Money and Banking: Why the System is Failing and our Radical Solution

Wednesday 24^th January 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Lucy Thom and David Moon of ‘Positive Money’

The economy is not working for far too many people leading to ever-growing inequality, rising house prices, increasing private debt and environmental degradation.

Lucy Thom and David Moon, members of ‘Positive Money’, will explain how commercial banks create new money when they make loans and how money is destroyed when those loans are repaid. They will show how this is at the root of our current economic problems and make the case for a major banking reform which removes the right to create money from the private sector.

Positive Money campaigns for the power to create money to be used in the public interest, in a democratic, transparent and accountable way, rather than by the same banks that caused the financial crisis.

“Join us for a thought-provoking evening as we reveal how Britain’s banking system can be changed for the better”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Please email Dave at DHweb2(at)live.co.uk for a PDF copy for you to print and display.

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

Land Value Tax Explained

Wednesday 26^th July 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Carol Wilcox of the Labour Land Campaign

Our dysfunctional land market is a key factor in causing the insufficient availability of decent affordable homes, gross wealth inequality, and unsustainable private debt. One solution proposed by economists from right across the political spectrum is a land value tax. In this presentation, Carol Wilcox will be explaining the role which land plays in our economy and how a land value tax (dubbed ‘the garden tax’ in the 2017 general election) could make the land market work better for us. With all of our main political parties reportedly considering the implementation of a land value tax, we recommend joining us to discover the impact that this radical proposal on how we tax land and property could have on both the economy and your own personal finances.

“Join us for a thought-provoking evening as we reveal the mysteries of the tax that everyone has been talking about”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Tolpuddle and its Martyrs: Radicals, Revolutionaries and Religion

Saturday 10^th June 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Government Scientist and Trade Union Rep David Nunn and Eric Austen

How did a small Dorset village come to be internationally recognised as the birthplace of modern British Trade Unionism? And how did six agricultural workers, with nothing more than their labour to offer, come to challenge the might of the British Empire, the aristocracy, and powerful land-owners, causing the Government of the day to back down? Six brave men and their families helped change the balance of power, and their influence continues on into today’s environment of challenging employment relations, as Trade Unionists face up to the current Government radically reducing their rights. Adding further spice to this story, religion was also inextricably entwined with these influential events, with one arm of the Christian Church supporting the six men, while another serviced the will of land-owners and the Government.

“Join us for a fascinating afternoon exploring a true story that inspired, challenged and forever changed our nation”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Why Everyone Should be a Feminist

Wednesday 24^th May 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

Bournemouth University lecturer Frances Hawkhead

Men and women should have equal rights and opportunities, yet women still earn less than men in Britain and are grossly underrepresented in our company boardrooms. Is this because women naturally prefer the roles which attract less pay, or does our social structure still privilege men? Should we support positive discrimination to increase the number of women in key business and civic roles, or is equal opportunity enough? Do existing cultural gender stereotypes harm men as well as women?

Via a brief history of feminism and an exploration of gender in society, Frances Hawkhead will provide some thought-provoking answers to these and other questions, and will invite us all to become feminists.

Frances Hawkhead  is a lecturer in English, Communication & Media at Bournemouth University.

“Join us for a thought-provoking evening as we discover why we should all be feminists”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Libertarianism

Saturday 14^th January 2017 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW
With Senior Lecturer in Philosophy Arif Ahmed



The libertarian philosophy associated with F. A. Hayek, has its philosophical roots in the classical liberalism of the nineteenth century and in the philosophical views of Hume, Smith and Tocqueville. Libertarians emphasise freedom of the individual and the rule of law, preferring limited government and a small state. They tend to oppose welfare because they claim the poor are better served by high-growth economies than with handouts. However, their detractors suggest libertarians are indifferent to community needs and the suffering of the poor, and that they protect big business and those who aim to enrich themselves with little concern for others.
In contrast to the claims of the critics, philosopher Arif Ahmed, a self-described libertarian, believes that libertarian ideas can contribute to a good society, and he will help us gain a fuller and more nuanced understanding of libertarianism, focusing on the philosophical basis of these ideas and their relevance to a range of modern-day ethical, political and economic issues such as immigration, taxation, euthanasia, drug control, gay marriage, government surveillance, and free speech.
Arif Ahmed is a senior lecturer in philosophy at the University of Cambridge. He studied mathematics at Oxford University, and Philosophy at Sussex and Cambridge. He has worked at Birmingham University and held visiting
positions at Sydney University, Central China Normal University, the Australian National University and the Scuola Normale Superiore in Pisa.
He is now Reader Philosophy at Cambridge and a fellow of Gonville and Caius College. He writes mainly on rational choice, but also has an interest in religion and has debated the subject against William Lane Craig, Tariq Ramadan, Rowan Williams and others. He is an atheist and a libertarian and his personal philosophical outlook is most closely allied with those of David Hume and Friedrich Hayek


“Join us for a thought-provoking examination of Libertarianism”
Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!
Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:
http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/
You can also 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.

Human Rights Defenders

Saturday 10^th December 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Marilyn Jarrett from Amnesty International

Amnesty International is a global movement of people who champion and fight for the human rights of other people, often risking their own lives to expose injustice and hold powerful people to account.

Following a general introduction to Amnesty International’s work, including some moving success stories, Marilyn Jarrett will bring us up to date on the disturbing plight of many ‘Individuals at Risk’ and ’Prisoners of Conscience’ such as Raif Badawi and his lawyer Waleed Abu al-Khair whom they are currently working to protect. She will also outline Amnesty’s new global refugee campaign called "I welcome", which aims to ensure that refugees are protected, welcomed and their human rights are respected. We hope Marilyn can also update us on the government’s proposals to replace the Human Rights Act in the UK with a “British Bill of Rights”. 

Marilyn became involved with Amnesty International in the 1980s whilst working in Brussels. Following a year volunteering in Nigeria, she became Secretary of the Guildford Amnesty International group and is also part of the AI Trainers Network, leading workshops in the South-East for local and student AI groups and other focus groups. Marilyn has a degree in Global Politics and Democracy from the Open University which has reinforced her conviction in the fundamental importance of Human Rights.

Join us for a fascinating introduction to the vital work of human rights defender Amnesty International

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

EU Referendum Debate: Five Humanist Views

Wednesday 25^th May 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

Humanism shares many values with the European Union (EU) such as liberty, equality, human rights, democracy, the rule of law, economic prosperity, and peace. But are these values best served as a member of, or outside of the EU, and should humanists adopt a view based on national self-interest or a broader set of supranational objectives?

To discuss these issues from a humanist perspective we bring together a diverse range of views from within our own membership and from the wider humanist community. Our panel will include a published philosopher, a member of the British Psychological Society, a Polish lawyer who immigrated to the UK, an ex-UKIP member, and a Labour Party economist.

Some of our panellists will argue to remain in the EU and others will argue to leave, but they will all strive to present a rational and humanistic analysis of one of the biggest decisions facing the British electorate in recent history.

“Join us for this lively debate on Britain’s future relationship with Europe”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Women and Humanism

Saturday 9^th January 2016 - 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

with Former Chair of the National Sex Education Forum Jo Adams

All of us deserve the opportunity to be educated, to work, to be healthy and to participate in all aspects of public life.

Yet throughout history, women have been denied many of these rights and religion has played a major part in this oppression and discrimination. So what role does Humanism have to play in advancing gender equality, and what part do women play in modern Humanism?

Jo Adams will examine these issues and discuss ways in which women can be equally represented in a truly egalitarian Humanist movement..

Jo Adams is a member of the Women's Equality Party, and was formerly chair of the National Sex Education Forum and an Adviser to the Department of Health on Sexual Health and Teenage Pregnancy. She is also the author of a number of books relating to self-esteem and positive sexual health.

Join us to hear a compelling case for actively supporting and promoting worldwide gender equality.

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Please indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Effectively Advancing Equality and Human Rights

Wednesday 28^th October 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With Pavan Dhaliwal of the British Humanist Association

Humanists have always been at the forefront of promoting a rational, secular approach to ethical issues in public policy, and the British Humanist AssociationBritish Humanist Association (BHA) devotes much of its resources towards campaigning for equality and human rights. Pavan Dhaliwal will outline the BHA’s current campaigns on issues such as assisted dying, religious education, and pastoral care in hospitals, and explain how we can most effectively use our limited resources for maximum effect. One such method currently being explored is the use of ‘strategic litigation’ which can bring about significant changes in the law, legal practice and/or public awareness by taking carefully-selected test cases to court.

Pavan Dhaliwal is Director of Public Affairs and Campaigns at the British Humanist Association and is responsible for campaigns covering a wide range of issues including public services, equality law, ethical issues, religion and schools, and social cohesion. She has worked in high level advisory and Head of Policy and Public Affairs roles for the past seven years. She is an equalities and human rights expert with a special interest in youth, criminal justice and education policy

“Join us to discover how the British Humanist Association is working to advance equality and human rights”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

The Wrong Sort of Banker: Has Britain Succumbed to the ‘Finance Curse’?

Wednesday 23^rd September 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

With John Christensen of the Tax Justice Network

Studies by several renowned economists including Nobel prize winner Joseph Stiglitz have established that countries which depend heavily on natural resources such as oil or diamonds often perform worse than their resource-poor peers in terms of human development, governance and long-term economic growth. The economic collapse in Cyprus offered a recent example of how an over-sized financial centre can similarly create over-dependence on a single sector, attract the brightest and the best away from other industries, and corrupt a country’s political systems. As the world’s largest exporter of financial services, could the City of London be having a similar effect on Britain?

In this fascinating presentation, Executive Director of the Tax Justice Network John Christensen will share the results of his many years of research into the subject. John is a former economic adviser to the British Crown Dependency of Jersey, and his research on offshore finance has been widely published. He featured prominently in the award-winning film documentary ‘The Price We Pay’ (2014) and co-authored ‘The Finance Curse: how oversized financial sectors attack democracy and corrupt economics’.

“Join us to discover how the City of London influences our politics and economy”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

Myth, Marx and Milton Friedman

Wednesday 22^nd April 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

A humanist approach to economics with Steve Laughton of the Labour Economic Policy Group

Is economics still a reputable, scientific discipline or has there been an insidious takeover of economic theory by myth, dogma and market fundamentalism?

Steve Laughton of the Labour Economic Policy Group will argue that the world is now governed by a self-serving economic aristocracy whose power is growing inexorably, unchecked by democratic forces. With a little help from Marx, Keynes, Milton Friedman, Thomas Piketty and Bob Dylan, he will attempt to demonstrate that a decent future for everyone - full employment, a living wage, decent pensions and greater equality - is achievable, but not without a fundamental challenge to the prevailing economic orthodoxy. This promises to be a thought-provoking talk, with plenty of opportunity for questions and further debate afterwards.

“A thought-provoking look at how we can use the ideas of some great economic theorists to create a more equitable world”

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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and helps you to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.

General Election Special 2015

Wednesday 25^th March 7.30pm
The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

Featuring local political party candidates from the five main parties.

As our nation gears itself up for the general election in May, we present a pre-election party policy special which we hope will increase local awareness of our parties’ latest policy positions. Candidates from the five main political parties will each make a short presentation trying to convince you their manifesto is best for Britain’s future, followed by ample opportunity for audience questions. We are looking forward to hearing their policies on key issues such as housing, welfare, wages, taxation, employment, immigration, the NHS, energy and the environment, enabling us to gain a better appreciation of which party will be best for Britain.

Come and join us at this pre-election special to gain a better appreciation of our parties’ plans, challenge the party representatives in the Q&As, and cast your ‘vote’ in our mock election. We expect this to be a lively and enjoyable event!

“A great opportunity to familiarise yourself with our political parties’ future plans for Britain before you place your vote on election day”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed on foot and by car 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 indicate your interest in attending this event on Meetup.com and/or facebook as it helps raise our group’s profile on these sites (Meetup also offers you timely email reminders and an easy way to discover other interesting groups in your area). To help you find them, here are the direct links to our event listings on these sites:

http://www.meetup.com/Dorset-Humanists/

https://www.facebook.com/groups/dorsethumanists/events/

You can also 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.