Kia ora:
In the days after the 2011 Rugby World cup, we still have the aftermath of the Christchurch earthquake, the Rena oil spill and soon the elections. Last month’s meeting on ‘the Philosophy of Politics’ was avidly discussed with a strong suggestion from Peter Clemerson that we need to seriously explore the growing rich/poor divide. It was on September 17 that Occupy Wall St began. Please make contact if you would like to work on this issue in 2012.
2011 Public Seminar:
Dr Nikki Turner Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre has sadly had a family bereavement and is unable to be present, however her colleague Helen Petousis-Harris will come in her stead.
Sunday 30 October 1.30 pm to 3.30 pm
in the Mezzanine Floor meeting room, Wellington Central Library
Immunisation... Helen Petousis-Harris
Research Director of the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC)
Helen is a scientist in molecular medicine who works as Research Director of the Immunisation Centre. Her PhD is on factors associated with vaccine reatogenicity, and she recently co-wrote a chapter on immunisation scares for a book called The Sky is Falling! A Colourful History of Media Panics.
After the seminar we will conclude the day with an early evening meal together.
2011 AGM
Saturday 29 October 2:30 pm at Mark Fletcher's home
28 Meadowbank Road, Belmont, Lower Hutt
Please contact Mark, Tel: (04) 565 1185, if you need transport. Are you interested in joining the Council?
November monthly meeting: Monday 7 November
Open to the public - All interested people are welcome - bring a friend
Steven Pinker, Professor of Psychology, Harvard University
The Better Angles of Our Nature - Why violence has declined
Published October 2011
See Steven Pinker outlines the arguments contained in his latest book
Refreshments and nibbles provided
Come, learn, and share your views
Venue for meeting: Turnbull House, Bowen Street, Wellington.
We meet from 7.30 pm until 9.00 pm
Michael Shermer, editor of Skeptic has already read this 800 page book twice and deems it the most important science book he has ever read. He says on his Facebook page “read it.” The phrase “the better angels of our nature” is a quote from the closing of Abraham Lincoln’s inaugural address in 1861. Pinker’s interest was aroused when he saw graphs of homicide rates in Britain going back to the 14th century showing that rates have decreased between 30 and 100 fold.
In an interview in New Scientist, 15 Oct 11, with Ferris Jabr, Pinker suggests that “trade and exchange make other people more valuable alive than dead”. Feminism is another reason - as women are empowered, violence declines. Pinker says that he wants to remind us that modernity for all its problems has brought us many gifts. Foremost is one rarely appreciated, a reduction in overall violence. Thanks to modern technology we can show you Steven Pinker talking just a short time ago about the major themes in his new book.
This is an important meeting don't miss it. Some have been surprised by Pinker's material, others impressed by his presentation. All report to being transfixed or totally engrossed and those that had other ideas before found his presentation convincing.
· Radio Access:
Humanist Outlook, 10.30 am, 783 kHz Wellington, on Saturday 12 November, & 10 December.
Humanist Outlook is broadcast at 10:30 am on Access Radio, Wellington, 783 kHz, every fourth Saturday.
If you are outside the Wellington area, go to www.accessradio.org.nz to listen or to download as a pod cast after the event.
· December meeting:
Bryan Bruce, author of Jesus The Cold Case and director of the TV documentary Jesus The Cold Case: DECEMBER MEETING: Monday 5 December.
Advance notice: Bryan has indicated that he should be able to speak at our final meeting for 2011. Bryan’s documentary has been nominated for the 2011 Aotearoa Film and Television Awards, and we are fortunate that he would like to talk to us. We can enjoy a celebratory end of year supper.
· Rapture Party:
A pleasant evening was shared for this event on the premise that as the proverb says “laughter is the best medicine”. Mark Twain also said that “Laughter is the greatest weapon we have and we, as humans use it the least”. After the previous prediction of 21 May 2011, there was a report of a Johannes Coetzee in South Africa who spent thousands endorsing Camping’s prediction and then assembled with 80 other “believers” at the Devonshire Hotel in Johannesburg to await the Rapture. When, as we expected the world continued, all who gathered were left with a huge Hotel bill. Laughter can defuse ridiculous claims which can delude many.
· 2011 AGM:
Saturday 29 October 2.30 pm at Mark Fletcher’s home:
28 Meadowbank Drive, Belmont Lower Hutt
Please contact Mark, 04 565 1185, if you need transport. Are you interested in joining the Council?
· Gisborne Lunar Society:
Meet with fellow freethinkers and nonbelievers every Sunday at 11am. Contact Dr John Marks, 06 867 9768 or Kevin Hyde, 06 868 5253.
· New Zealand Humanist magazine:
Issue 160, August 2011, has now been posted to members. This issue contains a range of interesting articles that include: "Atheism"; "Humanism in New Zealand"; "Living without religion"; "Prayers in Council meetings"; "The state of Humanism in Nepal" and "Superstitious and religious phenomena in Nepal"; "The four horsemen of the new enlightenment - Sagan, Dawkins, Harris and Dennett"; "Humanism and ethics"; and "Children's ethics course". If you believe that you should have received a copy but have not, please contact the editor.
"The Four Horsemen" at the 2012 Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne 13-15 April 2012 – see www.atheistconvention.org.au . Ticket sales will open on Thursday 1 September.
· Quotable Quote:
“Extend a hand whether or not you know it shall be grasped. Find patience in the breath of life. Individually, we are one drop. Together, we are an ocean. Let your dreams outgrow the shoes of your expectations”. Ryunosuke Satoro, a Japanese poet
The new book, Realising Secularism, is a look at the secular history and future of Australia and New Zealand. Contributors to the book include: Bill Hastings, John Kaye, Muriel Fraser, Helen Irving, Bill Cooke, Lloyd Geering, Max Wallace, Nicky Hager, Jane Caro, Iain Middleton, Jim Dakin, Ken Perrott, and Lewis Holden.
Copies of Realising Secularism may be purchased at wholesale price from the Humanist Society of New Zealand for $25 plus $4.50 for postage and packaging. Make cheques payable to the Humanist Society of New Zealand.
The Humanist Society of New Zealand promotes: ethics, science and rational thought, democracy and universal human rights, personal liberty combined with social responsibility, and public benefit, while not having allegiance to any political party and does not support any political party's policy as such or subsidise any political party.
The late Jim Dakin, formerly Associate Professor, Department of University Extension, Victoria University of Wellington, wrote extensively on Adult Education. After retiring, he became interested in Humanism and Secularism in New Zealand and was for a period President of the Humanist Society of New Zealand. His investigations into the secular history of New Zealand led to book that was originally serialised in New Zealand Humanist in eight parts beginning with issue 146 in June 2000. The Secular Trend is now available in Book form and includes a bibliography of Jim Dakin’s writing. A limited number of copies are available.
Order your copy of The Secular Trend by Jim Dakin, published in 2007. Send $10 plus $4.50 postage ($14.50) to Humanist Society of New Zealand (Note; this postage price applies to New Zealand only).
Articles may be reproduced provided due acknowledgement is given to New Zealand Humanist News and the Humanist Society of New Zealand and other original sources.
The Humanist Society of New Zealand is a non-profit society dedicated to Humanist thought and ideals in New Zealand.
The Society supports: ethics giving the greatest possible freedom compatible with the rights of others; the constructive use of rational thought and scientific enquiry; democracy and human rights; personal liberty combined with social responsibility; a secular world based on observation, evaluation, and revision, rather than any fixed dogma; the fulfilment of human potential through the visual and performing arts, music, and literature; and Humanism as a life stance aiming at the maximum possible fulfilment through ethical and creative living available to everyone everywhere.
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The views expressed in this Newsletter are not necessarily those of the editors or the Humanist Society of New Zealand
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