This is the weekly summary of the Humanist Network News (HNN). The Humanist Network News (HNN) is published every Wednesday via e-mail and on the Institute for Humanist Studies (IHS) Web site. This diary is a slightly reformatted copy of the weekly email they send me, which I post here every Thursday (Yes, I have permission from the IHS). (CP @ MLW, BT, SP)

January 4, 2006
Humanist Network News
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  1. Godless groups coming together
  2. Humanist lobbyist ready for 2006 legislative issues
  3. UN bioethics panel on Women’s Rights – Jan. 27, NYC
  4. Humanists in a Canadian election
  5. Sweet Reason, Muslim dad making me pray
  6. Letters to the Editor
  7. Cathartic Comics
  8. Humanist Humor
  9. Poll of the Week

Summaries, links and MY TAKE across the break.
1. Godless groups coming together
Representatives of humanist, atheist and other freethought groups from across the United States will meet this January in Los Angeles to discuss ways to collaborate. The Institute for Humanist Studies is sending two representatives to the summit, hosted by the Atheist Alliance International. The IHS reps. will be able to speak to leaders of dozens of freethought organizations from across the country. So what would YOU like us to tell them? The IHS wants to hear from HNN readers. What indicatives would YOU like to see freethought organizations work together on? Please share your thoughts with us so we can share them at the summit. MORE

MY TAKE: Great idea to pool their resources and political clout, but it might not be the best PR move to call themselves “Godless,” no matter how true. Then again, I also hate the contrived term “Brights” these groups often use for themselves, too. As for the agenda: I think the focus should be on protecting the separation of Church and State.

2. Humanist lobbyist ready for 2006 legislative issues
Humanist activists have their work cut out for them in the coming year, both on the national and local levels. Dr. Tim Gordinier, director of public policy of the Institute for Humanist Studies, is gearing up for the 2006 legislative season. See what he thinks 2006 holds in store for humanists. MORE

MY TAKE: Every year is a big year, especially while Bush is still in office. But maybe with so many GOP lawmakers in hot water, there might be more openings for actually getting things done. Also, check out The Secular Coalition for America’s 2005 Year End Report to see what they got done in 2005.

3. UN bioethics panel on Women’s Rights – Jan. 27, NYC
On Friday, January 27, 2006 a panel of leading bioethicists will discuss women’s reproductive and sexual rights at the United Nations. MORE

MY TAKE: I wonder how John Bolton will react. Hopefully, he wont be let in.

4. Humanists in a Canadian election
Canadians are in the middle of another election campaign. Canadian humanist columnist Doug Thomas answers the question: “What can Canadian humanists do to get the humanist agenda on Canadian politicians’ minds?” MORE

5. Sweet Reason, Muslim dad making me pray
A mostly humanist reader living in Bangladesh is being forced to pray by a Muslim father. Sweet Reason offers some humanist advice for dealing with the situation. MORE

6. Letters to the Editor
Letters from readers on “intelligent design”, humanism in Africa, and the importance of humanistic art. READ THEM

7. Cathartic Comics
…an assortment of cartoons and comic strips about humanism, atheism, religion, science and freethought. This week, Carthartic Comics debuts a new cartoon titled “Thank God for Atheism.” MORE

8. Humanist Humor
A Los Angeles reader sent in this joke: “What do you call a Freethinker who eats beans?” GET THE JOKE

9. Poll of the Week
Do you plan to donate your body or organs to science?MORE

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About the IHS:

The IHS promotes nonreligious perspectives on social, political, and ethical issues and serves as a resource for and about the humanist community. Questions, comments, concerns, got a better joke or a story? Send a letter to the editor.

If anything here interests you, or if you are one of those people who doesn’t “get” humanism, you may also be interested in my diary on what secular humanism is and what it is like to be a secular humanist in today’s political climate: I Am The Boogeyman.

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