CCLE Contributes Comments to UN International Bioethics Commission
CCLE's director Wrye Sententia contributed written comments to guide the UN's draft of a Declaration on Universal Norms on Bioethics in incorporating freedom of thought protections.  Dr. Sententia stressed the need to incorporate clear wording and protections for privacy, autonomy and choice in what concerns one's cognition.  Her suggestions can be viewed here [pdf)

Reading Minds - Audio Stream Now Online
http://radio.cbc.ca/programs/quirks/archives/04-05/nov20.html
The Canadian Broadcasting Corp’s show “Quirks & Quarks’ on the current state of high-tech deception-detection devices can now be heard via an online audio stream. It’s much smarter than most American media treatments of this topic. A number of scientists working on the leading edge of this field are interviewed and the piece concludes with Richard Glen Boire's observations (at the 22 minute mark) on the cognitive liberty implications of coercive use of such technology. Quirks & Quarks  is the award-winning radio science program of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The program is heard by a national audience in Canada of nearly 500,000 people. It is also heard around the world on shortwave via Radio Canada International.

The Intoxication Instinct – New Scientist
(MAPS mirror of article: http://www.maps.org/sys/nq.pl?id=243&fmt=page)

The British magazine New Scientist, devoted a large part its November 13-19 issue to ‘The Intoxication Instinct,’ examining how nearly everyone desires an occasional altered state, which suggests that the desire for multi-mode consciousness is an innate human drive. Is there really any debate about that? Great comments by MAPS president Rick Doblin (also a CCLE advisor) form a central theme of the piece, which concludes with some of Richard Glen Boire's comments that underscore the human rights dimensions of this issue:

One prominent critic of the debate is Richard Glen Boire, director of the Center for Cognitive Liberty and Ethics in Davis, California. He believes that intoxication is not just a part of human nature, it is a basic human right. "Why should it be illegal to alter your style of thinking?" he says. "As long as you don't do any harm to anyone else, what you do in your own mind is as private as what you do in your own bedroom." Boire advocates changes to the law that would allow people to experiment with psychoactive substances at home or in designated public places. "It's the right of people to explore the full range of consciousness, and our duty as a society to accommodate that," he says.

Some scientists are moving in the same direction, arguing that instead of suppressing, medicalising and criminalising our basic drive to experience altered states we should apply ourselves to making it safer, healthier and less squalid - in short, to taking the "toxic" out of intoxication.”

New Scientist gets it, and is online here: http://www.newscientist.com

BetterHumans Interviews Dr. Wrye Sententia
http://www.betterhumans.com/Features/Interviews/interview.aspx?articleID=2004-11-23-1
Read an extensive interview with the CCLE's Wrye Sententia online now at BetterHumans.com.
 

Latest Notes on the UDV's Ayahuasca Case
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/\dll\udv_10enbanc_ruling.htm

A new ruling in the US case.  Read Richard Glen Boire's FAQ on the decision.

CCLE Year End Fundraiser – Please Donate!
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html

In January 2005, the CCLE will celebrate its fifth anniversary, and still we are the world's only organization devoted to freedom of thought. Read an overview of 2004 and our strategy for 2005. Then grab your credit card and lend a hand! We can’t do it without you. Donations are tax-deductible and very gratefully received.

To read a quick summary of what’s at stake go to:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/freedom_crossroads.html

Our 2004 Review / 2005 Strategy document is online here:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/funding/2004review2005overview.html

To make suggestions, email us at: info@cognitiveliberty.org

CONTRIBUTE WHAT YOU CAN! 
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html
How do we do all this innovative  work? Because unique people like you make the CCLE one of the charities they actively support. The CCLE is a 501(c)3 nonprofit, so donations are tax-deductible. Big donations, such as transferring appreciated stock, provide major tax advantages and really help us to plan beyond the short-term. Please make a donation today, and give whatever you can.  Thanks! - Richard Glen Boire & Wrye Sententia

PLEASE DONATE here: http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html