Mexico Congress

The 1996 humanist World Congress in Mexico City is attracting prestigious speakers from around the world. Confirmed speakers include the Nigerian writer Wole Soyinka, one of the world’s leading human rights campaigners and winner of the 1986 Nobel Prize for literature. As a pioneering dramatist, he is one of Africa’s leading writers. Also contributing will be Shulamit Aloni, Israel’s leading secularist and Minister for Education in the Rabin government and Minister of Sciences and Arts in the Peres government. Two other speakers will be leading Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin, who gained worldwide attention when Islamic fundamentalists threatened her life, forcing her to flee her native country, and Martin Bunge, one of the world's leading philosophers of science. Responses are still awaited from many other outstanding international figures.

The World Congress, from 14-19 November, is titled ‘Global humanism for the Cyber-Age’ and will look at the potential impact of information technology, which is beginning to transform culture, society, economics and politics across the world. These developments will require every society to rethink its structures and values. The congress will bring leading thinkers and humanist activists to the world’s largest city to explore these issues and to seek humane and rational responses to the challenges faced by the world as it enters the ‘Cyber-Age.’

Topics to be discussed at the Congress include: the impact of the information revolution on the developing world, secularism and the threat of intolerance, the future of sex and gender, science and superstition, female empowerment and sustainable development, organising humanism in the cyber-age, and the challenges of bio-technology. All sessions will include simultaneous translation between English and Spanish. The highlight of the conference will be the International Humanist Awards Banquet at which outstanding individuals will be honoured for their contributions to humanism and humanity.

The Congress comes after many years of growth and development by the International Humanist and Ethical Union and will include participants from many regions never before represented at a humanist meeting. In fact, it is the first IHEU Congress ever to be held in a developing country, and the ability of the Mexican humanists to host such a major meeting is itself testimony to the recent growth of the international humanist movement. In addition to many outstanding speakers from Mexico and the USA, the Congress will hear form leaders of humanist movement sin Central and South America, East and West Europe, Africa, Asia and Australia.

At least three secularist members of the National Council of Resistance, the leading exiled group opposing the Islamic regime in Iran will address the congress. These speakers include the former Iranian ambassador to Norway and Sweden, Perviz Khazai, a humanist who defected after the Ayatollah Khomeini seized power. The Iranian exiles will be joined by humanists from Turkey, Egypt and Israel for a ground-breaking dialogue on secularism in the Middle East.

Humanist world congresses, which occur only once every four years, provide a unique opportunity to meet humanists from around the globe. Humanists from nearly 40 countries have already expressed an interest in coming to the Mexican Congress. Whether you are making new friends or renewing good acquaintances from previous conferences, the conference will inspire international friendships and insights that lst long after the meetings end.

In recognition of the value of informal meetings and socialising, the congress provides plenty of free time outside of the formal meetings. Between each congress session there is a two-and-a-half hour break, during which rooms will be available for ‘Poster Sessions’; anyone who wants to hold a workshop or discussion may put up a poster advertising the proposed meeting with a sign-up sheet. Several Poster Sessions have already been proposed – including a planning meeting for a feminist caucus, a workshop in critical thinking, and a seminar on Secular Organisation for Sobriety. Participants can also use these extended breaks to go for a meal in the hotel or the city, to explore the many shops and historic sites in the neighbourhood, or to use one of the conference computers to serf the internet.

The congress is divided into two parts. Speaker meetings are scheduled from the evening of Thursday 14 November until the afternoon of Sunday 17 November. From Sunday evening through to the evening of Tuesday 19 November there will be cultural events and two sightseeing tours, including a trip to the citadel of the pre-Columbian Teotihuacan civilisation, famed for its Sun and moon Pyramids.

After the congress ends there are a range of tours available for conference goers who would like to spend more time exploring the exotic countryside, exciting resorts and fascinating culture of Mexico. An experienced Mexican tour company - Cosmos Tours – is offering congress participants a choice of three tours leaving on 20 November on the 8-day ‘Mayan Route’ expedition, the 4-day ‘Exciting Acapulco’ break and the 6-day ‘Mixtecan World’ tour. Contact Free Inquiry for a Cosmo Tour brochure.

Congress participants receive a 50 per cent discount on accommodation in the five star congress venue, the Hotel Westin Galleria Plaza. The luxurious hotel rooms include en suite marble bathrooms, air conditioning, TV, phones and all amenities. The Westin Galleria Plaza contains a wide range of high class restaurants, cafes and bars and its facilities include a gym and a rooftop swimming pool.

The Hotel Westin Galleria Plaza is located in the world-famous Zone Rosa. The Zone Rosa is Mexico City’s most celebrated district, where the capital’s financial district converges with its’ best shops, galleries, restaurants and night-life.

With the 50 per cent discount for congress participants, single and double rooms at the Westin Galleria Plaza are US$85 plus 15% tax per room, ie $97.75 inclusive. Triple rooms are available for US$105 per room plus 15% tax, ie $120.75 inclusive. For those wanting to stay in more economic accommodation, a list of recommended alternative hotels, ranging from US$16 to US$40 per night (including tax) is available from Free Inquiry.

November, following the autumn rains, is the best month for visiting Mexico City. The weather is fresh, bright and sunny. Temperatures reach early to mid-20s Centigrade (70s Farenheit) in the day, cooling off to about 10 degrees Centigrade (50 degrees Farenheit) at night. If you have family members who do not wish to attend the Congress, the Westin Galleria Plaza is an ideal base from which they can explore Mexico City. Family members who do not attend congress meetings will still receive the 50 per cent discount for congress participants for the whole of their stay at the Hotel Westin Galleria Plaza and they can take part in congress tours if they book in advance.

The number of places available at the congress is limited. So please book early to ensure that you are part of this important humanist event.