|
Freedom
to read 2006
24-Hour
Freedom to Read Marathon
Thursday, March 2nd, 10 am.-Friday, March
3rd, 10am.
Fireside
Lounge, University Centre, University of Manitoba
Campus and Community Radio UMFM 101.5 is proud to
host the 3rd annual
24-Hour Freedom to Read Marathon at the U of M.
Our 2005 sophomore year drew readers from the student body, the
library, university services, administration, faculty and the community.
People stepped up to read from challenged books on hand from the
U of M library or brought books from their own collections. The
late night favourite was Jon Stewart’s banned by Walmart America.
Other books included Darwin’s Evolution of the Species,
Anthony Burgess’s A Clockwork Orange and Ginsberg’s
Howl. Look in your bookcase. You are bound to find
books that have been banned or challenged. Sign up and bring your
favourites to the marathon! And as usual, if you are an insomniac
who loves to read, we’d particularly like to see you here.
The Marathon is a component of Freedom to Read Week, an annual
event that encourages Canadians to think about and reaffirm our
commitment to intellectual freedom, which is guaranteed us under
the Charter
of Rights and Freedoms.
"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion
and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions
without interference and to seek, receive and impart information
and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."
- Article 19 of the Universal
Declaration of Human Rights,
adopted and proclaimed by the General Assembly
of the United Nations (1948)
How To Participate
It's easy. We have divided the 24 hours into 10
minute reading blocks. Using our on-line
schedule, you simply sign up, show up at the appointed time,
and then read from a challenged
book.
You can bring your own material or pick something
from the selection we will have on hand. Reader to reader, we
share our love of the written word while casting light on the
issues of censorship and access to information, so vital to learning.
For more information on challenged books, click
here.
Background
This is the 22nd anniversary of Freedom to Read Week in Canada.
This year is a particularly interesting and delicate one for the
concept of the Freedom to Read. Can we preserve our rights and freedoms
as enshrined in the Charter of Rights and Freedoms, while still
respecting the rights of others? PEN Canada's recent statement urges
all Canadians to “support two great principles on which our
democracy depends: the right to free speech, and respect for the
dignity and beliefs of others. Both must be upheld."www.freedomtoread.ca
Building Awareness and Pledges
The 24-Hour Freedom to Read Marathon does more than build awareness.
We will be accepting donations during the Marathon for a number
of charitable organizations that promote literacy and intellectual
freedom, including:
Volunteer Opportunities
If you'd like to be more involved, we could use some help with
postering, emailing, greeting and assisting readers and MCing during
the event. And of course you can participate by listening.
For more information, email 24hourmarathon@gmail.com
or phone 474-6518.
If you're not available on Thursday or Friday, we encourage you
to lend your support to the Manitoba
Writer's Guild Inc.'s 24-Hour
Reading Marathon, which runs at McNally Robinson Grant Park
from Saturday February 25th at 10am until Sunday February 26 at
10am.
|
