INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM and CELEBRATIONS
21, 22, 23 and 24 March 2008
Sorbonne, Paris

The year 2008 marks the 160th anniversary of the 1848 Revolution, as well as that of the birth of the first freethinking circles in Europe. An important year in French history, 1848 marked the end of the monarchy in France, the abolition of slavery, the establishment of universal male franchise and the assertion of the right to work, among others. Internationally too, it was in 1848 that a wave of people’s uprisings travelled through Europe and brought changes that influenced the continent’s landscape for decades to come.

The international symposium 1848-2008 organized by IRELP (Research Institute for the Study of Freethought) is all set to examine the connections between Freethinking and Revolution; the impact of the 1848 Revolution on Freethinking and on international relations, notably in Europe. There will be contributions from different continents and perspectives for the Freethought Movement worldwide.

Preceding the symposium on Friday evening (21st March 2008) will be a banquet for hundreds of guests, to commemorate the first banquet of “good Friday” organized by Sainte-Beuve, Renan Falubert etc. in 1868. A tradition that the French Libre Pensée still perpetuates today.

Join Philosophers, academics, and Human Rights and Humanist activists from 14 countries: France, Italy, Germany, Spain, Netherlands, UK, Slovakia, Belgium, USA, Australia, Cameroon, Burundi, Nigeria and India.

Listen to Henri Pena-Ruiz, Françoise Brunel, Sonja Eggerickx, Max Wallace, Roger Lepeix, Jean-Marc Shiappa, Anne Morelli, Fred Whitehead, Babu Gogineni, Paul Nkunzimana, Bert Gasenbek, Marc Blondel, Christian Eyschen.

Contact Jean-Marc Schiappa, President of IRELP to register at:
IRELP, 10/12 rue des fosses saint-jacques, 75005 Paris, France
E Mail