Help the Libel Reform Campaign change those draconian British libel laws!

There is nothing worse for free speech than censorship, and in that same vein, there is little that’s more restrictive to the spread of truth than oppressive libel/slander laws. Unfortunately, this is exactly the sort of laws Britain has on the books, the sort of laws that makes England renown for its limitations of freedom of expression. For a recent example, just ask Simon Singh, who dared to call chiropractic “bogus” and then found himself sued by the British Chiropractic Association who would rather shut him up with his criticism rather than defend their practice and “medicine”. (Because, you know, they can’t.)

Britain’s libel laws are an embarrassment, and finally, people are starting to rise against it. There is a grassroots movement that’s gaining a surprising amount of momentum and which aims at changing Britain’s laws to protect free speech, rather than condemn it. Enter the Libel Reform Campaign, or “An Index on Censorship, English Pen and Sense About Science Campaign”. Their website is complete with all the latest news and reports from the metaphorical battlefield; you can also check out their “mission statement” of sorts, here. I hardly see anything I don’t wholeheartedly agree with. It’s actually hard to believe that such intrinsically sensible amendments haven’t already been made in the past.

Of course, the best and only way to make sure that not only can you make your voice heard, but to also ensure that it will continue to be heard and not silenced, is to sign their petition. Every signatory counts. Go, now, and make libel reform a reality in England!

Remember: free speech is a right, not a privilege, and it is not for sale.

(via Bad Astronomy)