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Cognitive Liberty News
From the Center for
Cognitive Liberty & Ethics
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org
May 23, 2005
Greetings!
Here's our monthly update of things done, things to come, and things in
process at the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics. An online
version of this message with working links is available here:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/digest/tn_23may05.html
We depend upon your donations to keep the Center operating.
Please donate whatever you can.
To donate online blip to:
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/donate.html
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International Conference on Drugs in the Future
Jun 17, 2005 - London, England
http://www.dtl.co.uk/conference/programme.php
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The CCLE's Dr. Wrye Sententia will Chair the International Conference on
Drugs in the Future, to be held June 17, 2005, in London. Join Dr.
Sententia, the Erowid Librarians, Alexander and Ann Shulgin, and other
special visionary guests to supercharge your thinking about the future of
drug use, drug information and drug policy. Sponsored by DTL, and supported
by Release and the Beckley Foundation.
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The Neurotechnology Industry 2005: Strategic Investment and Market Analysis
Report of the Global Neurological Disease and Psychiatric Illness Markets
http://www.neuroinsights.com
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CCLE Advisor Zack Lynch, who heads NeuroInsights and writes the "Brainwaves"
column for Corante News, has just released a 250-page report on business
opportunities in the neurotechnology market. This is the best, most
insightful, and most comprehensive report available on how the neurotechnology marketplace is dynamically evolving.
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Cognitive Liberty & Coercive Medication:
Medicating Aliah (Use "access code" MJZL6Y)
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2005/05/medicating_aliah.html
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The May /June issue of Mother Jones features an excellent article titled
"Medicating Aliah," that reports on how drug companies are aggressively
lobbying state mental health-care providers to adopt "algorithms" dictating
that the newest, most expensive drugs be used in treating psychological
disorders, and then pushing state authorities (including public schools) to
aggressively diagnose people with mental disorders. Last year, the CCLE's
"Making Choices for Children Project" as well as our Pharmacotherapy Report
warned of the frightening trend of mixing public benefits with coercive drug
practices. These CCLE projects were discussed in Mother Jones "Informed
Dissent" column.
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CCLE Defends Salvia Divinorum and other Medicinal and Ritual Plants
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/dll/salvia_divinorum_action_center.htm
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Last week, we sent a letter and legal analysis to Louisiana Representative
Michael Strain, concerning his bill (HB 20) to outlaw Salvia divinorum and a
host of other plants with long-standing religious and medicinal use. We also
sent our letter and legal analysis to all 18 members of the Louisiana House
Judiciary Committee, which is currently considering the bill. Learn more at
our Salvia Divinorum Action Center above.
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Ethics in Neuroscience: Cognitive Liberty Lecture at Stanford
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/proj_willjames.html
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Last week, CCLE Director, Dr. Wrye Sententia, gave a guest lecture on
"Scanning for Democracy: Cognitive Liberty & New Technology"
at Stanford University for a course on ethical issues in the
neurosciences. This lecture was hosted by William Hurlbut, M.D., Associate
Professor in Human Biology at Stanford, and a Member of the US
President's Council on Bioethics.
The previous week, Dr. Sententia spoke with University of California,
Davis students about "Freedom of Thought & Technoculture: New Issues
in Thinking about Thinking."
To schedule at cognitive liberty talk at your university or event, contact
us at info@cognitiveliberty.org, and/or see the above URL.
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New Answer: Ask Dr. Shulgin Online
http://www.cognitiveliberty.org/shulgin/blg/index.html
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We posted a new answer by Dr. Alexander Shulgin.
The question and answer concern DOB and other possible prodrugs.
Follow the above link to read Dr. Shulgin's reply.
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Citizen Cyborg, Reviewed By Cory Doctorow
http://www.boingboing.net/2005/04/11/humanist_transhumani.html
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Last month Cory Doctorow, of boing boing and sci-fi fame, penned a review of
James Hughes' new book "Citizen Cyborg: Why Democratic Societies Must
respond to the Redesigned Human of the Future." Woven throughout the review
is Cory's discussion of cognitive liberty. The review resulted in a wave of
visitors to our website, many of whom have shown great interest in helping
to develop and promote cognitive liberty.
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Send Ram Dass Some Love & Money
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After returning from India CCLE Advisor Ram Dass fell ill with a serious infection that has caused other health problems. As a result, he as
been forced to cancel most of his speaking tour this year, which provides
his income. Friends have been working to raise the necessary funds to pay
for Ram Dass'
care and living expenses, both short and long term. If you feel moved to
contribute to Ram Dass' care and teaching, please send donations to the
Center for Spiritual Studies, 57361 Hillcrest Drive, Yucca Valley, CA 92284, tel (760) 365-2333. The Center for Spiritual Studies is a California 501(c)3
with Federal Tax ID # 23-7356960. For more information please contact: Raghu/
Mitchell Markus markus108@aol.com.
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Calling Open Source Coders - Help Out Judges Against the Drug War
http://www.infotechmegacorp.com:8080/judges
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The first big step of converting Judges Against the Drug War to a fully open
source, community-run project has been completed, but we could use more
help. Please see the above URL for the temporary site, which has more info
about our needs, or zap us an email at
info@cognitiveliberty.org
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Conferences & Events
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May 26, 4-6:30 pm (San Francisco)
Dr. Charles Grob & Dr. Ralph Metzner - Current Research with Psilocybin
Namaste Hall (1453 Mission Street, San Fransico- floor #3). More info: Kathy
Anne Woodruff (kwoodruff@ciis.edu or call 415.575.6197).
Dr. Charles Grob, the head of adolescent and child psychiatry at the
Harbor-UCLA Medical Center will be at the California Institute of Integral
Studies to speak about his current research. In addition to the presentation
there will be discussion period co-hosted by Ralph Metzner. Dr. Grob author
of Hallucinogens, was the first researcher to conduct FDA-approved human
research with 3,4-methylenedioxy-methamphetamine (MDMA). Dr. Grob is
currently faced with a challenge of recruiting participants for his current
approved study, entailing the investigation of the effects of psilocybin on
Stage IV cancer patients. Learn more at this talk.
May 27-29, 2005 (San Francisco)
MIND STATES VI: Just Added Alex Grey and the Shulgins!
http://www.mindstates.org
Visit the CCLE booth and say hello! CCLE Advisor Alex Grey has just been
added as a presenter. Also, Ann and Sasha Shulgin will be speaking for a live
"Ask the Shulgins."
May 28, 2005 (San Francisco)
ALEX GREY'S COSM PROJECT BENEFIT
http://www.mindstates.org/cosm.html
Help CCLE Advisor Alex Grey breath continued life into his Chapel of Sacred
Mirrors project by attending this benefit gathering. This late-night
dance party will feature a talk by Alex Grey, ritual prayerformance by The
Matrixters, and music from BenBen Stone Productions, Naasko, and Shakatura.
June 17, 2005 (London)
International Conference on Drugs in the Future
http://www.dtl.co.uk/conference/programme.php
Join the CCLE's Dr. Wrye Sententia as well as the Shulgins and the Erowids
in London, England.
January 11th - 15th, 2006 (Basel, Switzerland)
LSD: Problem Child and Wonder Drug
International Symposium on the Occasion of the 100th Birthday of Albert
Hofmann
http://www.lsd.info
On the occasion of the 100th Birthday of Dr. Albert Hofmann on January 11th
2006, the Gaia Media Foundation will present an International Symposium to
his
best known and most controversial discovery.
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LIBERTY WATCH: USA Patriot Act and the 109th Congress
From CCLE Washington DC Policy Fellow Michael Ostrolenk
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Many of the most problematic provisions in the USA Patriot Act are set to
sunset at the end of this year. Some of those provisions include Section 206
(roving wire taps under FISA) and Section 215 ("library record" provision).
The idea of sun-setting some of the provisions was an important check that
was put into place during the hastily written and passed USA Patriot Act in
2001. When I say hastily written, I am referring to the fact that the final
copy of the bill was not available until an hour before the vote. The bill
itself contained a laundry list of police powers that the Department of
Justice had been trying since the Clinton Administration to get enacted into
law. Fortunately, until 9-11 the Republican majority in Congress was much
more hesitant to give too broad of authority and power to Clinton's
Department of Justice.
Fortunately, there is a concerted effort by many civil liberty groups across
the political spectrum including the ACLU, American Conservative Union,
Liberty Coalition, Center for Democracy and Technology, Patriots to Restore
Checks and Balances and many others to ensure that the sunsets actually do
sunset and to even further limit other powers granted under the Patriot Act.
Some of the other provisions, which are not set to sunset but are
problematic include Section 213 (sneak & peak) and section 802 (definition
of domestic terrorism).
To counter-act the administrations interest in keeping and expanding the
Patriot Act police powers, various coalitions inside and outside of Congress
have formed. An example of a 'strange' bedfellow's coalition that has formed
in the House is the new Patriot Act Caucus which is chaired by Republicans
Ron Paul and Jeff Flake, Democrat Jerry Nadler and Independent Bernie
Sanders. The inside joke is that the caucus covers the political spectrum
i.e. a Libertarian, a Republican, a Democrat and a Socialist. This caucus is
working to educate other House members on the dangers of the Patriot Act and
encourage other members to sign onto bills that reform the act including the
Safe Act. (The Safe Act was also introduced in the Senate) There is a
similar new caucus in the Senate called the Bill of Rights Caucus, which is
chaired by Republican Senator Craig, and Democratic Senator Durbin. Senator
Feingold, the only member of the Senate to vote against the Patriot Act is
also heavily involved in pushing for its reform.
Outside of Congress, coalitions are also forming or continuing to operate to
reform the Patriot Act. One coalition of note is Patriots to Restore Checks
and Balances, which was founded by former Republican Congressman Bob Barr.
It includes such groups as the ACLU, Gun Owners of America, Association of
American Physicians and Surgeons and the American Conservative Union. Other
groups concerned with the USA Patriot Act include the Center for Cognitive
Liberty & Ethics, U.S. Bill of Rights Foundation, Bill of Rights Defense
Committee, American Policy Center, Electronic Frontier Foundation,
Electronic Privacy Information Center, Free Congress and the Americans for
Tax Reform. From the list of group involved in this issue, it is obvious
that this is truly a transpartisan effort.
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