It’s no secret that Germany has a generally positive view of Edward Snowden, even though the country was among the many that rejected his application for asylum. In an interview with a German newspaper in July, President Joachim Gauck articulated his stance, stating that the wanted whistleblower « deserves respect ».
Now, it seems Germany has solidified its support of the former NSA contractor by bestowing Snowden with the 2013 whistleblower award (in absentia) on Aug. 30. […]
In a statement read by Internet activist Jacob Appelbaum, who interviewed Snowden for Der Spiegel, during the award ceremony, Snowden said:
It is a great honor to be recognized for the public good created by this act of whistleblowing. However the greater reward and recognition belongs to the individuals and organizations in countless countries around the world who shattered boundaries of language and geography to stand together in defense of the public right to know and the value of our privacy. […]
Questions such as these can only be answered through the kind of vigorous public discussion we are enjoying today. We must never forget the lessons of history regarding the dangers of surveillance gone too far, nor our human power to amend such systems to the public benefit. The road we travel has been difficult, but it leads us to better times. Together we can guarantee both the safety and the rights of the generations that follow.[…]
[Complete transcription and video]
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/edward-snowden-statement-whistleblower-award_n_3860324.html