Introduction
1. NSA's Problem
Their Achilles Heel?
The NSA does indeed have an Achilles heel.
In 2006, NSA HQ maxed out capacity of the Baltimore area power grid.
"The NSA is already unable to install some costly and sophisticated new equipment. At minimum, the problem could produce disruptions leading to outages and power surges.
At worst, it could force a virtual shutdown of the agency."August 6, 2006
It's not just power. This physical limitation is a serious weak point for the NSA.
In 2006, NSA HQ maxed out capacity of the Baltimore area power grid.
"The NSA is already unable to install some costly and sophisticated new equipment. At minimum, the problem could produce disruptions leading to outages and power surges.
At worst, it could force a virtual shutdown of the agency."August 6, 2006
It's not just power. This physical limitation is a serious weak point for the NSA.
2. New Facilities
The Search Began In order for the NSA to expand and be able to monitor virtually all communications on earth, it needed new facilities with access to a new power source, and natural resources.
In 2006-7, the NSA started searching for new locations to handle their needs.
In each situation, local access to water or a power grid, and cheap utility costs were a major factor in choosing a location.
In most areas, these resources are supplied - in whole or in part - by state or local governments. In others, by corporate partners.
In 2006-7, the NSA started searching for new locations to handle their needs.
In each situation, local access to water or a power grid, and cheap utility costs were a major factor in choosing a location.
In most areas, these resources are supplied - in whole or in part - by state or local governments. In others, by corporate partners.
3. Example: Utah
No Water=No Data Center The new Utah Data Center, a massive spy complex, requires 1.7 million gallons over water every single day to operate.
Those massive supercomputers monitoring your personal information are water-cooled. They can't function without the resources to keep them at operating temperature.
That water is scheduled to be provided by the Jordan Valley River Conservancy District, "a political subdivision of the state of Utah."
Because of this, a state law can be passed banning this partnership. In short, they can turn the water off.
Those massive supercomputers monitoring your personal information are water-cooled. They can't function without the resources to keep them at operating temperature.
That water is scheduled to be provided by the Jordan Valley River Conservancy District, "a political subdivision of the state of Utah."
Because of this, a state law can be passed banning this partnership. In short, they can turn the water off.
4. State Legislation
Refuse to Comply.
The 4th Amendment Protection Act is a state-level bill which bans your state and local governments from helping the NSA - in any way - carry out its spying program.
EXAMPLES: It would prevent them from:
-Delivering, or assisting in any way with the delivery of natural resources
-Using information in criminal investigations when provided without warrant from the NSA
-Continuing business with corporations assisting the NSA
-and more...
GET THE BILL HERE
EXAMPLES: It would prevent them from:
-Delivering, or assisting in any way with the delivery of natural resources
-Using information in criminal investigations when provided without warrant from the NSA
-Continuing business with corporations assisting the NSA
-and more...
GET THE BILL HERE
5. Legal Doctrine
Madison and the Court
This is based on the undisputed legal doctrine of "anti-commandeering." The federal government has no power to require states to help the feds carry out federal acts or programs in any way.
The Supreme Court affirmed this in these cases: 1842 Prigg, 1992 New York, 1997 Printz, and 2012 Sebelius.
James Madison, writing in Federalist #46, said that states had "powerful means" to oppose either unconstitutional or "unpopular" federal programs. Included was a "refusal to cooperate with officers of the Union."
(Learn more HERE)
The Supreme Court affirmed this in these cases: 1842 Prigg, 1992 New York, 1997 Printz, and 2012 Sebelius.
James Madison, writing in Federalist #46, said that states had "powerful means" to oppose either unconstitutional or "unpopular" federal programs. Included was a "refusal to cooperate with officers of the Union."
(Learn more HERE)
6. Many Locations
It's not just Utah
Utah isn't the only place these data centers exist, are being built, or expanded. They are in every region of the country.
Each location is unique. Some have resources provided by governments, and others by corporations.
The NSA has partnered with Universities in 42 states to expand its capabilities.
The NSA is funneling information obtained by warrant to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
SEE THE LIST HERE
Each location is unique. Some have resources provided by governments, and others by corporations.
The NSA has partnered with Universities in 42 states to expand its capabilities.
The NSA is funneling information obtained by warrant to law enforcement agencies nationwide.
SEE THE LIST HERE
7. The Corporations
Partnering with the NSA Earning an honest living is no crime.
But, those corporations willingly providing the NSA with essential services are enabling the agency to carry out the largest privacy violations in the history of the world.
There is no reason to let them off the hook.
They need to be protested and opposed in every peaceful way possible.
SEE THE LIST HERE
But, those corporations willingly providing the NSA with essential services are enabling the agency to carry out the largest privacy violations in the history of the world.
There is no reason to let them off the hook.
They need to be protested and opposed in every peaceful way possible.
SEE THE LIST HERE
8. Universities
Recruitment and Research The NSA has its tentacles deep into the youth as well, with heavy partnerships at 166 Universities in the US.
(see the full list here)
These “Centers of Academic Excellence” are not just a recruiting ground for future spy analysts, they provide valuable research partnerships to bolster the NSA’s spying and data-collection capabilities.
Universities are often provided with funding, scholarships and other tools to expand research and recruitment.
ON CAMPUS, GET ACTIVE HERE
(see the full list here)
These “Centers of Academic Excellence” are not just a recruiting ground for future spy analysts, they provide valuable research partnerships to bolster the NSA’s spying and data-collection capabilities.
Universities are often provided with funding, scholarships and other tools to expand research and recruitment.
ON CAMPUS, GET ACTIVE HERE
9. Law Enforcement
Description The NSA has often claimed to be engaging in such activities to protect you from “terrorists,” and many people have accepted this kind of personal intrusion with the belief that they were being kept safe.
But the fact is that their programs are much broader - by far.
The Special Operations Division (SOD) was a highly-secret federal unit among multiple federal agencies.
It is taking information obtained by the NSA without warrant, and passing it along to state and local law enforcement for use in ordinary criminal investigations.
This is a serious violation of your rights, and the 4th Amendment Protection Act would ban such activity.
But the fact is that their programs are much broader - by far.
The Special Operations Division (SOD) was a highly-secret federal unit among multiple federal agencies.
It is taking information obtained by the NSA without warrant, and passing it along to state and local law enforcement for use in ordinary criminal investigations.
This is a serious violation of your rights, and the 4th Amendment Protection Act would ban such activity.
10. Get Local
The Strategy
While there are good lawsuits from the EFF and ACLU currently in court, and bills in Congress to stop the NSA programs, ignoring the state and local actions which can be taken to thwart the NSA is a dangerous game of chicken.
By approaching the NSA on multiple fronts, it’s certainly possible to overwhelm them and make their programs too difficult or costly to carry out.
A campaign to Turn it Off, oppose the NSA at every turn, and render their spying program as good as null and void intersects in 5 main areas.
By approaching the NSA on multiple fronts, it’s certainly possible to overwhelm them and make their programs too difficult or costly to carry out.
A campaign to Turn it Off, oppose the NSA at every turn, and render their spying program as good as null and void intersects in 5 main areas.
11. Five Areas
Multiple Fronts
A successful campaign vs the NSA creating, as James Madison advised, "obstructions which the federal government would hardly be willing to encounter," hits five areas:
1. State legislation - passed all over.
2. Local Resolutions - passed everywhere, calling on yours state to pass #1. (HERE)
3. Corporate Protests - opposition to those providing the resources needed to carry out the NSA spying program.
4. Campus Actions - a) protests against NSA/University partnerships, and b) organizational and student government resolutions formally calling for an end to such partnerships.
5. Environmental concerns - the waste of resources is massive, with millions of gallons of water being used every single day at just one NSA facility.
1. State legislation - passed all over.
2. Local Resolutions - passed everywhere, calling on yours state to pass #1. (HERE)
3. Corporate Protests - opposition to those providing the resources needed to carry out the NSA spying program.
4. Campus Actions - a) protests against NSA/University partnerships, and b) organizational and student government resolutions formally calling for an end to such partnerships.
5. Environmental concerns - the waste of resources is massive, with millions of gallons of water being used every single day at just one NSA facility.
12. Rosa Parks
The Power of NO
In a 1987 documentary, Rosa Parks said, “People always say that I didn’t give up my seat because I was tired, but that isn’t true. I was not tired physically, or no more tired than I usually was at the end of a working day. I was not old, although some people have an image of me as being old then. I was forty-two. No, the only tired I was, was tired of giving in.”
From Thoreau to Parks, from Ghandi to you - a successful strategy against tyranny requires non-compliance and peaceful resistance.
As Rosa already proved, saying "NO!" can change the world.
From Thoreau to Parks, from Ghandi to you - a successful strategy against tyranny requires non-compliance and peaceful resistance.
As Rosa already proved, saying "NO!" can change the world.
