September 21-27 is Banned Books Week in the United States, as established by the American Library Association. We can observe it in Canada too. We live in a society where we believe everyone should learn to read, that reading is important, and that people should have the right to read what they want to read. So many of our fundamental rights and freedoms are represented in the fight for educated, literate citizens to have control over what they read. Sadly, our society also has powerful forces that work against those freedoms. Sometimes those countering forces are well-meaning, hoping to protect us from lies, hate, propaganda and such. Sometimes these countering forces are even necessary, as we seek to protect children from pornography and other age-inappropriate material. Yet a free and vital democracy requires that individuals, not the state, determine what is acceptable reading material and what is not acceptable. Parents must be able to protect their children from the mistakes of society, yet the state must also protect children from the mistakes of their parents. There are no easy answers in all this, yet that is not a reason to shy away from this vital issue.
Tag: freedom
World Press Freedom Day
o we really need World Press Freedom Day? Take a look at some of these statistics:
Freedom of the Press is one of the fundamental requirements of democracy. Citizens are not free when the state restricts their access to information, or when the state fails to stop others from doing so.
Violence is a threat to the press in many parts of the world. However, even here in North America, where we live in one of the most democratic societies, control of our free and open access to information is an ongoing battle.
Learn more:
Freedom to Read Week
What do the following titles have in common?
All of these are titles which have been challenged. Somewhere in Canada in the past 30 years, individuals or groups have tried to have these books removed from schools, libraries and bookstores. The list of challenged authors includes Alice Munro, the 2013 Nobel Laureate for Literature.
The Day We Fight Back
Millions of people around the world are lending their voices to protest mass surveillance and the infringement on our rights to privacy and freedom. Check out the following links to learn more:
The Day We Fight Back: What You Need to Know (PC Magazine)
Electronic Frontier Foundation
Martin Luther King Day is January 20
In the United States, the 3rd Monday in January is a National Holiday in memory of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.. While it is not a holiday in Canada, Canadians and people all over the world will take some time today to acknowledge the tremendous legacy of Dr. King as a champion of freedom, equality and peace. 
In the school library we will be taking the opportunity to view footage of Dr. King’s iconic “I Have A Dream” speech from the 1963 March on Washington. Please be sure to join us!
Learn more:
Human Rights Day
On this day in 1948 the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly.
Article 1.
- All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.They are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood
Article 2.
- Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional or international status of the country or territory to which a person belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under any other limitation of sovereignty
Article 3.
- Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.
Click here for the full text of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Click here for the history of, and other information about, the UDHR. And click here for more information about Human Rights Day.
Mohandas Gandhi
Mohandas Gandhi was born on in this day in India in 1869. Gandhi led India to independence from the British Empire, primarily through non-violent protest and peaceful resistance. His ideas would inspire future movements from such people as Martin Luther King Jr. and Nelson Mandela.
For more on the life of Gandhi, click here.
Banned Books Week
September 22-28 is Banned Books Week in the United States. In Canada we celebrate a similar week in February with Freedom to Read Week.
Celebrate your Rights and Freedoms.
Defend your Rights and Freedoms.
Click for more information on Banned Books Week.
Stephen Biko
Anti-Apartheid and Black Consciousness leader Stephen Biko died on this day in 1977. He was killed by South African police who tortured and beat him while he was in custody. His story, told in the book Biko, and the film “Cry Freedom,” helped to expose the brutality of the Apartheid regime to the world.
Learn more about Stephen Biko.
Lord Tweedsmuir Secondary School Library 