The actor Warren Mitchell, most well-known for his role as the bigoted Alf Garnett in “Till Death us do Part”, is a distinguished supporter of the British Humanist Association. He’s of Russian Jewish descent, and has been quoted as saying, “I enjoy being Jewish, but I’m an atheist”. There are many atheist Jews like him. Warren tells a story about visiting Northern Ireland, where he was asked if he’s a Catholic or a Protestant.

Children as young as four are being taught philosophy in the nursery, BBC Scotland has learned. The Clackmannanshire Council initiative is believed to be the first run by a local authority in Britain. New research from Dundee University suggests learning philosophy raises children’s IQ by up to 6.5 points and improves their emotional intelligence. BBC NEWS | Scotland | Nursery pupils taught philosophy. It’s not the first time that very young children have been taught philosophy.

Monday 12th February is Darwin Day, the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 1809. Scientists, Humanists and Rationalists around the world will be celebrating Charles Darwin’s birthday in a variety of ways. Charles Darwin’s book The Origin of Species set out his theory of evolution by natural selection. Whenever I get the chance, I tell children in Suffolk schools about evolution. It’s surprising, and worrying, how few seem to know much about it.

Today is Darwin Day, the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 1809. In celebrating Darwin Day, those of us who value the great man’s achievements hope to raise awareness of his work. If he were still alive, Darwin would be surprised that it’s still the subject of so much debate. Like many great scientists and thinkers, Darwin was driven by an intense curiosity from an early age, when he was happiest wandering around the countryside near his home in Shrewsbury, collecting rocks, bugs, beetles and plants.

Trilobites were arthropods that existed during the Cambrian period, until about 250 million years ago. Andrew Scott of Vancouver, aka ‘Bugmaker’, creates trilobites and other creatures out of PVC gel, copper, and acrylic paint. Creationists, including those who promote the theory of ‘Intelligent Design’, believe the earth was created at about the beginning of the 2nd millennium BC, so I’m not sure how they explain the trilobites. Trilobite image courtesy Andrew Scott – (c) all rights reserved

Friday news and web links… An Alexandrian court has sentenced Abdel Kareem Nabil Suleiman to four years imprisonment for “inciting hatred of Islam” and insulting President Hosni Mubarak in his blog, using the pseudonym “Kareem Amer.” Visit the Free Kareem! website to call for his freedom. As Amnesty International reports, the sentence means that bloggers are under threat from the Egyptian authorities. All copies of Egyptian feminist writer, activist and medical doctor Nawal Al Saadawi’s latest book, God Resigns in the Summit Meeting, were removed from circulation and destroyed last week by her publisher Mahmoud Madbouli, according to German news service Deutsche Press Agenter.

Headteachers should be stripped of the power to pick pupils amid fears the best schools are colonised by middle-class children, according to one of Tony Blair’s favourite think-tanks. The IPPR says faith schools are 10 times more likely to be over-run with middle-class children compared to other schools Faith schools, which can select according to religious belief, are 10 times more likely to be “highly unrepresentative” of the children in their local communities, said the report published today by the Institute for Public Policy Research.

The Ipswich Crematorium management has erected signs in the driveway to reserve parking spaces for funeral officiants. The significance of the wording is important. Where other crematoria still have parking spaces signed as reserved for ‘clergy’, these use the word ‘officiant’ – a neutral term that includes religious ministers, civil celebrants and humanist celebrants. Thank you, Ipswich Borough Council. Crematoria are owned and run by local authorities, such as Ipswich and Colchester, or private companies such as the Westerleigh Group, which owns West Suffolk Crematorium.