2010 All Ireland Humanist Summer School

national | rights and freedoms | event notice Tuesday July 06, 2010 22:18 by T Flynn - Humanist Association of Ireland info at humanism dot ie 087-9817861

Humanism and the Rights of Women

Progamme of Events

Friday 3rd September

20.00 Informal Gathering - Carlingford Arms

Saturday 4th September

09.15 Registration
10:00 Welcome: Chair Myrtle Ewing and Opening address: Prof David McConnell
10:30 Nuala McKeever
11:15 Q and A
11:30 Tea and Coffee; sale of books, CDs, DVDs
12:00 Colm O'Gorman
12:45 Q and A
13:00 Lunch Forage in the locality - the Four Seasons and other cafes are all nearby
14:30 Slieve Foy ramble, sightseeing, music
19:30 Dinner: Four Seasons Hotel (paid in advance)

Sunday 5th September

10:00 Kristin Mile
10:45 Q and A
11:00 Tea and coffee
11:30 Workshops
12:30 Plenary
13:00 Close

Humanism is a world view concerned with the place of humans in the world. Many Humanists are environmentally aware, have compassion for other species, care about societies where there are inequalities between classes, and oppose religious privilege. But what part does half the world’s population play in Humanism, in society, even where they are overtly ‘equal’? Is the role women play in whichever society/country/predominant culture they live in mirrored in their Humanist groups? The International Humanist and Ethical Union’s set of fundamental principles of modern Humanism laid out in the Amsterdam Declaration (1992),.has nothing to say about women and equality. Do we take it as such an accepted, and won, argument in the West?
It’s easy to say that covering women head to toe, keeping them indoors, not allowed to work, have their body integrity mutilated is all so wrong, and it is. No doubt, no question, but is there genuine of ‘parity of esteem’ the sexes among Humanists? If this doesn’t come up as a presentation by one of the speakers it may at dinner, breaks, on walks or in workshops.
This is the eighth annual all-Ireland Humanist Summer School, and it’s looking like being another good one. Speakers are from North and South of the island, Nuala McKeever and Colm O’Gorman respectively, and we are very pleased to have a Norwegian colleague, Kristin Mile, Secretary General of the Norwegian Humanist Association, address us. The Summer school will be opened by David McConnell, who is fulfilling the role perform by the late Justin Keating in previous years. We’re looking forward to hearing how they present this topic, and the discussions afterwards. And then there is also the walk, and the food, and the chat and the catching up, and the meeting new people. We look forward to seeing you there.