Nigerian Humanist, Harry Nwana, turned 83 in February. I visited him at his local residence in Lagos to congratulate and celebrate with him. In the course of our discussion, Harry, who is a long time member of the Rationalist Press Association in the UK, repeated a request he had made on several occasions in the past. He wants to be given a non-religious funeral after his death.

The Durban Conference against racism in 2001 had been marred by anti-Semitism and anti-Israeli rhetoric, but there was to be no repetition. The pro-Israel lobby was out in force for the follow up conference held in Geneva from 20 to 24 April. They fought back with a dizzying combination of spin, rhetoric and misinformation.

The moment one says in response to the question, “Who are you?”, “I am a Muslim / Hindu / Christian / Jew”, religion’s dangerous work is done. There can be no more effective way of dividing humankind than along the fault lines of religion.

Oh! Do atheists have ceremonies? Aren’t ceremonies only for religious people? These are some of the questions asked by people to atheists. Well! Atheists do have ceremonies and celebrate them with all colour and festivity, but with a rational outlook. The Atheist Centre has been in the forefront of encouraging such secular ceremonies.

The clash of civilizations – an excuse for escalated conflicts

IHEU international representative Keith Porteous Wood has been reappointed (in a personal capacity) to the Panel of nine civil society representatives assisting the EU’s Fundamental Rights Agency in Vienna. The Agency advises the European Commission on discrimination and equality matters and has a formal obligation to engage with and receive feedback from civil society.

Members of the British Humanist Association (BHA) conducted Humanist funerals, weddings and baby naming ceremonies for their friends and acquaintances even before the association emerged in its current formation in 1967.

Many of us in India have been on the lookout for the best way to carry the message of Humanism and rational thinking to people not exposed to this approach and improve conditions in our society.

45th session May 13–27 in Banjul Gambia

Statement by the International Humanist and Ethical Union

Read by: Leo Igwe, IHEU Representative for West Africa: 14 May 2009

Madam Chairperson

I would like to start with the famous quote from The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery.

“What is a rite?” asked the Little Prince.
“Those also are actions too often neglected,” said the fox. They are what make one day different from other days, one hour from other hours.”