Sunshine Week Events Aim to Promote Open Government
This week is Sunshine Week, an annual effort sponsored by journalism advocacy and civil society organizations to promote values of open government, freedom of information, and public participation. A rich variety of events are scheduled around the country, most of which are free and many of which will be webcast.
I will be participating in several programs, including these: Open Government in the Second Term, sponsored by the Center for Effective Government and the Electronic Privacy Information Center on March 12.
The Future of Classification Reform, sponsored by the Brennan Center for Justice on March 14
Freedom of Information Day at the Newseum on March 15
Freedom of Information Day at the Washington College of Law Collaboration on Government Secrecy on March 18
A new report from the Center for Effective Government found reason to praise the Obama Administration’s openness in some areas of government but not in national security, which it said has been a “glaring exception” to progress in other domains.
Among numerous recommendations for future progress, the Center report urged the Department of Justice to renounce the use of criminal prosecution for leaks to the media. “Unauthorized disclosures of restricted information to the media should be handled through administrative channels, not criminal prosecution.” See Delivering on Open Government: The Obama Administration’s Unfinished Legacy, March 10.
As humans expand our geographic reach, encroach on untouched natural territories, and interact more with animal populations, we will encounter novel zoonotic diseases that threaten the human body. The sooner we act to address these risks, the better.
This report serves as a landscape assessment and toolbox from which local governments can negotiate an informed position when it comes to the levers available to them and includes a first-of-its kind analysis of eight executed community benefits agreements.
When a hurricane hits, it’s all hands on deck – that goes for federal data, too. Pulling back from our investments in timely, accurate, and accessible public data will only make us less prepared and put us all at greater risk.
This is bigger than a singular elimination of race and ethnicity questions. It could accelerate the second wave of widespread reductions to demographic data, leaving public health officials with even less information to deliver better health outcomes for all Americans.