Consciousness

Please be aware that our next meeting is on

Thursday April 10 at White Rock Hotel from 7pm

when Leonard Sterling will arouse our

consciousness of Consciousness.

Local Government Discussion

Our next meeting is on Thursday 13^th March at the normal time of 7.00pm at the White Rock Hotel

 

The subject this month is:  How does local Government work?

I am delighted to welcome Councillor Jeremy Birch to answer our questions on how we manage local issues.

Jeremy was born and bred in Hastings and has been involved in local politics throughout his adult life.  He is a member of the East Sussex County Council and is currently the leader of the Hastings Borough Council of which he has been a member for 18 years since 1995. If anybody can explain the intricacies and limitations of local government, he can.  

He will be joining us for the second half of the evening from 8pm till 9pm, so I think we should limit ourselves to about 10 questions: Please give me your questions in advance so I can organise them.

For the first half of the evening and in preparation for the Q & A, I will prepare some basic information on what things are the responsibility of local government and what budgets are available to meet those obligations, and any other basic information that I can find.

My personal feeling is that England has one of the most centralised governments in Europe and that governments of all political persuasions have progressively reduced the level of local discretion and moved it to Westminster.  That is why we all feel increasingly politically impotent or are reduced to single issue protesting.

Expect an interesting debate, as always…..

 

Stephen Milton

 

Darwin Day: Anthropology, Race and Eugenics

Anthropology, Race and Eugenics.

These are the topics for discussion at the Hastings Humanists "Darwin Day" meeting

on Thursday 13 February, 7 to 9 pm at the White Rock Hotel.

The Secretary will introduce these subjects by a look at their history.

There have been many new discoveries regarding human precursors reported over the last years –

in fact only today there is a report in the News of 800,000 year old footprints discovered in Norfolk –  do we have the full story of human evolution yet? – probably not, it's getting more complicated.

The concept of Race has long been controversial – does it have any meaning?

Eugenics got a bad name in the twentieth century – is it making a comeback?

We are not experts – If you have views or knowledge bring them to our discussion.

======
Here are some links to sources of some of the information in my talk

ANTHROPOLOGY
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Human_evolution

http://oregonstate.edu/instruct/phl302/texts/montaigne/montaigne-essays--2.html
- of cannibals

http://www.ancient-origins.net/news-evolution-human-origins/entire-neanderthal-genome-finally-mapped-amazing-results-001138

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Q8ncuH3VgE
- Michio Kaku on CBS

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nordic_race
- origins of racist ideology, Gobineau. Lapouge, etc.

http://www.thejournal.ie/readme/john-mitchel-was-hailed-as-a-totem-for-irish-liberty-but-he-was-a-white-supremacist-1266182-Jan2014/
- John Mitchel paradox

RACE
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Race_(human_classification)

http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/about-thinking/201312/four-simple-reasons-smart-people-shouldnt-believe-in-races
- I don't think denying races exist is any way to get rid of racism!

http://www.edge.org/response-detail/25534
- what scientific idea is ready for retirement?
- race according to Nina Jablonski

EUGENICS
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Eugenics

http://www.galton.org/letters/darwin/correspondence.htm

http://www.winstonchurchill.org/support/the-churchill-centre/publications/finest-hour-online/594-churchill-and-eugenics

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzfMfJxA0K0&list=PLEEE3F51FFB962000
- eugenics a question of authority

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2012/feb/17/eugenics-skeleton-rattles-loudest-closet-left
- see the comments too

http://www.wiringthebrain.com/2013/05/the-new-eugenics-same-as-old-eugenics.html

http://westhunt.wordpress.com/2012/03/09/get-smart/
- can we increase human intelligence

http://rrresearch.fieldofscience.com/2014/02/who-really-discovered-trisomy-21.html
- cause of down syndrome

This is by no means a complete list.
 

The Year Ahead

Since our first meeting of the New Year is very early in the month I thought we should begin with a survey of members' resolutions, if any, for the New Year. We can also devote some time to a consideration of the future of the group, which may be in question due to health and business problems of key members. As a start I have chosen a new, more colourful, Template for the blog.

The meeting is on Thursday 9 January, from 7 pm to 9 pm at the White Rock Hotel. This will also be the occasion to make or renew your annual subscription to the group, which costs £6 (a further £2 is charged at each future meeting, or £3 if you remain a non-member). These fees are to cover the cost of the meeting room and payments to visiting speakers.

I have now set up a Programme for the first three meetings in 2014 but wish to reduce my activity after that. This could be done by appointing a Programme Manager to arrange speakers for the meetings from April onwards. I hope newer and younger members will take on the task of continuing the group and taking it in new and more active directions.

I have modified the title of this meeting to "The Year Ahead" to give people more to talk about, such as the anniversary of the First World War, the World Humanist Congress, The Euro-Elections, and other upcoming events. Are there other important anniversaries we should take note of?

Our December Free For All

Our Thursday 12 December meeting will be the now customary Free-For-All where everyone has a chance to make a five-minute presentation on any subject of their choice. This can be a rant (something you need to vent your spleen on), an original idea you have thought of, a book or article or video you would like to recommend, or anything else that comes to mind. Usual time 7pm to 9pm and venue, the White Rock Hotel.

Report: This meeting attracted only 10 people, though this included two new and younger potential members which is encouraging, and several of our regular active members were unable to attend for health, business and family reasons. The five-minute talks turned into more of a round-table discussion than a series of presentations. Next year we may have to revert to a Quiz.

Minutes of 2013 AGM

AGM Minutes 2013

1. ATTENDANCE
Nine members attended and two sent apologies for absence.

The Minutes of the 2012 AGM
(http://hastingshumanists.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/minutes-of-2012-agm.html)
were read and agreed to be correct.

2. REPORTS
A message from the Chair was read by the Secretary.

The Secretary's Report reviewed the year's meetings, which were generally well attended, apart from the extra Skeptics meeting on 26 November.

3. FINANCES
The financial report, provided by the Assistant Treasurer, showed that the group's finances are in good order.

It was decided to make no changes to the current subscription rates.

It was noted that communications with the BHA had improved and our Affiliaton had been renewed.

4.ELECTION OF OFFICERS
The following positions were confirmed
*Stephen Milton: Chair
Leonard Sterling: Deputy Chair
Mike Lynott: Treasurer
*Duncan Cleverley: Assistant Treasurer
George Jelliss: Secretary
*Steve Berks: Social Secretary
(*Three appointed in absentia)

Thanks to the two new appointees for taking on the roles
of Treasurer and Deputy Chair.

The responsibilities for the Programme, Publicity, Blog, and Twitter were not discussed, but it is assumed the same people as before will share responsibility for these.

5. CAMPAIGNS
Involvement with the East Sussex SACRE was debated, but no-one was willing to volunteer to attend meetings. In part this is because of the time and travel involved, as well as the opposition encountered by previous Humanist observers.

Involvement with the Hastings Inter-Faith Forum was mentioned. But their website is down at present.

Details of these to be posted on the blog when available.

6. PROGRAMME
There was a good discussion of ideas for meetings in 2014.
The following topics were suggested (in no particular order). This doesn't rule out other subjects being proposed if they become topical or speakers are available:

1) A meeting to decide what questions of a Humanist nature to put to our local political representatives.
2) A Question Time with local politicians such as Amber Rudd and Sarah Owens.
3) A Debate: This house believes that in the future, world changing events will be driven more by the power of cooperation and mutual support, rather than those of hatred and dictatorship. Proposer Stephen Milton. Opposer to be decided.
4) A talk on Consciousness by Leonard Sterling
5) A talk on History of Humanist views on Eugenics and Racism by George Jelliss
6) Genetically Modified Foods: scientifically justified or a danger to the environment?
7) How do, or should, we treat our children?
8) Science and Moral Responsibility
9) Population control. Hans Rosling's ideas versus David Attenborough, and others.
10) Female Genital Mutilation and Male Circumcision. Why no prosecutions?
11) How Medicine became Scientific by Leonard Sterling

There may have been other suggestions I forgot to note down - please remind me if I've missed yours! (Or any other omissions.)

Annual General Meeting 2013

Thursday 14 November at the White Rock Hotel is our Annual General Meeting.

We need volunteers for the posts of Treasure and Assistant Treasurer.

There will be the usual elections for these and other posts, Secretary, Chair, Vice-Chair,
Publicity Officer, Social Secretary.

Anyone can attend, but only paid-up members can vote.

Some points for discussion may be:
Should we get more involved with the Skeptics in the Pub movement?
Are there particular speakers we should seek to engage?
What about the East Sussex SACRE? We have largely given up on it this year.
What about involvement with Hastings Inter-Faith Forum?
If you have particular issues to bring up please raise them, preferably in advance.