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.

[cherry*135]

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.

They are already able to do that. Plenty of information available on the internet, in library etc.

It is not as if the only information available in the whole of Australia is pro-vaccination. There are existing anti-vaccination groups.

[cherry*135]

Yet you deny Ms Tenpenny the same right. Which she is given under our civil liberties laws.?

 Name the law you refer to, does it appy to a non-Australian?

Remember that guy from overseas recently, that wanted to speak about ' how to chat up girls'  and hehad his visa cancelled. Were you outraged about his denial of freedom of speech?

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

Exactly.

People dont need to PAY for information anymore- if you want to make a considered decision as a parent, you consider all the information available at the time, from ALL sources.

[icyfroth]

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debra9275 wrote:

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

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How? Does the think she'll breathe deadly germs on ppl while she's speaking? We already prevent outbreaks of deadly diseases through our vaccination programs.

Our laws give her the right to speak. 

The Health Minister's only recourse is to pressure the organisers to cancel.

[*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:

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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.

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my opinion is just that, my opinion - i am nor declaring it as a scientifically proven fact, its not earning me any money nor putting chidren's lives at risk.

I am not denying her right to her opinion, however I am against her misrepresenting her opinion as scientifically proven facts.

[youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit]

Just a thought, do you think she would come and give her opinion if she wasnt been paid?

[cherry*135]

icy wrote: Our laws give her the right to speak. 

Please give us the name of this law. 

How come the guy from overseas who wanted to speak about how to chat up girls, had his visa cancelled and he wasn't able to do his speaking?

Why didn't ' your law' allow him to speak here?

[***super_nova***]

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icyfroth wrote

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

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freedom of speech does not mean spouting any dangerous rubbish you want.  Any freedom comes with responsibility, and when people are not acting responsibly they lose the freedom.  Freedom of speech does not give anybody the right to say lies about others, or to incite hate, or anything else that is a threat to our society.  And people who do not vaccinate their kids are a threat.  Babies have already died in Australia in the past few years from preventable diseases.  An unfortunately, it is easier to scare people with few well chosen "facts" than to explain complicated scientifically supported evidence.

[cherry*135]

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@youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit wrote:

Just a thought, do you think she would come and give her opinion if she wasnt been paid?

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No, I don't.

The least anti-vaccine groups here could do is sponosor her, fundraise so people could listen to her at no cost. That wouldn't be so bad. But no, the organiser here (who runs dubious websites) is going to profit from it as well.

If they truly believe parents should know this info, they would try and get it to them free.

[gleee58]

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@youcandoityoucandoityoucandoit wrote:

Just a thought, do you think she would come and give her opinion if she wasnt been paid?

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Probably not.

Another thought: Do you think it's possible that those who have an adverse reaction to vaccinations would be those who are severely affected by the disease the vaccination is to prevent. Eg. Those who react to the measles vacc could be the ones who would have died from the measles.