Paris:
Here is a press release from WikiLeaks describing the need for their auctions:
The first of four WikiLeaks fundraising auctions features unique items such as a framed, signed limited edition cable describing Hillary Clinton's spying orders against the United Nations, one of two computers used to prepare Cablegate, complete with full historical data, invite-only tickets to Vivienne Westwood's Spring/Summer 2012 fashion show in Paris later this month and sealed prison coffee smuggled out of HMS Wandsworth by Julian Assange on December 17. All items have been donated to WikiLeaks by Julian Assange or the guests to his 40th birthday party on July 10, 2011 (while under house arrest). The money raised will be used exclusively to support WikiLeaks right to publish. Starting prices reflect initial pre-auction bids from the guests. The four auctions will be announced through the WikiLeaks official Twitter account,@wikileaks.
WikiLeaks, a not-for-profit organization, relies entirely on donations from its supporters in order to stay operational. Since December 7, 2010, WikiLeaks has been the subject of an unlawful financial embargo by the Bank of America, Visa, MasterCard, PayPal and Western Union. The blockade has blocked 90 to 95% of its donors from directly expressing their support for the cause they believe in. WikiLeaks has lodged a formal complaint at the European Commission and is gearing up for other actions in the United States, Denmark, the United Kingdom and Iceland. The only formal process to occur found that WikiLeaks was in the clear. US Treasurer, Timothy C. Geitner, stated on January 13 this year that there was no lawful excuse for the US government to start such an embargo. Despite the Treasurer stating that no embargo was warranted, these powerful Washington-connected financial institutions persist, unilaterally, in trying to financially cripple WikiLeaks.
The blockade against WikiLeaks violates individuals' freedom of conscience and consumer's rights to exercise their choice of which organization to support with their own money. Crucially, this unprecedented mixing of politics and finance also threatens the future existence of all non-profit organizations. All now risk having their financial lifelines arbitrarily pulled as a result of their commitment to exposing corruption, environmental degradation or war crimes.