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X-WR-CALDESC:Events for The Free Speech Union
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T191500
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250521T223000
DTSTAMP:20250624T074246
CREATED:20250408T150601Z
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SUMMARY:FAITH AND FREE SPEECH IN SCOTLAND
DESCRIPTION:FSU Edinburgh Speakeasy\nFAITH AND FREE SPEECH IN SCOTLAND\nWednesday 21st May \nThe Counting House\, 34 West Nicolson St\, Newington\, Edinburgh EH8 9DD. \nPanel debate 7.15pm – 9pm\, (doors open 6.30pm)\, bar open until 10.30pm. \nIn the second of a Spring series of public debates about free speech in Scotland\, the FSU returns to The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, for a panel discussion\, Q and A and social. \nBook now to be part of it. \nIn 2021\, Scotland finally abolished its blasphemy law—over 300 years after the execution of Thomas Aikenhead\, the Edinburgh student who became the last person in the British Isles to be hanged for blasphemy. Aikenhead’s sacriligious comments were reported to church authorities by fellow students\, five of whom testified against him. In his last moments he wrote: \n“It is a principle innate and co-natural to every man to have an insatiable inclination to the truth\, and to seek for it as for hid treasure.” \nThankfully\, speaking against religious doctrine no longer carries the death penalty in Edinburgh\, however\, Scotland’s blasphemy laws were replaced by the highly-concerning Hate Crime Act which threatens arrest\, fines and imprisonment of those who transgress against more contemporary beliefs. \nThis legislation\, which provoked disbelief around the world and embarrassed freedom-loving Scots\, was opposed by many of the more traditionally religious groups in Scotland\, many of whom feared that their beliefs risked being criminalised. \nReligious campaigners have been highly effective at shaping the public conversation about free speech issues in Scotland\, whether fighting for the rights of street preachers\, advocating for pro-life voices or raising concerns over the free speech impacts of proposed “conversion therapy” laws. \nThe Scottish debate over abortion clinic buffer zones recently went global when US Vice President J.D. Vance claimed that private prayer inside houses near clinics had been criminalized. While the Scottish government disputed Vance’s claim\, his remarks resonated with widespread concerns about the state of free speech in Scotland and in the UK as a whole. \nAre broader principles of tolerance and freedom compatible with a conservative religious worldview? Should atheists today look to Christians to hone their arguments about tolerance\, freedom of conscience and freedom of expression? \nWhether you’re a student\, a member of a faith community\, or simply passionate about human rights\, come along to explore these questions and many others concerning the evolving landscape of free speech and religious freedom in modern Scotland. \nThere will\, of course\, be plenty of time for discussion\, as well as socialising with fellow free speech supporters. \nSPEAKERS \nStephen Allison is the minister of Kiltarlity Free Church and the Public Engagement Coordinator for the Free Church of Scotland. Prior to entering ministry\, he was a practicing solicitor. \nSimon Calvert has been with The Christian Institute since qualifying as a solicitor in 1996. He is a campaigner\, media spokesperson and Parliamentary liaison. \nPeter Kearney is a freelance Media Consultant and former Director of Communications for the Catholic Church in Scotland. \nIn the Chair will be Shereen Benjamin\, Senior Lecturer in Primary Education at the University of Edinburgh. She was a founder member of Edinburgh Academics for Academic Freedom. \nTickets are £5 for FSU members\, £10 for non-members. \nJOIN the FSU to get discounts at all events.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/faith-and-free-speech-in-scotland/
LOCATION:The Counting House\, 38 West Nicolson Street\, Edinburgh\, EH8 9DD\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Regional Speakeasies
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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250529T193000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250529T210000
DTSTAMP:20250624T074246
CREATED:20250425T122434Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250514T160846Z
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SUMMARY:BOOK LAUNCH: ANDREW DOYLE'S 'THE END OF WOKE'
DESCRIPTION:BOOK LAUNCH \n**NOW IN-PERSON AND ONLINE**\nTHE END OF WOKE by ANDREW DOYLE\nCHANGE OF DATE: Thursday 29th May 7.30pm\nPrince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London SW1Y 5DG. \nInterview with Andrew Doyle and Q and A\, 7.30pm to 9pm. Reception to follow.\nTICKETS HERE: Free Speech Union Members: £12; Non-members: £20; Students: £14. \nONLINE ATTENDANCE: FREE AND EXCLUSIVE TO FSU MEMBERS. Online Audience Q and A will be possible. REGISTER ONLINE USING THE LINK PROVIDED IN FSU’S WEEKLY NEWSLETTER AND EMAILS FROM FSU EVENTS. \nSigned copies of The End of Woke can be purchased here. \nWriter\, broadcaster and comedian Andrew Doyle joins FSU Members for an exclusive online launch of his latest book\, The End of Woke. The event will take place on the day of the book’s release—you can buy a copy on the night if you would like to get it signed by the author or pre-order a copy here. \nAbout THE END OF WOKE by Andrew Doyle \nA revelatory investigation into the rise and fall of the ‘woke’ movement and how we can prevent it from happening again. \nIt is no secret that we are in the midst of a cultural revolution. Activists in the ‘woke’ movement have claimed to be on the right side of history\, and yet their approach has been intolerant\, intemperate and\, above all\, illiberal. Having dominated the western world for the past fifteen years\, there are clear signs the woke are now losing their power. The re-election of Donald Trump\, the scaling back of DEI initiatives\, and a growing awareness of the threats to women’s sex-based rights has stirred a counter-revolution. But is this truly the end of woke? Or have the culture wars merely evolved? \nIn The End of Woke\, Doyle skilfully examines the mechanisms underlying the zealous extremes on both the left and the right. He shows that\, in a desperate power struggle to re-assert liberal values\, some leaders of the anti-woke movement have found themselves adopting a different kind of authoritarian approach – one which also promotes censorship and erodes our freedoms. \nDoyle argues that although authoritarianism is common to all political tribes\, we must resist its pernicious influence wherever it emerges. After all\, replacing one form of tyranny with another will not end the culture wars. But liberalism – true liberalism – might just see the end of woke for good.
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/online-book-launch-andrew-doyles-the-end-of-woke/
LOCATION:Prince Phillip House\, 3 Carlton House Terrace\, London\, SW1Y 5DG\, United Kingdom
CATEGORIES:Book Launches & Promotions,Guest Interviews,Online Event
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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250531T190000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250531T220000
DTSTAMP:20250624T074246
CREATED:20250407T153211Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20250509T113203Z
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SUMMARY:EQUALITY\, FREEDOM OF SPEECH AND THE LAW
DESCRIPTION:Equality\, Freedom of Speech and the Law\nAkua Reindorf KC talks to Jo Bartosch\n**THIS EVENT HAS NOW SOLD OUT**\nDate: Saturday 31 May\nTime: Door and bar open 6.00pm\nEvent: 7.00pm-8.30pm with Q&A\nFrom 8.30pm social and networking.\nIn person: Central Manchester Location near Piccadilly Train Station. Precise details will be sent out to ticket-holders on the day. \nWRN Manchester in Partnership with Free Speech Union\nDiscount tickets for FSU Members – scroll down for link \nJoin us for an evening of fascinating conversation with one of the most authoritative legal voices working in equality law today. \nAkua Reindorf KC is an award-winning barrister specialising in Discrimination and Equality\, Employment\, and Human Rights. She has been a key figure in the debates on sex and gender and freedom of speech and been involved in some of the critical investigatory and litigation activity in these areas as well as writing and speaking widely. She is also a Visiting Senior Lecturer at LSE Law School\, and a Commissioner of the EHRC (but is appearing at the event in a personal capacity). \nAkua wrote the University of Essex’s ‘Reindorf Report’ on suppression of academic freedom as a result of the de-platforming and blacklisting of Jo Phoenix and Rosa Freedman\, both academics who have expressed sex realist views. She successfully defended the LGB Alliance and recently provided a Legal Advice on Manchester City Council’s policy on single sex spaces for the Women’s Rights Network and Labour Women’s Declaration. She is a vocal critic of Labour’s initial plans to pause the Higher Education (Freedom of Speech) Act 2023 and an advocate for freedom of expression\, freedom of speech and academic freedom. \nJoin the audience for this special event where Akua will be interviewed by Jo Bartosch\, a campaigner for the rights of women and girls and a journalist who writes on women\, sex-based rights\, and freedom of speech. Jo is a widely published journalist with bylines in The Times\, Telegraph\, and Mail on Sunday. She is assistant editor of The Critic\, regularly contributes to Spiked and Unherd and is also the Memo Editor for Sex Matters. Jo can always be guaranteed to be funny\, scathing and bang on the nose. \n  \n\nTICKETS\nStandard ticket: £13Special rate for FSU members: £10.40Solidarity ticket: £18
URL:https://freespeechunion.org/event/equality-freedom-of-speech-and-the-law/
LOCATION:London
CATEGORIES:Partner Event,Regional Speakeasies
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