Free Expression:  Fundamental Human Right (Montreal)

Starts
Friday, November 7th 2008 at 7:00 pm
Ends
Friday, November 7th 2008 at 9:00 pm
Location
Club Lounge, 4th floor, The William Shatner University Centre at McGill University

This event is part of CFI's Campaign for Free Expression

Freedom of Expression is under attack on all fronts: local catholic schools boards ban books written by an atheist; student unions ban on-campus debates of controversial topics like abortion; provincial and federal Human Rights Commissions haul before them writers and editors deemed offensive; the United Nations Human Rights Council passes motions to censor "defamation of religion" and turns the Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression on his head by delegating him to police instances where freedom of speech offends religious sensibilities.

Uniting these local, provincial, federal and international threats is a common notion, that there is such a thing as a human right to not be offended. Yet unless we are equally free to be offended as we are to offend, our most fundamental human right is non-existent.

Justin Trottier is Executive Director of the Centre for Inquiry Canada, defending church-state separation and the scientific outlook. He is a regular panelist on the Globe and Mail and the Michael Coren Show, a contributor to Free Inquiry and Skeptical Inquirer magazines, and has been featured in such media as CBC, OMNI, CHCH news and AM640. This talk is part of CFI's Campaign for Free Expression. Full details are available here: http://www.centerforinquiry.net/ontario/local_resources/campaign_for_free_expression/

This event will also include a Centre for Inquiry Montreal meeting following the talk, for those who desire participation.