Science & Pseudoscience: How to Tell the Difference

Science & Pseudoscience 17th July 2014Thursday 17th July 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

A Discussion with Science Journalist Peter Hadfield

In these times of information overload, media hype, disinformation, and chequebook journalism, how do reasonably intelligent people ensure we are accurately informed about science? What sources can we trust and what are the relative merits of books, websites, newspapers, and scientific journals?

With a particular focus on the topical issue of climate change, science journalist Peter Hadfield and Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden will discuss how credible information is gathered, how to spot bogus information, and how to minimise the risk of being deceived.

Peter Hadfield is a firm defender of science and a staunch critic of pseudoscience, creationism, and global warming denialism. He regularly debunks pseudoscience and conspiracy theories on his YouTube channel, Potholer54, which now has approaching 90,000 subscribers, and also hosts the annual Crocoduck Awards.

“Join us for this lively discussion in which Peter Hadfield will guide us through the process of defending ourselves against pseudoscience and scientific deception”.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed by car and on foot via it’s rear driveway in Gervis Road. Gervis Road is well lit and has roadside parking available).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Thomas Hardy and the Poetry of Unbelief

HardyThursday 26th June 7.30pm 
Avenue Restaurant, 33 West Street, Bridport***, DT6 3QW    

A West Dorset Humanists’ event with John Hubbard.

John Hubbard shares his passion and enthusiasm for Hardy’s verse in this selection of readings with commentary. Readings will include around twenty poems, both familiar and unfamiliar, including The Oxen, The Darkling Thrush, God’s Funeral and Afternoon Service at Mellstock. John’s selection has been chosen to illustrate Hardy’s relationship with the world in which he lived, and his developing unbelief.

We are expecting a highly enjoyable evening for devotees of Hardy’s works, as well as a great introduction for those coming to them for the first time.

John gave this talk to West Dorset Humanists nearly 3 years ago and received rave reviews from everyone who came along. We will be meeting in the room upstairs at the Avenue Restaurant. Drinks will be available from the Bar and, if you'd like to eat before the talk, the restaurant will be serving food from 6.00pm (for more details, visit www.theavenuebridport.co.uk)

£3 Entry cost.     Everyone welcome!

***Please note: This talk is in Bridport and not at WDH’s regular venue in Dorchester. The venue was listed incorrectly in Dorset Humanists’ June Bulletin. We apologise for any inconvenience caused***.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Life on Mars: Then and Now

Life on Mars - then and now 23rd July 2014Wednesday 23rd July 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With astronomer James Fradgley FRAS

Serious searches for evidence of life on Mars began in the 19th century and for many years it was believed there were canals on the planet’s surface. Astronomer Percival Lowell, even suggested they were built by an intelligent civilisation, but famed British naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace severely criticised his claims and concluded that complex life on the planet was impossible. However, the search for life on Mars is far from over and continues today via astronomical observation and exploratory space missions.

In this well-illustrated presentation, distinguished astronomer James Fradgley will recount the fascinating history of the search for life on our planetary neighbour, and explain our current knowledge of, and future plans to increase our understanding of this most intriguing red planet.

Join us for a fascinating tale of curiosity, imagination and scientific ingenuity.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed via its rear entrance in Gervis Road. The hotel has a small onsite car park, and roadside parking is also available in Gervis Road).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Dorset Humanists help the homeless and victims of domestic abuse

DH Winter Appeal cropDorset Humanists’ Winter Appeal 2013/2014 raised £1727 to be split equally between the charities Refuge and New Forest Nightstop. Refuge provides a range of support services for women and children escaping domestic violence, and New Forest Nightstop offers emergency overnight accommodation for homeless 16-24 year olds.

Our group’s latest charity appeal was dedicated to the memory of Jane Bannister (1941-2013), a former Chair of Dorset Humanists, who sadly lost her brief battle with cancer in August last year. Jane was a keen supporter of both Refuge and New Forest Nightstop.

Paula McGoveney from Refuge said “We are enormously grateful, as our services have seen a 30% cut to their funding over the last year, and every penny raised is vital to help us fill that shortfall”. Jude Todd, from New Forest Nightstop, who experienced two years of homelessness herself when she was sixteen, said, “Thank you so much for the wonderful amount raised which will help bring safety to vulnerable young people from local communities”. “Our aim is to save them from reaching the streets and becoming victims there”. Jackie Hartless from Community First New Forest, the charity which manages New Forest Nightstop, recently visited us and gave an inspiring and informative talk about Nightstop and their work helping the homeless.

David Warden, Chair of Dorset Humanists, said, “We feel very privileged to be able to make a positive difference to the lives of young homeless people, and women and children who’ve suffered from domestic abuse”. “Jane would have been proud to know we’ve continued her efforts to support these worthy charities”.

Dorset Humanists is a Bournemouth-based community group for atheists and agnostics who want to make the world a better place.

If you wish to donate to either of the charities mentioned, they can be contacted as follows:

New Forest Nightstop Tel: 01425 478391 Email: nightstop@cfnf.org.uk

Refuge Tel: 020 7395 7713 Email: fundraising@refuge.org.uk

Organised Religion: The Biggest Global Threat to Human Rights

with special guest Peter Tatchell
Peter Tatchell 12th July 2014Saturday 12th July 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

Described as ‘a national hero’ by the Sunday Times, and ‘a modern-day prophet’ by former bishop Richard Holloway, Peter Tatchell has been campaigning for human rights, democracy, LGBT freedom and global justice for nearly half a century. He believes that ‘all human beings everywhere have human rights and that no political system or faith should be allowed to undermine them’.
Organised religion almost invariably promotes sexist and homophobic discrimination in law, and religious fundamentalism seeks to thwart equality and human rights around the world. Our own Anglican, Catholic and Muslim leaders tried to block same-sex marriage, and most faiths exclude women from senior leadership roles, with some also seeking to deny them contraception, abortion and fertility treatment. While acknowledging that some religious groups make positive contributions to social justice, Peter will be presenting the case that organised religion is currently ‘the greatest global threat to human rights; especially to the human rights of women and gay people’. He will also highlight the sectarian violence many religions have caused by provoking religious hatred and persecuting minority faiths, such as we have seen in the Central African Republic, Nigeria, Pakistan, Burma, Somalia, and for many years in Northern Ireland.
Join us for a thought-provoking examination of the religious threat to global human rights with respected veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell.
Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!
Peter Tatchell green_shirtPeter Tatchell has campaigned for human rights, democracy, global justice, environmental protection and lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans (LGBT) freedom for 47 years. He pioneered ideas for uniform, comprehensive equality legislation from the late 1970s onwards, and spearheaded the campaign for civil marriage and civil partnership equality. He recently helped secure parliamentary amendments to remove two legislative threats to freedom of expression. His human rights activism resulted in him being badly beaten by President Mugabe's bodyguards in 1999 and by Russian neo-Nazis in 2007. As well as campaigning to complete the unfinished battle for LGBT equality and to defend human rights in Britain, Peter also works in solidarity with democracy and human rights activists in many countries, including Iran, Uganda, Somaliland, Iraq, Russia, Balaochistan / Pakistan, Bahrain, Zimbabwe, Palestine and West Papua. He is Director of the Peter Tatchell Foundation.
Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.
Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Update: 12th December 2018 via Emma Olson: An LGBTQ+ online safety guide. Did you know that 73% of LGBTQ+  have been personally attacked or harassed online? The guide aims to empower them and give them the tools to protect themselves online. https://www.vpnmentor.com/blog/lgbtq-guide-online-safety/ 

June Bulletin

DWThis month's bulletin includes a review of my discussion with Bishop Graham Kings and Cllr Philip Eades on whether it is right to call Britain a Christian nation. There’s also a report on Humanist Terry Milton’s participation in Bishop of Wordsworth School’s Multibelief Day, and  a review of Mel Semple’s recent thought-provoking presentation on Human Trafficking.

This coming Saturday (14th June), the Bannister sisters will be talking to us about Buddhism and whether we can make any meaningful links between this religious philosophy and secular Humanism. We also have Kate Holden helping us to unpack the meaning of Agnosticism later in the month (25th June), and the bulletin includes details of a range of excellent events for July too. We hope to see you at one or more of them in the coming few weeks.

http://dorset.humanist.org.uk/dorset/DH-Bulletin-June-2014.pdf

Best wishes,
David Warden
Chair, Dorset Humanists

Is Britain a Christian Nation?

Christian NationFriday 06th June 7.30 –9.30pm 
Custom House (top floor function room), The Quay, Poole BH15 1HP

Featuring former Mayor and Parliamentary Lib-Dem candidate Cllr Philip Eades, Bishop of Sherborne the Rt Revd Dr Graham Kings, and Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden.

This topic has been prominent in the media recently following comments from David Cameron, with Justin Welby and some prominent secular philosophers also expressing their views.

No.34, a Christian based community café run by Poole Missional Communities, has invited Chair of Dorset Humanists David Warden to join the main speakers at their forthcoming event discussing ‘Is Britain a Christian Nation?’. This event is designed to offer an opportunity for people of all religious beliefs and none to engage with a live issue. After the main presentations the topic will be further discussed in groups and you are very welcome to participate in the conversations and discussions (We’re sure David would appreciate some like-minded support!). After these group discussions, each of the main speakers will offer a final reflection having heard some of your conversations around the tables.

No.34 is a Christian based community café run by Poole Missional Communities and their vision is to offer a place of welcome and hospitality and to offer events and activities that build community and help people live ‘life to the full’.

Free entry         Everyone welcome!

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.