Sense About Science
National Petition for Libel Law Reform
We have joined with English PEN and Index on Censorship in a coalition to campaign for libel reform. English PEN and Index on Censorship launched their 'Free Speech Is Not For Sale' report in early November. It detailed the chilling effect of English libel law on freedom of expression in the UK and across the world. Following the case of the science writer Simon Singh being sued for libel for an article in the Guardian, Sense About Science's campaign for scientific and academic freedom from libel threats has attracted nearly 20,000 supporters. Together, as a coalition, we are campaigning for major libel law reform.
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Sign The Petition
Although this is an issue directly affecting the U.K., the ramifications are universal. If professionals speak out about junk science and are subsequently sued for libel, we are left on our own to decide what products are actually what they claim to be.
There is also the much bigger issue of Freedom of Speech. When we start down the slippery slope of censoring certain kinds of speech, then institutions, businesses, and governments will simply "purchase" censorship rights through litigation.
I am usually not big on boycotts, and petitions, etc., but I feel this issues deserves support
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