of Scientology: '"Anonymous' will be stopped"

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Claiming that "actions are being taken", a Church of Scientology representative has responded exclusively to Wikinews regarding the recent attacks on their web sites from the nebulous "Anonymous" group. In an effort to get the Church's side of the story, Wikinews freelance journalist Brian McNeil located a contact address, knowledge@lrh.org. A "Laetitia" responded, ignoring a detailed list of questions that would have given information on the damage inflicted on the Church and action taken. Instead non-specific comments about how the Church is handling the issue were given. She first started by asking if Wikinews was "part of Anonymous or are you pro-Scientology?"

"Activities of Anonymous have been reported to the Authorities and actions are being taken. Their activities are illegal and we do not approve of them. At the same time, our main work is to improve the environment, make people more able and spiritually aware. ... yes, we are taking action," said Laetitia.

Wikinews sent the e-mails from the Church to several experts on Scientology for an expert opinion on what they might have been trying to say. Although there was minimal response, Wikinews heard from the creator of Operation Clambake, which is a project formed in 1996 as a direct result of seeing the Church succeeding in removing criticism from the Internet. Wikinews also heard from another expert on Scientology and former Church member, who wishes to remain anonymous.

>>Click here for the full EXCLUSIVE story.

Also take part in the poll to the right of the blog postings.

Wikinews International: You report the 'Anonymous' protest against Scientology

That's right...we want you to be the reporter for the protest of 'Anonymous' VS. The Church of Scientology. Are you going to be in or near any of the follwing areas on Februry 10th 2008? If so, we want your pictures, your audio, video and interviews of the days protest:

Please add you name and information such as whether you plan to use video, audio, still photography, or all of the above by clicking here.

London England, UK; 11:00 a.m. local time
(146 Queen Victoria Street moving to 68 Tottenham Court Road)

Edinburgh Scotland, UK; 11:00 a.m. local time
(20-23 South Bridge)

New York, NY; 11:00 a.m. eastern time
(Times Square; West 46th and 7th/Broadway)

Melbourne, Australia; 2:00 p.m. local time
(Russell St & Flinders Lane)

Montreal, Canada; 1:00 p.m. local time
(4489 Papineau Street)

Houston, TX; 1:00 p.m. local time
(2727 Fondren Rd # 1A (details))

Los Angeles, CA; 11:00 a.m. pacific time
Protestors meeting at 10:30am at 6801 Hollywood Blvd #257 - will proceed to undecided location

You choose the best picture of 2007

Wikinews is taking votes for the best picture of 2007.

The aim of this new idea is to have an election for a Wikinews Picture of the Year 2007, in an analogy to the Picture of the Year contest on Commons. With this initiative we would like to promote photojournalism and quality images with great news value for use on Wikinews and other Wikimedia projects. This idea is not meant to compete with the election on Commons (the rules and candidates are totally different) or criticise Commons in any way, rather it is aimed to promote more collaboration between Wikinews and Wikimedia photographers.

Candidate pictures have been selected from our 2007 main page selected picture archive and from Wikinews' overview of the year 2007, but any image from the Wikimedia Commons that relates to a news event from 2007 can be added. The creator of the work does not need to be a Wikinews Accredited reporter or even a Wikimedian. Several of these images were found on Flickr or are work of U.S. government personnel.

Go here and see the image and click 'Vote Here!' to vote for your favorite photograph.

Wikimedia Foundation among World Economic Forum's 2008 Technology Pioneers

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Out of a record number of applications and 273 nominees, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has chosen the Wikimedia Foundation as one of the 2008 Pioneers of Technology. 38 other organisations or companies have also been selected for the list of pioneers.

"Technology Pioneers are companies that have been identified as developing and applying highly transformational and innovative technologies in the areas of energy, biotechnology and health, and information technology," said a press release issued by the Forum.

The Wikimedia Foundation was chosen in part because of the ability to provide free, collaborative knowledge which is distributed by people all over the world and its involvement in "the development of life changing technology innovation" with the "potential for long-term impact on business and society, demonstrating visionary leadership and having a proven technology," referring to Wikipedia, Wikinews, Wikiversity and Commons.

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DHS video confirms leaked internal memo on al-Qaeda threat, and more

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On November 15, 2007, Wikinews reported about an internal United States Department of Homeland Security (DHS) memo, in an exclusive report, detailing the threat of al-Qaeda and Hezbollah to the mainland of the U.S. and us interests abroad.

The authenticity of the 27-page document can now be undeniably confirmed. Wikinews, in another exclusive report, has obtained a DHS video of a recording from the briefing on the report, which is presented by Steven Maebus, a representative for the DHS and ex U.S. army intelligence officer of 21 years. The video also shows the memo projected onto a screen, in nearly 20 slides, so that the attendees of the briefing can see it in detail.

Maebus, who says he is at the briefing "on behalf of his boss Charles Allen," who is the chief intelligence officer and former CIA member of 50 years, talks about "threats to the homeland" and begins to go into detail about alleged foiled terror plots involving bombs, and individuals overseas. The briefing was held on or around the date of October 22, 2007, and the alleged plots and threats not mentioned in the memo, took place within the "past few weeks," says Maebus.

Click here to see the full story.