This is the weekly Humanist Network News summary. The HNN is the weekly e-zine of the Institute for Humanist Studies.
May 25, 2005
Humanist Network News
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- Pakistan arrests UN human rights expert
- Congress votes on stem cell legislation
- IHS represents humanism at Equality and Justice Day
- Evolutionary biologist speaks rationally on “ID”
- IHS in the News: Intelligent Design
- AHA field organizer to join Peace Corps
- Ethical Culture religious leaders to meet in Northern Va.
- God, Gays and Democracy panel: June 7, Albany
- New humanist book for children
- Sweet Reason, I need help talking to conservative dad
- Film Review: Look at Me
- Letters to the Editor
- Media Roundup
- Strange Times
- Cathartic Comics
- Humanist Humor
- Poll of the Week
See across the bump for summaries and links. Feel free to write an in-depth diary on any of these articles.
1. Pakistan arrests UN human rights expert
United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Religion or Belief Asma Jahangir was arrested and physically abused by Pakistani police on May 14. MORE
2. Congress votes on stem cell legislation
The U.S. House of Representatives voted yesterday 238-194 to expand the amount of embryonic stem-cell research being supported by the federal government. The U.S Senate, which is considering identical legislation, is waiting for Majority Leader Bill Frist to bring the bill up for a vote. MORE
3. IHS represents humanism at Equality and Justice Day
Equality and Justice Day, a daylong advocacy event dedicated to the advancement of civil rights for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons throughout New York state, was held May 24 at the Albany Convention Center. MORE
4. Evolutionary biologist speaks rationally on “ID”
When evolutionary biologist Massimo Pigliucci left the University of Tennessee to teach in New York state, he thought the Scopes Monkey Trial and its legacy were far behind him. But a recent “intelligent design” bill in the New York State Legislature is giving the Italian-born professor a frightening sense of déjà vu. MORE
5. IHS in the News: Intelligent Design
The Institute for Humanist Studies continues to field media queries about New York State Assembly Member Daniel Hooker’s proposed “intelligent design” and Ten Commandments bills. MORE
6. AHA field organizer to join Peace Corps
Jende Huang, field organizer for the American Humanist Association, will soon join the Peace Corps as a volunteer in Cape Verde. MORE
7. Ethical Culture religious leaders to meet in Northern Va.
The 90th Assembly of the American Ethical Union is to be held May 27-30, in Herndon, Va. The meeting is expected to attract members from along the eastern seaboard and from as far away as Austin and St Louis. MORE
8. God, Gays and Democracy panel: June 7, Albany
The New York State Museum in Albany, N.Y. will host a panel discussion titled “God, Gays and Democracy” on June 7. DETAILS
9. New humanist book for children
Author Helen Bennett explains why she wrote the children’s book Humanism, What’s That? MORE
10. Sweet Reason, I need help talking to conservative dad
“Sweet Reason” offers advice to a reader having trouble speaking to her conservative father about her growing disbelief in religion and God. MORE
11. Film Review: Look at Me
Look at Me examines the crueler side of human nature, writes critic Carolyn Braunius of the French film. MORE
12. Letters to the Editor
Letters on the AU lawsuit, intelligent design and other topics. MORE
13. Media Roundup
A roundup of news stories for humanists. MORE
14. Strange Times
A college student has started marketing a human flesh flavored tofu. MORE
15. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. MORE
16. Humanist Humor
Here’s a Sartre joke that doesn’t stink. READ THE JOKE
17. Poll of the Week
How do you most strongly feel about the teaching of intelligent design in school? CAST YOUR VOTE:
About HNN
Questions, comments, concerns, got a better joke or a story? Send a letter to the editor: http://humaniststudies.org/letter_to_editor.html . The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and the IHS Web site (www.humaniststudies.org). This diary is a copy of the weekly email (slightly reformatted).
