Gourt > Society > Issues > Human Rights and Liberties > Free Speech (4)
Freedom of speech is the concept of being able to speak freely without censorship. It is often regarded as an integral concept in modern liberal democracies. The right to freedom of speech is guaranteed under international law through numerous human rights instruments, notably under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, although implementation remains lacking in many countries. The synonymous term freedom of expression is sometimes preferred, since the right is not confined to verbal speech but is understood to protect any act of seeking, receiving and imparting information or ideas, regardless of the medium used.
In practice, the right to freedom of speech is not absolute in any country, although the degree of freedom varies greatly. Industrialized countries also have varying approaches to balance freedom with order. For instance, the United States First Amendment theoretically grants absolute freedom, placing the burden upon the state to demonstrate when (if ever) censorship is necessary; Canadian law places the burden upon the individual to demonstrate how the speech benefits the public (e.g. hate speech is illegal); and the European Convention on Human Rights guarantees freedom outside specific circumstances in which it prescribes censorship (e.g. to protect national security). In most all liberal democracies, it is generally recognized that restrictions should be the exception and free expression the rule; nevertheless, compliance with this principle is often lacking.
Theories of free speech
Overview
It is important to understand the various theoretical rationales for freedom of speech if we are to form views about the concept's true nature and its rational limits. In part, the justification for free speech is a general liberal or libertarian presumption against coercing individuals from living how they please and doing what they want. However, a number of more specific justifications are commonly proposed for freedom of speech. More on [ Freedom of speech ]
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Mongolia must ensure basic human rights during state of emergency - UN
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
United Nations human rights officials have called on authorities in Mongolia, where a state of emergency has been imposed in the wake of post-electoral violence, to exercise restraint and ensure that fundamental human rights are protected.
Witnesses tell of worsening conditions for Palestinians to visiting UN team
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
A three-member United Nations team investigative team has received accounts of grave economic, health and human rights conditions in the occupied Palestinian territory, particularly in Gaza, from witnesses it interviewed in Jordan, the second stop on a three-nation visit that also includes Egypt and Syria.
Mozambicans displaced by floods need durable solutions, says UN expert
Tue, 01 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0500
An independent United Nations human rights expert has called for greater efforts to provide those displaced by floods in Mozambique with adequate housing and other services so they can start to rebuild their lives.
UN rights expert calls on United States to ensure death penalty is applied fairly
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
The United States should take immediate steps to ensure that the death penalty is applied fairly and justly in states where it is practised, a United Nations human rights expert said today, voicing particular concern that officials in the state of Alabama "seem strikingly indifferent to the risk of executing innocent people."
UN agency launches international coalition of cities against racism
Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
An international coalition of cities against racism and discrimination is being launched today by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the World Forum on Human Rights in Nantes, France.
Ensuring independent judiciary key challenge for Pakistan, says UN rights chief
Fri, 27 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0500
Establishing an independent judiciary and protecting human rights while ensuring national security are among the major challenges currently facing Pakistan, the UN human rights chief said today, adding that she was confident the country has both the resources and resilience to overcome them.
American Civil Liberties Union - Free Speech - Links to issues such as censorship, campaign finance reform, commercial speech, and flag desecration.
AskMen.com : Freedom of Speech in Sports - Article discusses pro baseball player John Rocker's inflammatory racist statements and his right to freedom of expression.
Meta Description: [ John Rocker controversy- Freedom of speech of professional athletes ]
Atheism and Intraorganizational Free Speech (1996) - Michael Martin argues that atheistic organizations should generally allow their members to criticize them.
Meta Description: [ Michael Martin argues that atheistic organizations should generally allow their members to criticize them ]
Campaign Against Online Publishers Fails - A lawsuit ends Commodity Futures Trading Commission's campaign against online publishers and software developers. Details case to protect rights of those who offer opinions, analysis, or general information on commodities (like prices) in exchange for compensation.
Charlton Heston and Political Correctness - Speech to the Harvard Law School Forum February 16, 1999 on the idea that political correctness is invading our freedom of thought and speech.
Meta Description: [ charleton heston's speech to a harvard graduating class ]
College Freedom - Academic freedom website, including free speech, freedom of the college press, and current controversies in higher education.
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First Amendment Cyber-Tribune (FACT) - Intended to be a resource for anyone wanting to learn about the First Amendment.
Free Expression Network - Current news, features and trend analysis in free expression issues in U.S.
Meta Description: [ The Free Expression Clearinghouse, a guide to First Amendment and Free SpeechIssues on the Web. ]
Free Speech Movement Archives - Documents, photos, and essays on the events of the 1964 movement in Berkeley. With updates and reunions.
Meta Description: [ FSM-A the Free Speech Movement Archives Home Page - events from 1964 and following ]
Freedom of Expression - Freedom Magazine - Perhaps the most essential right is that of communication. Without the freedom to communicate, other rights deteriorate.
Meta Description: [ Perhaps the most essential right is that of communication. Without the freedom to communicate, other rights deteriorate. It is in this spirit that Freedom (published by the Church of Scientology) has consistently spoken out on issues and often presented views different from the majority of the pr... ]
Green Ribbon Campaign - Publisher campaign asking webmasters who agree that the true right of free speech is accurately carried out when self-restraint is responsibly exercised to add their ribbon graphic to their site.
International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) - Network of free expression groups that monitors violations worldwide. Issues alerts, publishes a weekly newsletter and hosts a searchable alerts online archive.
Meta Description: [ Covering freedom of expression abuses and issues from around the world, with an up-to-date, searchable database of alerts and weekly Communique (newsletter) ]
Keep the Pledge of Allegiance - Opposes recent court decision against recitation of Pledge of Allegiance in schools.
Meta Description: [ KeepThePledge.com: fighting to restore freedom and judicial sanity in America. ]
Low Power to the People - Small groups, nonprofits and individuals might get low power FM radio stations.
Meta Description: [ Muted by the high cost of broadcast licenses, diverse voices may yet step up to the mike, thanks to a new FCC proposal ]
MIT Student Association for Freedom of Expression (SAFE) - SAFE provides links on censorship search engine, arguments against campus political correctness as it affects free speech.
New Age of Falsification ? - Nature photographers face a crisis of ethics as digital imaging makes photo fakery easier than ever. Overview in Atlantic Monthly of May, 1998.
Off The Hook June 2000 - Twenty-six Hundred dot com pages on challenges to their free speech on hacking computers.
Meta Description: [ The best site for hackers and crackers. ]
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Overlawyered.com - Links and critical commentaries on free speech, media law, and the courts.
Meta Description: [ Page not found on Overlawyered.com. ]
Resolution217 - An association of photographers, journalists, teachers, designers and artists brought together by a shared concern for the current state of free speech and human rights.
Meta Description: [ Church web site hosting and website design for Non-Profit & affordable Web Design Firm: web designer company for the nonprofit web page, church website & volunteer web site ]
Rice University Spin Control - A long Houston Press story about the administrative coup d'état that closed down 91.7 FM, KTRU Houston, a college radio station.
Meta Description: [ It was 6:45 a.m. Kristin Stecher dragged herself out of bed and pulled on a sweatshirt over her flannel pajamas. She wasn't resentful at having to wake up at an hour most college students never see. S ]
Save Pacifica Radio - Group to restore democratic voice to governance by the community, for the community of progressives of Pacifica Radio.
Meta Description: [ SavePacifica - Restoring Pacifica as a democratic voice of the people! Committed to governance by the community, for the community! Rehire Nicole Sawaya! Bring back Larry Bensky! Bring back the fired and banned WBAI workers! End the gag rule! ]
Suppression of Dissent - Fosters examination of issues including whistleblowing, free speech, systems of social control and action against suppression.
The Freedom Forum Online - A nonpartisan, international foundation advocating free press and speech rights for all people. Holds conferences, educational activities, publishing, broadcasting, online services, fellowships, partnerships, research and other programs.
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The Jefferson Muzzles Awards - Announced on April 13, the anniversary of the birth of Thomas Jefferson, the award's namesake, the Jefferson Muzzles go to individuals or organizations responsible for particularly egregious limitations to free expression.
There Is 'No Constitutional Protected Right' of Freedom of Speech - Argues that there is no constitutional right of freedom of speech or of press in America since a person could be defamed, sued or boycotted.
Meta Description: [ Empowerment Communications has found there to be 'no stated constitutional protected right' of freedom of speech or of the press in America. ]
U.S. Broadcasters Arrested - Reports that nine alternative media members were arrested during peaceful protests at the National Association of Broadcaster's convention in San Francisco.
What America Is Not About - Editorial from April 1998 on a high school student's refusal to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, with a comparison of the repercussions to the loyalty oaths of the McCarthy era.
Meta Description: [ A comparison of loyalty oaths to the American Pledge fo Allegiance ]
Whistleblowers Australia - The goal of Whistleblowers Australia (WBA) is to help promote a society in which it is possible to speak out without reprisal about corruption, dangers to the public and other vital social issues, and to help those who speak out in this way to help themselves.
| 1955 would likely deny that the bill could be used to crack down on free speech and legitimate political opposition, the ... | |
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