The Peter McCormack Show #014 - Alex Gladstein - Technology Powered Freedom
Oct 18, 2024
Alex Gladstein, Chief Strategy Officer at the Human Rights Foundation, champions Bitcoin as a tool for freedom. He shares how his organization empowers activists in authoritarian regimes and addresses funding challenges in human rights efforts. The discussion highlights the transformative role of technology like Bitcoin in fighting oppression, the impact of peer-to-peer networks, and the psychological effects of staying optimistic in activism. Gladstein emphasizes education and empathy in understanding migration and conflict, showcasing the powerful stories of individuals leveraging Bitcoin for survival.
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Human Rights Funding Deficit
- Most human rights funding focuses on Western issues, neglecting dictatorships.
- This creates a structural deficit, leaving activists in authoritarian regimes underfunded.
Cuban Underground Library
- Alex Gladstein supported the Cuban underground library movement.
- They smuggled information like books and movies to spark discussion and challenge the regime.
North Korean Information Campaign
- HRF used balloons to send information into North Korea, challenging their state-controlled narrative.
- This aimed to spark a revolution in people's minds by exposing them to outside information.