The Nettie Column

TO start with, here is some excellent news from Mexico: in spite of endless problems caused by bureaucratic delays, an antiquated computer and the scarcity and the rise in price of paper, the Asociacion Mexicanatica Racionalista has managed to publish the first number of their quarterly Razonamientos. The editorial board of the magazine consists of humanists from Argentina, Canada, Columbia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Peru, Spain and the USA.

As to the contents of this issue, it offers a very nice variety of subjects with its articles on: humanism in Mexico; the breaking-up of the USSR; science and humanism; ecology, language and magic thought; humanist ethics, eating from the forbidden fruit; anthropocentrism and religion; the defence of human rights; Voltaire: reason and irony; and the first part of a short history of humanism. For subscriptions (Canada, USA and Central America $20, South America and Europe $25, Africa, Asia and Oceania $50) contact AMER, Apdo Postal 19-546, Mexico City, D.F. 03900, Mexico.

Also note that the 1966 International IHEU Congress in Mexico will be held 15-20 November.

IN my last column I mentioned the discussions in Dutch parliament on new regulations for organ donation, and I asked for information about this issue in other countries. The one reaction I received is an interesting brochure on 'brain death and organ donation' published by the Humanistiscber Verband Deutschlands on the occasion of a symposium about organ donation they organized last autumn.

In Germany as well it is a subject of public debate and in this brochure the author provides a clear view of the social, ethical and legal aspects of this sensitive topic. In his conclusion he pleads for a legislation by which the wishes of each individual concerned are taken into account.

SEVERAL years ago,.at a Humanist Convention in Adelaide, it was resolved that Australian Humanism would work to achieve a number of aims by the year 2000. Among those aims were the legalisation of voluntary euthanasia and the decriminalization of prostitution. For in a part of Australia, i.e. the Northern Territory, the first aim has now been achieved: on May 25, after a fourteen hours debate, fifteen of the twenty-five members of the N.T. parliament voted for the so-called Terminally Ill Bill.

Under this Bill a patient is allowed to end his or her life with the assistance of a doctor when two doctors have established that the patient is suffering from a terminal illness. Other conditions are that the patient must be a mentally competent adult, that there is a request in writing, and that life-shortening medication will be either self-administered or done with medical assistance.

This is the first time that such a law has been passed by a parliament. In the Netherlands, which for a long time used to be known as far ahead in this field, it is still formally prohibited. However, under certain, strict conditions comparable to the Australian ones, Dutch doctors are allowed to take measures for hastening the death of a patient, without running the risk of having to face legal sanctions.

Also on behalf of IHEU I would like to congratulate our humanist friends in Australia with their victory in the legal battle for voluntary euthanasia. Their lobbying activities have obviously been a great help in enabling terminally ill people in the Northern Territory to end their suffering at the time of their own choice. I wish them success in their efforts to achieve this aim for the rest of the country.

BESIDES a great many other Dutch non-profit organizations the Dutch Humanist League and Humanitas recently received a letter from Erica Terpstra, Secretary of State for Welfare, to inform them of the withdrawal of the State subsidies they used to get by January 1st 1996. This is quite a blow because the amounts were considerable: respectively 500.000 and 750.000 guilders. These subsidies make up a large part of their income and are designated for special projects and activities aimed at the general public such as the training of volunteers.

What with the present, general economy drive of the Dutch Government it is quite understandable that they cannot continue to be as generous as they used to. However, all these organizations cannot be expected to adapt themselves to the new situation at such a short notice. So, the humanist and other organizations concerned will get in touch with Mrs Terpstra to discuss the matter and to see whether her decision cannot be implemented more gradually.

To support our Dutch members IHEU has already written to her to express our grave alarm at the halt to subsidy. We pointed out that internationally the Netherlands had always been a shining example in not favouring the churches -- as is the case in so many other countries -but in recognizing the value of humanist contributions to society as well.

While attending the festive 'National Neighbours' Day 1995', organized by Humanitas on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary, the Secretary of State of Weftare did not evade talking about the issue of her planned subsidy withdrawal and she advised Humanitas 'to try and shoot holes in her arguments'. She had been invited there to present an award to the 'Best Neighbours of the Netherlands' who had been selected from several hundred candidates proposed by the general public. The winners were a family of four, who are always ready to help everybody in their street and who give assistance to refugees.

Since we know that Mrs. Terpstra is quite sympathetic towards humanists and a very reasonable person, we do not expect the subsidy tap, as we call it, to be turned off as abruptly as was announced.

A UNIQUE event in Dutch humanist circles is that this fiftieth anniversary of Humanitas I just mentioned, will be celebrated together with that of the Dutch Humanist League which was founded on February 17 1946. Under the motto 'Fifty years of active humanism, an inspired choice' there will be several kinds of joint celebrations and activities in the coming months. As a lot of people have no exact idea of what humanist organizations do, these activities are also intended for making them better known. For example: two national conferences mainly for volunteers and professionals in the fields of education and care, a special anniversary magazine and a great many radio and television programmes.

Speaking of these programmes: the Dutch Humanist Broadcasting Foundation has just received the very good news that they are getting an increase of broadcasting time of fifty per cent. That means that they will now have 39 hours for television per year and 3 hours for radio every week.

A PIECE of bad news, or more correctly sad news, for the IHEU office in Utrecht is that Matt Cherry, our resourceful Secretary for Development and Public Relations is leaving us for a position in the USA. He will shortly start working in Buffalo as Executive Director of CODESH. Since CODESH is hosting the IHEU Secretariat for Growth and Development Matt will fortunately still be able to do a lot for IHEU so we will stay in close touch. But we will certainly miss his friendly presence.