October 2021
In November is Canada History Week
(Nov. 22 to 28)
Greetings!
This year’s theme is Indigenous History and will highlight stories of Indigenous languages, culture, and leadership. The week will encourage Canadians to reflect upon and engage with Canada’s past.
This month I encourage everyone to learn more about our heritage by watching some of the 1-minute videos on the Historica Canada Website.
One of my favorites is called Naskumituwin (Treaty). It is about the making of Treaty 9 from the perspective of historical witness George Spence, an 18-year-old Cree hunter from Albany, James Bay.
Another of my favorites is called Kenojuak Ashevak. A founding member of Cape Dorset’s famed printmaking co-op, Kenojuak Ashevak introduced Inuit art to the world (1927-2013).
Enjoy this edition of News,
Jag Parmar,
Administrator
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Member Profile of the Month |
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Introducing our Member Profile of the Month:
Donna Harris
I’ve been a non-believer my whole life. My parents weren’t really religious, so I didn’t go through any indoctrination at home. I remember reading Hurlbut’s Story of the Bible around the same time as a book of Greek mythology, and in my mind, there wasn’t much difference. They were both tales invented to help explain the world. So for much of my adult life, I didn’t give much thought to religion. It was a non-issue.
I believe in the scientific method as a way to know the world. I don’t believe in anything supernatural. There is no hereafter or afterlife, so this imperfect life is all we have. I recognize that all human beings have their inherent worth and value, and we all deserve democracy, and basic human rights. I believe in kindness, compassion, and ethics. And along with rights, we have responsibilities – to each other, to society, and to all the living beings we share this planet with. We are only one thread in this world’s intricate web of life.
If you'd like to share your story with us, please contact Jag Parmar so you can be the next Member Profile of the Month!
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Course: How to Start a Humanist Community and Keep it Going |
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How can we build, nourish, and maintain thriving Humanist communities across Canada? Join us for a conversation to brainstorm and learn about:
Finding a purpose
- Where and when to start
- Whom do you want to attract?
- How do you do that?
- Guerrilla marketing – glossy it ain’t
Running a meeting
- Who does what?
- Keeping the lid on and making the steam work for you
Organization structure
- The basics
- Legal requirements
- Charity or not?
Keeping the purpose alive
- Keeping an eye on your objectives and reinforcing them
- Getting people to do the right stuff
- Recruitment: membership, subscribers, and mystery guests
- And the media?
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Course:
Culture, Conflict, and Democracy
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This course, offered in collaboration with MetaCulture, addresses the following questions: how do we make sense of our constantly changing world? What are the key moving parts of the political, cultural, and economic aspects of the world and how do they relate to each other? How do we engage with urgent and vital issues around us while still maintaining our sanity? How do we connect to other humans whose experiences are different and accommodate them within our neighborhoods and nations? Most importantly, what are the prospects for liberal, secular, and humanistic societies at a time when the world is becoming more insular, xenophobic, and illiberal?
The course will run for 12 weeks, on Mondays from 5.00 to 6.30 pm EST, beginning November 15, 2021.
Course Fees:
$150 for Humanist Canada student members
$250 for Humanist Canada members
$300 for non-members
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Religions is an international, interdisciplinary, peer-reviewed, open-access journal on religions and theology, published monthly online by MDPI.
Religions is creating a Special Issue on the theme: "Apostasy and Other Forms of Leaving Religion". Manuscripts should be submitted online at mdpi.com by January 31st, 2022.
Read more about the Call for Papers
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Here is What's New On Our Web Store!
Don't forget to visit our online store! We’re a small shop right now, but we have big plans! Check-in regularly to find new HC logo items like our masks, mugs, and pins. We also have a number of books, written by our HC family of authors.
If you have any ideas about what we should offer, send them our way!
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September Polling Results: Spyware Vulnerabilities found in Apple Products |
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Apple issued emergency software updates for a critical vulnerability in its products this month after security researchers uncovered a flaw that allows highly invasive spyware to infect anyone’s iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch, or Mac computer without so much as a click. (The New York Times, Sept. 14, 2021)
Here is how you responded to our poll:
33.3% of you said "Safe".
66.7% of you said "Not Safe".
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Space Travel During a Pandemic?
Former "Star Trek" actor William Shatner became the oldest man to fly to space in a rocket funded by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who also blasted off into space earlier this year. Could this money, instead, have been better spent, by some of the richest in the world, on things like the global climate crisis, or is this a great technological advancement to make space travel more accessible?
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Money well-spent or money flaunted?
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To ensure the newsletter is relevant we invite your response to a few short questions. Having feedback from across the country is our goal. Click here!
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Why membership in Humanist Canada is important!
We simply can't do it without you. We are entirely funded through memberships and donations. Your involvement is incredibly significant and goes a long way to support lasting change for a better society and a tolerant world where rational thinking and kindness prevail.
Humanist Canada has just launched a new member system that will allow you to update your own information. Click on the button below, and you will be prompted to set up your login information.
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