Humanism

Yesterday, representatives of the Secular Coalition for America met White House officials to discuss issues of concern to American atheists, humanists and secularists. Before the meeting, they said,

... it will be the latest indication that the secular movement is gaining significant momentum, and that secular Americans, numbering in the tens of millions, are a constituency that must be included.

Predictably, fundamentalist Christian right-wingers have reacted as though President Obama was making a pact with the devil (who doesn't exist, though try telling them that).

For the latest news about Leo Igwe in Nigeria, see Think Humanism.

HumanistLife, the BHA's new website, offers a varied selection of stories. Bob Churchill from the BHA says,

The aim is that www.HumanistLife.org.uk will become a major node for expression and discussion of issues close to Humanism on the web.

We want to provide a space where our members and supporters, affiliated humanist groups, staff and Distinguished Supporters can build a content-rich, quality site, giving many humanist and other perspectives on current affairs, society, science and culture, as well as philosophical, artistic, video-based and other contributions. We want to bring together everyone who shares our broad worldview to present a bold, diverse vision of modern Humanism: its interests, its concerns and its inspirations.

One of the latest reports is about the courageous Nigerian Humanist, Leo Igwe, whose campaign against the "witch-hunters" who target defenceless children, and other human rights violations, have attracted threats against his life.

Postscript: Today (5th January), Leo Igwe was arrested in Nigeria.

Emitos Girls Humanist Football Club is a really special project running in Uganda. Supported by Women and the Free World Organisation (WOFEWO), the aim of the club is to empower and educate girls aged 12-20 years through football. The Central London Humanist Group is aiming to raise £3,700 for football kits, the costs of playing away and for 3 Workshops on reproductive health and HIV/AIDS through the International Humanist Trust, the charitable arm of the IHEU. Click here to donate now.

Yesterday, our Celebrant David Mitchell conducted a Humanist funeral for Kate Wasyluk, one of the victims of Scott Nicholls, whose car struck Kate and her friends Emma (who was also killed) and Rebecca Harold, who were walking home from an evening out on 21 February. Nicholls has been charged with dangerous driving, driving while disqualified, and driving without a licence.

Nearly 300 mourners attended the funeral at Ipswich Crematorium, where David described the incident as “utterly pointless, utterly random, utterly wasteful”.

Our March newsletter is online now for you to download. Feel free to give copies to all your family and friends, especially all the “godless” people we hear are in East Anglia.

File Attachment: SH&S News March 2009 A4.pdf (634 KB)

Not sure about pdf files? No problem!

This is a monthly update of news from International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU). You can find the full versions of these news stories on their web site. Visit www.iheu.org/newsletter to subscribe.

One Law for All - anti-racist rally - London, 7 March 2009
The One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain will hold an anti-racist rally in London on 7 March 2009. The rally, opposing Sharia and religious-based tribunals and laws in Britain and elsewhere and defending citizenship and universal rights, will be held in Trafalgar Square from 3.30 pm to 4.30 pm. Read more

Happy Birthday to the Vatican!
IHEU member organization the French Libre Pensée has sent Pope Benedict XVI ironic congratulations on the 80th anniversary of the foundation of the Vatican State by the fascist dictator Benito Mussolini and Pope Pius XI. Read more