Hidden Knowledge

Saturday 13^th January 2.00pm 
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Medical Sociologist Dr Sarah Goode

Is adult sexual attraction to children a psychological disorder, a sexual orientation, a genetic fault, or the result of trauma? The UK National Crime Agency states that around 750,000 men in Britain are sexually attracted to children. And with the NSPCC estimating that one in 20 children are sexually abused (over 36,000 annually), providing effective protection for our children is clearly a huge challenge. If we want to keep children safe from sexual harm, then gaining a better understanding of what we’re dealing with is surely the first step. Dr Sarah Goode has done ground-breaking research in this controversial field, and will be addressing the taboo subject of adult sexual attraction to children. She refrains from demonizing the people who feel this attraction whilst insisting that knowledge, rather than ignorance, is what we need in order to keep children safe.

“Join us for a pragmatic exploration of this emotionally-charged subject, and learn how we can minimise the risk to our children”

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. 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.

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.

Blasphemy by the Backdoor

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

With Chief Executive Officer of the British Humanist Association Andrew Copson.

Although they still remained on the statute books, Britain’s antiquated blasphemy laws were widely believed to have been abandoned prior to their surprising revival for 1979’s high profile Gay News trial. And in 1991, Muslim efforts to ban Salman Rushdie’s ‘The Satanic Verses’ highlighted that our anachronistic laws only protected Christian beliefs, and consequently had no place in a modern multi-cultural society.

In 2002, veteran human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell stated “The blasphemy law gives the Christian religion privileged protection against criticism and dissent. No other institution enjoys such sweeping powers to suppress the expression of opinions and ideas”.

In the ensuing years, it became increasingly clear that freedom of speech was a more important principle than protecting religious beliefs, and our blasphemy laws were finally repealed in 2008, but are we truly free to criticise religious sensibilities?

In this lively talk, Chief Executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA) Andrew Copson will be considering how various rules and regulations still privilege religions in the public space and lead to opposing voices being silenced. Beginning with a number of banned adverts, Andrew will provide examples of the often arbitrary ways in which the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) carries out its duty to take down any adverts "likely to cause serious and widespread offense". Among the many other relevant examples of ‘blasphemy by the backdoor’ he will be discussing, we expect the various hurdles that were placed in the way of the BHA’s efforts to get the Atheist Bus Campaign underway will also get a special mention.

“Join us for an entertaining and alarming exploration of Britain’s de facto blasphemy laws!”

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.