Prof. Carl-Johan Kleberg, former Chairman of the Swedish Humanist Association, presented this report to the 1st Baltic Humanist Conference in Stockholm. Based on a study of 11 Nordic countries – Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, Poland, Russia and Sweden, it makes a series of recommendations viz.

Humanisterna, IHEU’s Swedish member organisation, is arguably the world’s fastest growing national Humanist group: membership jumped up by 150% in 2006, and today the group has over 3000 members. Humanisterna had the advantage of being led by charismatic and prominent leaders like Michael Goransson and Carl-John Kleberg, and now by internet entrepreneur Christer Sturmark (see cover page).

One of Sweden’s best-known cultural figures is a member of the Swedish Humanist Association. Björn Ulvaeus is instantly recognizable to most Swedes and many others as one of the four members of the super-group ABBA. Together with his fellow ABBA member Benny Andersson, he wrote the musicals “Chess” and “Kristina”. Now he is involved with the hit musical “Mamma Mia!” which has been seen by 25 million people around the world. At the Baltic Humanist Conference in Stockholm, Bjorn Ulvaeus was given the Humanisterna's Hedenius Prize in acknowledgement of his support for the Humanist life stance and critical thinking.

Christer Sturmark, Chairman of the Swedish Humanist Association, meets him for an interview about religion, politics and the humanist view of life.

Location:
In the Baltic Sea Region. (Northern Poland, Southern Finland, North-Eastern Germany, Eastern Denmark, South- or Middle-Sweden).

Participants:
30 to 80 young people between the age of 15 and 26 (Camp-leaders of the age up to 45) from Humanist Associations from The Baltic Republics, Poland, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden, Norway and Iceland.

Extended program - New deadline

The Baltic Humanist meeting in Sweden is now only five weeks away. Applications may be submitted until October 15th. Participants from over twenty countries have already registered. Go to the Humanisterna web site to register.

Additional seminars will deal with Euthanasia, "Europe and Islam" and "Minorities and Human rights in the Baltic states". Full information on the updated program will follow in the next few weeks.

State, Secularism and the Humanist Challenge - Stockholm, Sweden, Friday 10 - Sunday 12 November 2006

Register online at the Humanisterna web site.

Session Themes include Secularism and the Modern State; World Value Survey and the Baltic Sea Region; State and Church in Northern Europe; Secularism, Tolerance and the Freedom of Speech; Humanism and the Media; The Struggle for Moral Education without Religion; The Meaning of Humanism, Secularism, Religion and other Life Stance related concepts.

One of Sweden's most well known cultural figures is a member of the Swedish Humanist Association, (an IHEU member organization). Björn Ulvaeus is instantly recognizable to most Swedes and many others as one of the four members of the super-group ABBA.

Together with his fellow ABBA member Benny Andersson, he wrote the musicals "Chess" and "Kristina". Now he is involved with the hit musical "Mamma Mia!" which has been seen by 25 million people around the world.

Chairman of the Swedish Humanist Association, Christer Sturmark, meets him for an interview about religion, politics and the humanist view of life. He meets a man who doesn’t believe in any of the gods described in the world religions and has a great engagement in humanist issues.

State, Secularism and the Humanist Challenge - Stockholm, Sweden, 10-12 November 2006

How can we make the world safe for democracy and a secular society?

Some say this is the most important question of our time. Relativistic attitudes articulated by postmodernists, unsubtle and dangerous views on the values of multiculturalism in politics, fundamentalist religious groups trying, day by day, to move their positions forward, superstition and pseudoscience spreading in many fields - these are real and serious threats against our humanist ideals: ideals that include pluralism, tolerance and an open mind, as well as freedom of speech, critical inquiry and human rights.

Plans for a high-profile three-day event for the Nordic and Baltic countries are developing. It is now confirmed that it will be held on 10-12 November 2006, at Campus Konradsbergin in central Stockholm, Sweden. The event will be organised by IHEU member organisation Humanisterna (Swedish Humanist Association), in cooperation with the Norwegian Humanist Association, IHEU and EHF. Humanists and Humanist Organisations from the region are invited.