Web News - USA: Ron Paul launches clemency petition for Snowden

In this edition: a new clemency petition for Edward Snowden launched in the US; US singer-songwriter Pharrell Williams gets the whole world dancing; and Snowboarding around the streets of New York City.<br />USA: RON PAUL LAUNCHES CLEMENCY PETITION FOR SNOWDEN <br />Former member of the House of Representatives Ron Paul has started a petition drive calling on his fellow citizens to pressure the US authorities to grant clemency to famous whistle-blower Edward Snowden, currently in Russia where he has sought asylum, so that he can go back to the US without the fear of persecution or prison.<br />The petition is available on Paul`s website and comes with a video in which the ex-presidential candidate praises Edward Snowden for what he describes as his courageous actions in exposing the extent of the NSA`s mass surveillance program. He says it’s time to bring Snowden out of exile and back home.<br />And there are similar online initiatives already underway in the US. Another appeal has been launched on petitioning platform “We the People” demanding all charges against Edward Snowden be dropped. It’s garnered some 153,000 signatures.<br />But Snowden`s supporters don`t seem to be under any illusions and say if the US authorities reject their demands, they hope other countries will grant him asylum. Around 1,111,000 people have signed this online document posted to avaaz.org calling on Brazil to take him in once his amnesty in Russia expires on July 31st.<br /> <br />PHARRELL WILLIAMS COPY CATS<br />This video was made by a group of Parisians and is one of countless remakes of the video clip for the Pharrell William hit “Happy” that have been flooding the web in recent weeks. From Sydney to Tunis to Hong Kong, w... Go on reading on our web site.<br /><br />Visit our website:<br />http://www.france24.com<br /><br />Like us on Facebook:<br />https://www.facebook.com/FRANCE24.English<br /><br />Follow us on Twitter:<br />https://twitter.com/France24_en