E-mail: mail@suffolkhumanists.org.uk Event description: Margaret Nelson provides a Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Suffolk for 2 minutes sometime between 7.20 and 7.30 am. BBC Radio Suffolk’s FM frequencies are 103.9 (Ipswich), 104.6 (west Suffolk), 95.5 (Lowestoft), 95.9 (Aldeburgh). It’s not available on medium wave or DAB, but you can listen live online – see link below. Further info: www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/

E-mail: mail@suffolkhumanists.org.uk Event description: Margaret Nelson provides a Thought for the Day on BBC Radio Suffolk for 2 minutes sometime between 7.20 and 7.30 am. BBC Radio Suffolk’s FM frequencies are 103.9 (Ipswich), 104.6 (west Suffolk), 95.5 (Lowestoft), 95.9 (Aldeburgh). It’s not available on medium wave or DAB, but you can listen live online – see link below. Further info: www.bbc.co.uk/suffolk/

The Blair Government was very keen to delegate ‘social and community projects’ to faith groups, a policy that has created all sorts of problems. While religious organisations like to claim public funds for such projects, there’s the tricky issue of discrimination, with some seeking exemption from anti-discrimination legislation on faith grounds. The Church Urban Fund has advice for Christian organisations about this sort of thing: The Church Urban Fund has launched a free online resource to promote excellence in employment by faith-based charities involved in social and community projects.

I’ve been ordained. It’s free, it’s easy, it’s quick. Just go to The Universal Life Church Monastery and with a few clicks of the mouse, you can be ordained too. Once ordained, there’s a range of impressive-looking products to help you perform your ministerial duties, including certificates from $10.50, to a ministry-in-a-box for $139.99. They don’t seem to sell dog collars, but maybe I can just make one from some white plastic.

Journalist and political and social commentator Polly Toynbee is the new President of the British Humanist Association, taking over the post from the comedian Linda Smith, who died last year. Accepting the honour, Polly said, I am honoured to be appointed President of the BHA at a time when not for many years has there been such a need to promote a Humanist view of the world. Religious fanaticism is the clear and present danger all round the world.

Amnesty International is set to defy the Vatican and risk the wrath of Catholics around the world over its decision to back abortion for rape victims. Leaders of the international human rights group meeting in Mexico are expected to reaffirm the policy adopted by its executive board in April after two years of soul-searching within the organisation. The decision, which will also cover women whose health is at risk from giving birth, follows the use of mass rape as a political weapon in the conflict in Darfur.

The August 2007 issue of International Humanist News has been published. It includes features on Violence against Women; Creationism and Science; Humanism in Action; and The Continuing Fight for a Secular Europe. Through the IHEU website, you can have: * the full text (available now), * a PDF version with pictures (available for download now) and * back numbers from the last 14 years Tags: IHEU, International+Humanist+News

I went through the Sunday papers with Luke Deal on BBC Radio Suffolk this morning. On the way home, I heard him report that a listener had phoned in to say our discussion was “the most intelligent and enjoyable bit of radio she’d heard for a while”. At least, that’s what I think she said. I was driving, not taking notes. So nice to know that someone was listening, after getting up at 5.

Struggling authors should keep the faith – literally. Sales of books that explore religion or spirituality have grown by more than 50 per cent in the past three years, according to online retailer Amazon. The boom surpasses the rise in sales of books in categories such as history, which have grown by 38 per cent, and politics, up by 30 per cent, confirming that religion has become a pivotal topic in the early 21st century.

A few words from comedian Pat Condell (NSS member) about Muslims who are “almost permanently offended about something or other”. You’ll need broadband and a media player to view the video. Tags: video, Pat+Condell, Muslims, Media