IHEU is now calling for expressions of interest from Member Organizations interested in organizing and hosting the 19th World Humanist Congress in 2014. The Congress is an opportunity to strengthen the host organization and the local Humanist movement. IHEU organizes World Humanist Congresses once every three years. Expressions of interest are not a firm commitment, but only an invitation to begin discussions.

In response to an IHEU statement at the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva highlighting modern-day slavery in Ivory Coast, Togo, Benin, Niger, Mali and Sudan, the Benin delegation told IHEU to “mind its own business” and a French TV crew was ejected from the meeting. Meanwhile, IHEU was the only NGO to circulate proposed wording in the early days of the Durban II preparatory meeting. Xavier Cornut reports on an extraordinary week at the UN.

The UK-based gay Humanist charity the Pink Triangle Trust has described the Pope's latest homophobic outburst as clear evidence of paranoia. The PTT was reacting to the Pope's Christmas message, in which he declared that saving humanity from homosexual behaviour was as important as saving the rainforest from destruction.

The IHEU web site, www.iheu.org, is growing fast and attracting thousands of new visitors every day. We want to improve its design to make it better looking and easier to use. Are you an experienced web designer or an advanced-level student seeking a project? Could you spare some time to help IHEU with this important communications project?

Tanzania is the largest country in East Africa. It is a union of two former independent states i.e. the main land Tanganyika and Indian Ocean Zanzibar island . The founding president of Tanzania, Mwalimu(teacher) Julius Nyerere, was a unique African leader who helped to unite this country of many ethnicities and beliefs.

Evolution is both a scientific fact, and about as well-supported a theory as there is in science. It is sad that this needs to be said up front, but unfortunately a good half of the United States population, and a smaller but not insignificant portion of people in Europe and elsewhere, not only doubt it, but actually, actively deny it. This means that those of us who care about the truth – liberal theists and humanists alike – have a problem. Creationist organisations are well funded and, feeding on the rampant theism (which protects and encourages the flourishing of fundamentalism [1]) of countries such as the US, they have considerable political and educational influence. This means there is a real danger of children being taught wild falsehoods. And children have a habit of growing up... and voting. What can we ordinary folks do?

IHEU member organization American Humanist Association reports that the US Supreme Court today (25 June 2007), in a 5-4 decision, passed a ruling that severely curtails the ability of taxpayers to sue when government violates the separation of church and state.

Roy Brown has replied on behalf of the campaign for a Vision for Europe, sponsors of the Brussels Declaration, to concerns expressed by Libre Pensée in the National Secular Society's newsletter Newsline.

UPDATE: Deadline extended: in response to member feedback, the deadline for expressions of interest has been extended to 16 February 2007, just before the next IHEU Executive Committee meeting. Expressions of interest are not a firm commitment, but only an invitation to begin discussions.