[ELECTRON] [Fwd: Simon Singh's weird idea that might just work]]

Mon Feb 15 12:04:26 UTC 2010

Libel Reform is a hugely important issue and effort - folks should feel
encouraged to share it via their social networks as well. Share on FaceBook
here.<http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://www.libelreform.org/tell-people&t=TELL+PEOPLE>

In a related sphere, if your concerned about the ability of the press to
publish truly important issues, such as gagged scientific evidence as well
as government and corporate misconduct then you should be aware of
Wikileaks.

http://wikileaks.org/ is a hugely important tool which allows the press to
side step these kinds of laws full-stop, and has of
course emerged in response to these rampant international laws.  Wikileaks
allows whistle blowers to anonymously publish information which can, and has
changed governments. It allows reporters to point to Wikileaks as the source
and therefore protects the reporter and publisher from legal consequences.
Wikileaks have been the reason why, for example docs questioning the
legality of the UK's involvement in the Iraq war, the Northern Rock email
scandal and literally hundreds of other stories could be published in the
first place.

Of course they are under serious attack as well, and have had to suspend
operations to raise funds. Ensuring Freedom, as in beer, is not always free
- share this on FB
too<http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://wikileaks.org/&t=We+protect+the+world—but+will+you+protect+us?>
.

now back to your regularly scheduled programme,
Ben Rush

On 15 February 2010 10:24, Bob <bob at citystrolls.com> wrote:
>
> Campaign from Libel Reform and Sense about Science trying to refoprm laws
> that allow scientists and journalists to be 'gagged' over scientific
> evidence (in particular with respect to public health issues).
>
> They welcome signatures from outside England.
>
> Dear Friends,
>
> I've had an idea an unusual idea, but I think it might just
> work.
>
> As you know, England's chilling libel laws need to be reformed. One
> way to help achieve this is for 100,000 people to sign the petition
> for libel reform before the political parties write their manifestos
> for the election. We have 17,000 signatures, but we really need
> 100,000, and we need your help to get there.
>
>  http://libelreform.indiemedium.com/lt.php?id=ZkQFUQwDDlUYDEgEBQ0GXg%3D%3D
>
> My idea
>
> My idea is simple: if everyone who has already signed up persuades
> just one more person each week to sign the petition then we will reach
> our goal within a month!
>
> One person per week is all we need, but please spread the word as
> much as you can. In fact, if you persuade 10 people to sign up then
> email me (simon at simonsingh.net <mailto:simon at simonsingh.net>
> ) and I promise to thank you by printing your name in my next book
> â€¦ which I will start writing as soon as I have put my own libel case
> behind me. I cannot say when this will be, but it is a very real
> promise. My only caveat is that I will limit this to the first
> thousand people who recruit ten supporters.
>
> When persuading your friends remember to tell them:
>
> (a) English libel laws have been condemned by the UN Human Rights
> Committee.
>
> (b) These laws gag scientists, bloggers and journalists who want to
> discuss matters of genuine public interest (and public health!).
>
> (c) Our laws give rise to libel tourism, whereby the rich and the
> powerful (Saudi billionaires, Russian oligarchs and overseas
> corporations) come to London to sue writers because English libel laws
> are so hostile to responsible journalism. (In fact, it is exactly
> because English libel laws have this global impact that we welcome
> signatories to the petition from around the world.)
>
> (d) Vested interests can use their resources to bully and intimidate
> those who seek to question them. The cost of a libel trial in England
> is 100 times more expensive than the European average and typically
> runs to over £1 million.
>
> (e) Three separate ongoing libel cases involve myself and two medical
> researchers raising concerns about three medical treatments. We face
> losing £1 million each. In future, why would anyone else raise similar
> concerns? If these health matters are not reported, then the public is
> put at risk.
>
> My experience has been sobering. I've had to spend £100,000 to
> defend my writing and have put my life on hold for almost two years.
> However, the prospect of reforming our libel laws keeps me cheerful.
>
> Thanks so much for your support. We've only got one shot at this
> â€“ so I hope you can persuade 1 (or maybe 10) friends, family and
> colleagues to sign.
>
> Massive thanks,
>
> Simon
>
>  http://libelreform.indiemedium.com/lt.php?id=ZkQFUQwDDlUYDEgEBQ0GXg%3D%3D
>
> The Libel Reform Campaign is a coalition of English PEN, Index on
> Censorship and Sense About Science.
>
> So far, 188 MPs have signed our Parliamentary Early Day Motion
> calling for libel reform and the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has
> formed a working party that the Libel Reform Coalition is represented
> on.
>
> Please also considering donating to keep our campaign going:
> http://libelreform.indiemedium.com/lt.php?id=ZkQFUQwDDloYDEgEBQ0GXg%3D%3D
>
>
>
> --
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>
>
> Dear Friends,
>
>
>
> I’ve had an idea – an unusual idea, but I think it might just work.
>
> As you know, England’s chilling libel laws need to be reformed. One way to
help achieve this is for 100,000 people to sign the petition for libel
reform before the political parties write their manifestos for the election.
We have 17,000 signatures, but we really need 100,000, and we need your help
to get there.
>
>
>
>                                                 www.libelreform.org/sign
>
> My idea
>
> My idea is simple: if everyone who has already signed up persuades just
one more person each week to sign the petition then we will reach our goal
within a month!
>
> One person per week is all we need, but please spread the word as much as
you can. In fact, if you persuade 10 people to sign up then email me (
simon at simonsingh.net) and I promise to thank you by printing your name in my
next book … which I will start writing as soon as I have put my own libel
case behind me. I cannot say when this will be, but it is a very real
promise. My only caveat is that I will limit this to the first thousand
people who recruit ten supporters.
>
>
>
> When persuading your friends remember to tell them:
>
>
>
> (a) English libel laws have been condemned by the UN Human Rights
Committee.
>
> (b) These laws gag scientists, bloggers and journalists who want to
discuss matters of genuine public interest (and public health!).
>
> (c) Our laws give rise to libel tourism, whereby the rich and the powerful
(Saudi billionaires, Russian oligarchs and overseas corporations) come to
London to sue writers because English libel laws are so hostile to
responsible journalism. (In fact, it is exactly because English libel laws
have this global impact that we welcome signatories to the petition from
around the world.)
>
> (d) Vested interests can use their resources to bully and intimidate those
who seek to question them. The cost of a libel trial in England is 100 times
more expensive than the European average and typically runs to over £1
million.
>
> (e) Three separate ongoing libel cases involve myself and two medical
researchers raising concerns about three medical treatments. We face losing
£1 million each. In future, why would anyone else raise similar concerns? If
these health matters are not reported, then the public is put at risk.
>
>
>
> My experience has been sobering. I’ve had to spend £100,000 to defend my
writing and have put my life on hold for almost two years. However, the
prospect of reforming our libel laws keeps me cheerful.
>
> Thanks so much for your support. We’ve only got one shot at this – so I
hope you can persuade 1 (or maybe 10) friends, family and colleagues to
sign.
>
>
>
> Massive thanks,
>
> Simon
>
>  www.libelreform.org/sign
>
> The Libel Reform Campaign is a coalition of English PEN, Index on
Censorship and Sense About Science.
>
> So far, 188 MPs have signed our Parliamentary Early Day Motion calling for
libel reform and the Justice Secretary Jack Straw has formed a working party
that the Libel Reform Coalition is represented on.
>
> Please also considering donating to keep our campaign going:
www.libelreform.org
>
>
>
>
>
> --
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>
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--
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