Diary
The Pope in Spain more insults and lies
Friday, Nov 12, 2010The Pope started his visit to Spain in much the same way that he greeted the UK; by blaming just about everything he disliked on atheists and rewriting Spanish history. Prime Minister Zapatero was more forthright in response, it seems, than our Prime Minister. The NSS reports, The Spanish Prime Minister Zapatero reminded the Pope last week that Spain is a secular state after the pontiff attacked Government legislation on abortion, gay marriage and divorce.Inclusive Remembrance Day event in Norfolk
Thursday, Nov 11, 2010Norfolk Fire Service’s chief fire officer Nigel Williams has arranged a secular Remembrance Day event this year, to avoid the exclusion of some staff members. This quote amused me: The Ven Jan McFarlane, from the Diocese of Norwich, said: “We often hear that we’re a ‘secular society’ – but attendance at Remembrance Services today and on Sunday, and the numbers who turn to the church at times of significant national events would suggest otherwise.The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Europe
Thursday, Nov 11, 2010European parliamentarians have set up a new website as a platform for secularism in Europe. The European Parliament Platform for Secularism in Europe (EPPSP) is a forum for Members of the European Parliament and civil society. Sophie in t Veld MEP, its chair, explains the purpose of the new website:Ipswich Skeptics in the Pub Open Talk Night Music
Thursday, Nov 11, 2010We’re told: In our last event before Christmas, the theme is Music. Mark Aaron will talk about online activism in the context of saving BBC 6 music, and John Benton will talk about common logical fallacies regarding hifi equipment. You’ll find ISP in the green room at the back of McGinty’s.Have you voted yet?
Monday, Nov 8, 2010The nominees (from New Humanist) are… Hojatoleslam Kazem Sedighi Sheikh Maulana Abu Sayeed Baroness Warsi Cardinal Walter Kasper Lauren Booth Pastor Terry Jones Prince Charles Ann Widdecombe Click here to vote for this year’s leading enemy of reason.Humanists in the Armed Forces on Remembrance Day
Monday, Nov 8, 2010It’s Armistice Day on Thursday, 11th November, when we remember British service personnel who’ve fought and died in the First World War and all the conflicts since. As usual, the contribution made by those who died without religion will largely be ignored at local remembrance ceremonies on Sunday, but this year it will be different in some British cities. The UK Armed Forces Humanist Association has issued the following press release:Equal Love
Monday, Nov 8, 2010Equal Love is about a legal bid to overturn the twin bans on same-sex civil marriages and opposite-sex civil partnerships in the United Kingdom. They say, why shouldn’t heterosexual couples have civil partnerships, and homosexual couples get married? We heard about this via the BHA’s regular e-bulletin. If you’d like to sign up for one in your inbox, click here.The Big Society is natural territory for the Church of England
Friday, Nov 5, 2010From the National Secular Society, a report on the Church of England’s opportunism as the Government promotes a “Big Society”: Terry Sanderson, President of the National Secular Society, said: This is the clearest indication that the Church has been in detailed consultation with the Government about implementing the Big Society idea. Very sensibly, the Church is wary of being used as a means of shoring up the social catastrophe that is coming through the cutting of welfare spending.Swords, ploughshares, guns & shovels
Friday, Nov 5, 2010Whenever there’s any mention of turning weapons into something useful, like tools, or beautiful, like art, someone will quote Isaiah II: “They shall beat their swords into ploughshares, and their spears into pruning-hooks; nation shall not lift up sword against nation, neither shall they learn war any more.” It’s a great idea, whether or not you believe it was God’s. There’ve been two recent examples. The first is from Mexico. You can read about it on the Inhabitat website:November newsletter for you to download now
Wednesday, Nov 3, 2010[](http://www.suffolkhands.org.uk/files/1/2010 SH&S News November.pdf “SH News Nov 2010”)Our November newsletter is here for you to download and print. Why not make several copies and hand them on to your friends? In this month’s issue: Suffolk Humanist Sue Hewlett on her involvement with a scheme to link the village school in Stutton, where she taught, with one in Yendi in Ghana. Details of this month’s meeting, when we’ll be electing a new chairperon and member Colleen Nunn will tell us about the geology of Suffolk.