Susan Sarandon, Pamela Anderson and Russell Brand have added their names to a petition encouraging donations to the Courage Foundation, which raises funds to pay for US whistleblower Edward Snowden's legal defence. <\/p>\n
Snowden has been living in exile ever since he leaked classified intelligence from the National Security Agency (NSA) last year, prompting a major outcry about US mass surveillance and government secrecy, and debate concerning the balance between national security and information privacy. <\/p>\n
He has been charged with two counts of violating the Espionage Act and theft of government property, and faces up to 30 years in prison. <\/p>\n
Officials at the Courage Foundation are raising funds in an effort to help \"patriots\" and \"heroes\" like Snowden afford top legal counsel, and their latest push has been endorsed by more than 50 actors, musicians and intellectuals, who have also offered their support for Snowden. <\/p>\n
Their latest initiative coincides with the expanded theatrical release of Laura Poitras' critically-acclaimed documentary CitizenFour, which chronicles Snowden's disclosure of the NSA's mass surveillance program. <\/p>\n
Actor Viggo Mortensen, who is another celebrity signing up to help Snowden's cause, states, \"It is up to all of us as free-thinking citizens to demand truly transparent democracy and high, unbiased moral standards from those who govern us. I hope everyone can chip in to support Snowden and those patriotic whistleblowers that come after him.\" <\/p>\n
A new Courage Foundation statement, which has been signed by Sarandon, Brand, Anderson, Peter Sarsgaard, M.I.A., fashion designer Vivienne Westwood and moviemaker Alfonso Cuaron, among others, reads: \"We stand in support of those fearless whistleblowers and publishers who risk their lives and careers to stand up for truth and justice.\" <\/p>\n
Westwood adds, \"I didn't ask Edward Snowden to stick his neck out for me. But now that he did I ask myself where would we be without him? The more that the public watches CitizenFour, which documents Edward Snowden's bravery in revealing the NSA's massive web of surveillance of the American people, opposition to the government's assault on civil liberties will grow. <\/p>\n
\"I hope that audiences will turn their outrage into action and donate to the Courage Foundation's Legal Defense Fund to provide legal representation to Snowden and other whistleblowers to counter the government's unprecedented attack against these brave men and women.\" <\/p>\n
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