Criticizing Irish Blasphemy Laws
On Tuesday, a group of leading secularists from around the globeÔÇöincluding SPI Fellows Richard Dawkins and Steven PinkerÔÇöjoined in criticizing Irish Prime Minister Enda Kenny for failing to repeal his countryÔÇÖs six-year-old blasphemy law. Last fall, the Dublin government suggested that the law would be included in a series of national referendums on such topics as gay marriage equality, but at the end of last year, officials seemed to renege on the blasphemy topic. Violations of the law, introduced by a former regime, are still punishable with fines of up to Ôé¼25,000 (┬ú19,000).
At an unprecedented gathering of Irish atheists before their Prime Minister, the group told Kenny that it was his duty to protect those ÔÇ£intimidatedÔÇØ within Ireland and those persecuted elsewhere for their behavior and beliefs. Along with Dawkins and Pinker, many renowned scientists, writers, comedians, politicians, and activists signed a formal letter to the Taoiseach noting that ÔÇ£
False Memories
In Sci-Tech Today, SPI Fellow Elizabeth Loftus had a chance to explain her research on false memories of events, in light of NBC news anchor Brian WilliamsÔÇÖs recent national ÔÇ£misrememberingÔÇØ blunder. People, says Loftus, are often convinced of made-up memories by the sheer power of suggestion.
“Memory is susceptible to contamination and distortion and supplementation,ÔÇØ she commented. ÔÇ£It happens to virtually all of us.ÔÇØ Loftus believes it is “certainly feasible” that Williams could have developed a false memory in which his own helicopter was forced down by gunfire in 2003.