Category: Events

Categories
Events News Uncategorized

Should Humanism Matter in Politics?

10628069_521410394657612_5641956195726092614_n
LtoR – Maggie Ardiente, American Humanist Association; Tom Copley, London Assembly Member; Julie Pernet, European Humanist Federation; Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Foreign Office Minister; Naomi Phillips, Labour Humanists

 

Sunday 10 August at the World Humanist Congress in Oxford kicked off with a political session, ‘Should Humanism Matter in Politics?’ This meeting was packed out with Congress delegates from around the world and was chaired by Labour Humanists’ Naomi Phillips. On the panel were Kerry McCarthy MP (Shadow Foreign Office Minister), Tom Copley AM, Maggie Ardiente (American Humanist Association) and Julie Pernet (European Humanist Federation). All speakers spoke from their personal and professional perspectives about whether Humanism matters in politics, whether there should be more humanists in politics, and if the personal beliefs and life-stances of our elected represented matters should matter.

We’ve been a bit lazy and used Tweets from the European Humanist Federation (thanks!) to describe what happened – see this on Storify.

The meeting was also filmed – we’ll link to that when it is published soon.

Here are some photographs from the event – you can find many more on the World Humanist Congress group on Flickr.

14904398136_2dd6b32a17_k
Tom Copley, London Assembly Member
14740737710_5e7e901fab_k
Kerry McCarthy MP, Shadow Foreign Office Minister
14740847337_c49cfa85b8_k
Maggie Ardiente, American Humanist Association
14927061922_6f0bb8486f_k
Julie Pernet, European Humanist Federation
14924341251_3fe03cfd86_k
Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists

 

 

Categories
Blog Events News

Save the date: No Prayer Breakfast at Labour Conference

We are delighted to announce that, jointly with the British Humanist Association (BHA), we will be holding our ‘No Prayer Breakfast’ fringe meeting at Labour Conference. 8am Tuesday 23 September, Hilton Hotel, Manchester. The venue is just outside the secure zone which means that it is accessible to people not attending conference this year too. We’ll be announcing our line up of fantastic speakers soon.

Here’s a short write up from our 5th No Prayer Breakfast in 2012.

 

Categories
Events News

Humanist Hustings Storify

We had a great turn out at the London Humanist Hustings for the European Parliament Elections (aka MEP hustings!) on Tuesday 6 May. Couldn’t make it? Check out our Storify to see what happened and see the British Humanist Association’s write up of the event too.

Categories
Events Uncategorized

Tonight! London Humanist Hustings for the European Parliament Elections

Make your own mind up about Europe – come to the Humanist Hustings for the European Elections tonight from 18.30. Please do let your networks know about this event. We’ll be using the Twitter hashtag #HHEP14 for the event and you can Tweet in your questions for candidates in advance as well as at the event. We hope to see you there! More info here.

European Hustings flyer v10

Find out more about Labour Humanists
Follow us on Twitter
Like us on Facebook

 

Categories
Events News

London Humanist Hustings: European Elections 2014

On Tuesday 6 May, the British Humanist Association (BHA), Conway Hall Ethical Society, the Central London Humanist Group (CLHG) and the European Humanist Federation (EHF) will be hosting a humanist hustings for the upcoming European parliament elections (22 May 2014).

We are delighted that Labour Humanist Mary Honeyball MEP will be taking part. The hustings will be a chance to question candidates from across Parties about how they will (or won’t!) be working on issues of interest to humanists, such as secularism, science, human rights and equality.

About Mary Honeyball MEP

“Democracy and religion do not mix… Politicians are voted in to represent their electorates. People who vote for me and my colleagues expect us to further the interests of the public at large, not those of any particular religion, church, mosque, synagogue, temple or indeed any other interest group. We go against the democratic foundations of our country at our peril.”

Mary entered the European Parliament in 2000, following three decades of involvement in Labour politics. Since becoming an MEP Mary has taken a special interest in women’s issues, and acts as the Labour spokesperson for women’s rights and gender equality.

Mary is a supporter of Labour Humanists and a Vice President of the British Humanist Association (BHA). Find out more about Mary here and here.

Visit the BHA website to find out more about the hustings, the other candidates, and register online now to attend.

Categories
Events News

Growing interest in Labour Humanists

For the second time we had a stand in the exhibition at the Fabian Society’s New Year’s conference in January in London. Our treasurer and a volunteer spoke to many Labour activists throughout the day and signed up lots of people who were interested in finding out more about our work and membership. We were delighted that Mary Honeyball MEP came to our stand for a catch up. Mary is a supporter of Labour Humanists and a Vice President of the British Humanist Association (BHA) who speaks with a strong voice for Humanism and feminism in the European Parliament and beyond.

Attending Labour-focused conferences and events gives us the opportunity to meet and reach many hundreds of activists from across the Party and to promote our values and campaigns and to sign up new members. If we want to be successful in working for a more equal, ethical and secular Labour and to become an affiliated society to the party, we need to keep growing our support through 2014 and beyond.

Categories
Events News Uncategorized

Labour Humanists exhibit at Labour Women’s Network ‘Foundations for Victory’

We had a stand at the Labour Women’s Network conference, which brought together delegates including many elected representatives and prospective candidates. At the stand we signed up new supporters and spoke particularly on issues relating to faith schools and on the value of having a growing group for ethical, non-religious people within the Labour Party.

 

Our Secretary Adam Harrison sets up our stand
Our Secretary Adam Harrison sets up our stand
Categories
Events News Uncategorized

AGM & Meeting Report

Labour should care about the selective and discriminatory admissions policies of state-funded faith schools – that was the resounding message from our meeting. However, more work needs to be done on what would be the most effective actions for Labour to take to address the worsening situation.

We had a fantastic turn out for our Annual General Meeting on Wednesday 30 October 2013. This was our first AGM since Labour Humanists was ‘revived’ in 2012 and was a celebration of the activities, growth and successes we have had in the past 18 months. Read the chair’s and the treasurer’s report, as well as the minutes.

Following the AGM we welcomed members and non-members to our meeting on Labour and selective faith schools – it was so popular it was standing room only. We were delighted to be joined by four fantastic speakers: Tom Copley, London Assembly Member; Andrew Copson, Chief Executive, British Humanist Association; Andrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian Society and Joan Smith, feminist, author and columnist.

We are grateful for all of their contributions and recommendations for future work on selective faith schools and wider issues, including religious bias in the curriculum and the importance of teaching Sex and Relationships Education in schools, with no opt-outs for faith schools.

Read a detailed report of the meeting by the Fair Admissions Campaign.

Read a Storify of the event, which also includes some photographs.

 

Tom Copley, London Assembly Member Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists Joan Smith, feminist and author
Tom Copley, London Assembly Member
Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists
Joan Smith, feminist and author
Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists
Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists
Andrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian Society Tom Copley, London Assembly Member Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists Joan Smith, feminist and author Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive
Andrew Harrop, General Secretary, Fabian Society
Tom Copley, London Assembly Member
Naomi Phillips, Chair, Labour Humanists
Joan Smith, feminist and author
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive
Joan Smith, feminist and author
Joan Smith, feminist and author
Andrew Harrop, Fabian Society General Secretary
Andrew Harrop, Fabian Society General Secretary

 

Julia Mundy, Treasurer Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive
Julia Mundy, Treasurer
Andrew Copson, BHA Chief Executive
Adam Harrison, Secretary
Adam Harrison, Secretary
Guest with Labour Humanists badge 'Separate Church & State'
Guest with Labour Humanists badge ‘Separate Church & State’
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests
Guests

 

Categories
Events Uncategorized

Selective faith schools: should Labour care?

18.45 – 19.45, Wednesday 30 October, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street London WC1H 9JE
Please RSVP info@labourhumanists.org.uk or via Eventbrite.

The religiously selective admissions policies used by faith schools have been under the spotlight, with a particular focus on their effect to segregate children and families by not only by religion but on socio-economic grounds. If they really are grammar schools by the back door, should Labour support them?

Can schools being allowed to discriminate against children whose parents are not of the ‘right’ religion, and those of no religion, fit with Labour values of equality, human rights and social cohesion?

Join us to discuss religiously selective admissions policies by state-funded faith schools, what a One Nation school admissions policy should look like, and if there is room in the Manifesto 2015 for a commitment to inclusive admissions.

Speakers:

Tom new pic  Tom Copley                     andrew-copson-titel-218x218 Andrew Copson

London Assembly Member                        Chief Executive, British Humanist Association

Andrew Harrop Andrew Harrop                  Joan Smith JPG Joan Smith

General Secretary, Fabian Society          Feminist, author and columnist

Chair:

Naomi Phillips colour Naomi Phillips

Chair, Labour Humanists

Background reading!

We made a joint submission with London Assembly Member Tom Copley to Labour’s policy review specifically on discriminatory, selective admissions policies by faith schools – and why Labour should support inclusive admissions.

If you are a Labour member you can vote for our policy suggestion. If you are not a Labour member you can still register to leave a comment. Read more about our submissions to Labour.

Labour Humanists AGM (members only)

18.20 – 18.35, Wednesday 30 October.
Camden Town Hall, Judd Street London WC1H 9JE

‘Selective faith schools: should Labour care?’ (All welcome)
18.45 – 19.45 (please join us after for a glass of wine or a soft drink)

 

Categories
Events

Labour Humanists AGM – Wednesday 30 October

We will be holding our Annual General Meeting (AGM) on Wednesday 30 October, 18.20 – 18.35*, Camden Town Hall, Judd Street London WC1H 9JE. Please RSVP info@labourhumanists.org.uk

Following the AGM from 18.45, we have organised a meeting with some fantastic speakers, who will be discussing ‘Selective faith schools: should Labour care?’ We would be delighted if you would join us for a glass of wine or a soft drink after the meeting.

Officers & Executive Committee
We are organised by a small group of volunteers and we work in different ways to raise awareness and understanding of our position, on behalf of our members. For example, in the past year or so we have:

  • grown our membership
  • launched a brand new website and increased our online presence and campaigning through Twitter
  • held a packed out ‘no prayer breakfast’ fringe event at Labour conference 2012
  • been represented on BBC One’s The Big Questions to discuss secularism
  • worked closely with Labour’s front bench and briefed Labour MPs and Peers to reform the law to allow equal humanist marriage
  • written articles published on LabourList and politics.co.uk on faith schools admissions

We are pleased that, on behalf of our members, we have been able to raise the profile of key humanist and secularist issues within Labour. Our constitution allows us formally to elect officers (Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer) and up to five more members of an Executive Committee at our AGM.

In terms of the Executive Committee, we would welcome nominations from our members to help to grow and lead Labour Humanists. To nominate yourself, simply email chair@labourhumanists.org.uk with no more than 100 words about why you would be interested in being an Officer or a member of the Executive Committee (and state which). If we have more nominations than spaces, we will elect by a show of hands at the AGM.

Volunteering for the committee would be a great opportunity to get more involved and help to influence Labour policy on key humanist and secularist issues.

In addition to electing Officers and members of the Executive Committee, we will have copies of our accounts available, and discuss our plans for the coming year – a crucial one as Labour develops its policies.

One of our aims is to increase our membership – to build our voice and to become eligible to become an affiliated socialist society to the Labour Party. If you are not already a member, please do consider joining, and encourage others to do so too.

Only members may participate at the AGM; all are welcome to the faith school admissions meeting.

Labour Humanists AGM
18.30 – 18.45, Wednesday 30 October.
Camden Town Hall, Judd Street London WC1H 9JE

*Time slightly earlier than previously advertised