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National Petition for Libel Law Reform

Add your voice www.libelreform.org


***UPDATE 24th August 2010*** Are you a blogger and can you help? More here

***UPDATE 11th August 2010*** President Obama acts to protect US writers from UK libel laws." More here

***UPDATE 15th July 2010*** Sense About Science and Simon Singh win at Medical Journalists' Association Awards Read here

***UPDATE 14th July 2010*** In the US the SPEECH Act against libel tourism is approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee and referred to the full Senate. See the text of the bill here and follow its progress here. Read coverage here

***UPDATE 9th July 2010*** The Government announce their own libel reform Bill. More here


Older news here.


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.


This campaign takes over from the work we have been doing to Keep Libel Laws out of Science (for more, see below). England's libel laws are unjust, against the public interest and internationally criticised - there is urgent need for reform. For the first time in over a century we have an opportunity to change our unfair and repressive libel laws. We are calling on politicians to support a bill for major reform of the libel laws now, in the interests of fairness and free speech.


Tracey Brown, Managing Director, Sense About Science: "We have to show politicians that small tinkering with the libel laws won't do - we need a real public interest defence. Otherwise, there will be more cases like those against Simon Singh and Peter Wilmshurst, and the libel laws will continue to be the tools of well-funded bullies who want to silence criticism."


Use our timeline to see key events from the Keep Libel Laws Out of Science campaign and the Libel Reform Campaign, as well as milestones from science writer Simon Singh's case against the British Chiropractic Association. Click on boxes to find out more, and to see photos, videos, and media coverage from each of the different events.



Sense About Science launches Keep Libel Laws out of Science

June 2009


BCA V Singh
Simon Singh on the background to his case

The World Conference of Science Journalists

July 2009

Simon Singh's application turned down by Court of Appeal

August 2009


Simon Singh to apply again to Court of Appeal for oral hearing

Richard Dawkins Addresses the Liberal Democrat Annual Party Conference

September 2009


The Liberal Democrats commit to libel reform

 

The Association of British Science Writers annual lecture

October 2009


Simon Singh is granted permission to appeal

Free Speech is Not For Sale report published


November 2009


Jack Straw acknowledges need for libel reform

 



Launch of Coalition for Libel Reform

December 2009

Panel for Simon Singh's appeal announced
Nick Clegg addresses Royal Society on libel

January 2010


Jack Straw announces plans to reduce costs of libel laws

 


CMS Report 'Press Standards, Privacy and Libel'

February 2010


Simon Singh's appeal hearing


Big Libel Week


March 2010


Prof. Lacerda addresses MPs on libel chill

 

The Big Libel Gig

 

Mass Lobby of Parliament

 

Labour Party commits to libel reform

 
Conservatives commit to libel reform

April 2010


Simon Singh appeal successful
Three major parties commit to libel reform in manifestos
 
The BCA drop their case against Simon Singh

Parliamentary Early Day Motion for libel reform closes

 

Free Speech Election Hustings

 


Lord Lester's Libel Bill published


May 2010


Government announces libel reform bill

July 2010


Add your voice to the National Petition for Libel Law Reform here

For more information contact Sile Lane on .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) or call 020 7478 4380.


Here are some of our volunteers telling us why they wanted to help on the campaign, and how they've become so passionate about libel law reform. Read more here


With huge thanks to Andy Lewis, Emma Welsh, Harriet Teare, Inga Deakin, Matt Davis, Frank Swain and Elisa Parish for all their technical and creative work. Thank you to Hamish Symington for wonderful design help, to web application development company Xibis, the Society for Endocrinology and The Physiological Society for their donations.


    Last updated: August 24 2010

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