So Much For The Right To Freedom Of Speech

[icyfroth]

Much has been made of "Freedom of Speech" and "Freedom of Expression in light of the Charlie Hebdo attack. Yet we do not practice what we preach, it seems.

VICTORIA’S Health Minister has asked organisers of a conference featuring anti-vaccination speakers to reconsider their “irresponsible” event to protect children.

The March 1 conference covers topics such as “vaccination risks, benefits and alternatives”.

Entire Article Here

Oh and... before anyone starts... I am not anti-vaccine, but I do believe the risks are worth considering.

[azureline**]

Btw I do volunteer work for SIDS and KIDS but some of their practices make me wonder.

[cherry*135]

In Australia we have:

What is the right to freedom of opinion and expression?

The right to freedom of opinion is the right to hold opinions without interference, and cannot be subject to any exception or restriction.

The right to freedom of expression extends to any medium, including written and oral communications, the media, public protest, broadcasting, artistic works and commercial advertising. The right is not absolute. It carries with it special responsibilities, and may be restricted on several grounds. For example, restrictions could relate to filtering access to certain internet sites, the urging of violence or the classification of artistic material.

http://www.ag.gov.au/RightsAndProtections/HumanRights/PublicSectorGuidanceSheets/Pages/Righttofreedo...

[icyfroth]

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@am*3 wrote:

Doctors want to bar anti-vaccination campaigner Sherri Tenpenny

Australian Medical Association's Council of General Practice chairman Dr Brian Morton also supported the call for her to be blocked from entering, saying her views were inconsistent with overwhelming scientific evidence supporting vaccination.

"Sherri is one of the highest-profile anti-vaccine liars in the USA, and we should be sending a strong message to these loons that in Australia we rely on facts, science, and rational and considered opinion by people with expertise," Dr Cunningham said.

Dr Cunningham said her tour had been arranged by Stephanie Messenger, author of the controversial anti-vaccination children's book Melanie's marvellous measles.

"Stephanie is organising the tour through the Get Rid of SIDS Project Inc and the GanKinMan Foundation, which are both dubious organisations. The money paid for tickets is going straight into her pockets," Dr Cunningham said.

http://www.smh.com.au/national/health/doctors-want-to-bar-antivaccination-campaigner-sherri-tenpenny...

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If people have paid money to hear her speak, then they should be able do so, and make up their own minds about her message.

With all due respect to our medical profession, they should not try to be "nannies" to the general public.

[*pepe]

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@*pepe wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@*pepe wrote:

she is a dangerous charlatan profiting by promoting fear in vulnerable and gullible parents.

her interest is not in saving lives but in lining her own pockets, she should be shut down - kudos to those who are preventing her fear mongering.

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So "freedom of speech" is just a hollow slogan?

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so you think its ok for anybody to make up 'facts' to fleece money from vulnerable people?

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not at all, and that's not the point of this thread. and how do you know she is making up facts. have you heard her speak?

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actually it is in keeping with the point of this thread, you seem to promote freedom of speech no matter the cost, I don't agee with that at all.

There has to be protection for the vulnerable and gullible - con artists are everywhere and this woman is one of them.

Babies and children are needlessly suffering and dying of preventabe diseases because of the anti vax movement.

In my view helping people ike this woman perpetuate their myths is crimminal.

[cherry*135]

Australia does not have explicit freedom of speech in any constitutional or statutory declaration of rights, with the exception of political speech which is protected from criminal prosecution at common law.

In 2006, CSIRO senior scientist Graeme Pearman was reprimanded and encouraged to resign after he spoke out on global warming.The Howard Government was accused of limiting the speech of Pearman and other scientists.

um arr

[debra9275]

VICTORIA’S Health Minister has asked organisers of a conference featuring anti-vaccination speakers to reconsider their “irresponsible” event to protect children.

perhaps the Vic health minister is just trying to avoid outbreaks of preventable diseases here

[polksaladallie]

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@azureline** wrote:
Btw I do volunteer work for SIDS and KIDS but some of their practices make me wonder.

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Now I'm intrigued.

[icyfroth]

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@gleee58 wrote:

I dunno, maybe it's because there have been a few preventable outbreaks in recent times.

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I absolutely agree.

And many other children's disorders such as SIDS, ADHD and allergies have arisen in their place. If parents want to investigate whether vaccinations are precursors to such disorders, they should have every right to do so and make up their own minds.

[azureline**]

The information they give out...... the advice they don't give..... the ambiguous wording of their advice... to name some. However that's off topic. 🙂

[icyfroth]

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@*pepe wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@*pepe wrote:

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@icyfroth wrote:

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@*pepe wrote:

she is a dangerous charlatan profiting by promoting fear in vulnerable and gullible parents.

her interest is not in saving lives but in lining her own pockets, she should be shut down - kudos to those who are preventing her fear mongering.

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So "freedom of speech" is just a hollow slogan?

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so you think its ok for anybody to make up 'facts' to fleece money from vulnerable people?

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not at all, and that's not the point of this thread. and how do you know she is making up facts. have you heard her speak?

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actually it is in keeping with the point of this thread, you seem to promote freedom of speech no matter the cost, I don't agee with that at all.

There has to be protection for the vulnerable and gullible - con artists are everywhere and this woman is one of them.

Babies and children are needlessly suffering and dying of preventabe diseases because of the anti vax movement.

In my view helping people ike this woman perpetuate their myths is crimminal.

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Well you're entitled to your view and have the right to say so.  Yet you deny Ms Tenpenny the same right. Which she is given under our civil liberties laws.