Diary
Polly Toynbee, Irans enemy
Sunday, Oct 4, 2009BHA President Polly Toynbee has been cited in the official Iranian media as “One of the great conspirators who wants to overthrow the Islamic regime,” according to a contributor to the BBC’s Dateline London yesterday. Polly said this is probably because of her presidency of the BHA, “… and we tend to attack all religions.” You have 6 days to see the programme using BBC i-Player.Three Cheers for Us!
Sunday, Oct 4, 2009Apparently, we’ve won an award from the British Humanist Association for The Best Group Website, with a certificate and everything! Hooray! Denis Johnston, our secretary, collected it at yesterday’s Groups Annual Meeting (GRAM) in London. Thank you Denis. No acceptance speech from me, but a big thank you to our webmaster, my son Nathan Nelson, who keeps the technical show on the web, as it were. You might be interested in his website – Big Wide World.Today is Blasphemy Day
Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009Today is Blasphemy Day, a day to promote free speech and to stand up in a show of solidarity for the freedom to challenge, criticise, and satirise religion without fear of murder, litigation, or reprisal. Find out more on the New Humanist Blog, then blaspheme away!Soul music on Radio 4
Wednesday, Sep 30, 2009In case you didn’t hear it, I was on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Soul Music’ yesterday, talking about a piece of music by Richard Strauss from Four Last Songs. I was introduced to it by a funeral client. You can listen again on the BBC’s i-player for the next week or so, or it’s repeated on Saturday at 3.30pm. Be warned; several people have said it made them cry, so have a tissue handy.An Atheists Guide to Christmas
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009![Atheists Guide](/wp-content/uploads/Atheists Guide.jpg)An Atheist’s Guide to Christmas is in the shops now (and if it isn’t, it jolly well should be). Edited by the lovely Ariane Sherine, of Atheist Bus fame, a whole bunch of atheists, including some very funny ones, have contributed their thoughts about the festive season, including how to avoid it. The royalties will go to the UK charity, the Terrence Higgins Trust, which seems particularly appropriate now that Pope Benedict, that homophobic old goat*, is about to visit the UK with his message that condoms shouldn’t be used in countries where AIDS is rife.Silly Andrew Brown
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009The Guardian’s Andrew Brown has written a piece about atheism, alleging that atheists are all middle-class, Aga-owning snobs. I’ve written a comment, Ariane Sherine has responded to Brown, and New Humanist has provided some history of the connection between class and atheism.More Islamic bigotry at the UN
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009The Islamic states and their allies at the UN, including China, want to censor and condemn free expression, usually on religious grounds. Read more on the IHEU website: In a brave attempt at the Human Rights Council to re-establish their credentials as a team player on the world stage, the United States is co-sponsoring a resolution with Egypt on Freedom of Expression. The intent of the resolution is, in the words of the Egyptian delegate, to bring the Human Rights Council to a point of convergence on what has become the most divisive and contentious issue in the short history of the Council.Brainstorming session
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009Regular group meeting in Ipswich. Bring your brains! We’ll be planning what to do over the next few months, including choosing a slogan for our car stickers and any other ways we can promote ourselves and Humanism in general. Even if you haven’t got any bright ideas yourself, come and see what you think of other people’s. We’ll be in the lounge in Pinewood Community Hall, as usual. If the door is locked, buzz the buzzer.Cloud-spotting
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009How often do you look up at the sky and think, “It looks like rain”? Apart from that, and noticing when the sky is a boring blue with no clouds in sight, do you pay it much attention? Margaret Nelson is member No. 2812 of the Cloud Appreciation Society, pledged to fight blue-sky thinking wherever we find it. Life would be dull if we had to look up at cloudless monotony day after day.Norfolk Secular & Humanist Group Concert
Tuesday, Sep 29, 2009![Rachel Goodchild](/wp-content/uploads/Rachel Goodchild_0.jpg)Come and hear Soprano Singer Rachel Goodchild perform. Enjoy an evenings entertainment, including raffle, light refreshments, a programme of singing with commentary, and a FREE glass of wine or hot drink! The Norfolk Secular and Humanist Group would greatly appreciate your company. Please feel free to tell a friend! Tickets are 2 per person on the door to cover costs. Entry tickets can be exchanged for your free drink.