The Bogside Artists' Blog
We must support this virtally important cause as it is clear from our own experience that freedom of speech is severely under threat from the legal establishment in particular that seeks to bound and gag all of us into a phobia about speaking our minds. Our run-in with Rowling's solicitors, the notorious Schillings is a case in point that you can find out about from our website; www.bogsideartists.com. Commentary on a book written by William Kelly, one of our group has been effectively stopped directly or indirectly in three newspapers already by Schillings, Rowling's legal reps - The Irish Examiner, The Guardian and The Derry News that was forced to issue an apology for making connections deemed to be false between the book TRAVELS WITH LI PO and the Harry Potter series. Other papers we have approached simply back off for fear of reprisal. It is our view that this sort of bullying is profoundly detrimental to freedom of speech and free artistic expression both of which are enshrined in our constitutions. Or are we all to sit back and lament the passing of the days when great writers such as Shaw and Wilde became great precisely because they could speak their minds freely? This is a cause we must all support. Feel free to comment on this at www.thebogsideartists.wordpress.com
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World Press Freedom Day
http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en…
World Press Freedom Day is annually observed on May 3 to inform the international community that freedom of the press and freedom of expression are fundamental
The United Nations General Assembly declared 3 May to be World Press Freedom Day[1][2] to raise awareness of the importance of freedom of the press and remind governments of their duty to respect and uphold the right to freedom of expression enshrined under Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and marking the anniversary of the Declaration of Windhoek, a statement of free press principles put together by African newspaper journalists in 1991.
3/21/09 currypaper wrote:
I came from Singapore, although we have pretty much decent amount of freedom here. I believe there is room for improvement. Being Singapore, and a blogger. This event is something close to heart and home.
4/19/09 bugsey wrote:
I agree, in fact never has been freedom of speech and the press seem more in danger than these PC times.. The latest news about controlling blogs so as "not to be offensive" to others bother me. Soon, we wouldn't be able to say Teddy Bears and Cocoa Cola because that may be offensive to some people?
4/19/09 raphnexx wrote:
Press freedom plays a great role in shaping a democratic country to be socially and politically mature.....more @http://developmentcatalyst.blogspot.com/2009/04/press-freedom-when-journalists-are.html