Eve S On-Line Dating Profile

Welcome Central Manchester Meeting – 8 March 20 We had a very successful event on 12 March to mark 17 Darwin’s birthday. The event was well attended and The work of the National Oceanography Society brought our members and supporters together for the (NOS) afternoon in a relaxed environment to hopefully Dr Joanne Williams, from the NOS in Liverpool will ponder the wider issues relevant to Humanism. The deliver a talk on rising sea levels and the work that event also provided us with a focus on publicising the the NOS is doing to combat them. Joanne has work that we do generally and has resulted in an been working on sea-level related research since increase in our supporter and membership base! 2008, having come from a mathematical modelling Thanks to our committee and in particular David background with a PhD in Nottingham. She says Milne for doing such a good job on the promotion of "although I work for the National Oceanography the event! Centre I don't sail anything more sea-worthy than LOL! a computer!" Dr Williams uses computer models and data gathered from around the world at tide Eve’s On-line Dating Profile gauges, by satellite and at sea. Sex: Female We meet at 7pm for a 7.30pm start at Friends Age: About 15 minutes since I was Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester, M2 invented, but I don’t look a 5NS. The meeting formally ends around 9pm but minute over 10 minutes many of us continue at The Waterhouse, 67-71 Location: Over by some ferns Street, Manchester for further discussion and liquid refreshment! Height: A tall vine Contributions: We ask for the following Weight: A bunch of sticks contributions towards the cost of room hire: Body type: Only female type there is members £2.50; non-members £3.50 (students Favourite music: Birds £1). However, there is no charge for those Favourite movies: Birds attending their first meeting. In addition, there is a Favourite food: Birds charge of £1.50 for tea or coffee and a biscuit. Hobbies: Being tempted, birds They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a Profession: Woman gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the Personality: VERY easily tempted circumcision.” Turn-ons: Adam, birds Income level: A handful of beautiful sticks Past Events Looking for: The only other person in existence Darwin Day Celebration – 12 February From Science … For Her by Megan Amram (Scribner), copyright © 2014 by The regular Central Manchester monthly meeting was Megan Amram replaced by a celebratory day at the Manchester Conference Centre to mark Darwin’s birthday on 12 A priest, a minister, a rabbi and a bear! February. The event started at 1pm and was A priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best attended by 90 visitors. There were a range of at his job. So each one goes into the woods, finds a exhibits from Population Matters, RSPB, Amnesty bear, and attempts to convert it. Later, they all get International, thINK the book, Friends of the Earth, together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I Barton Theatre Company and Peace Mala from a local read to him from the catechism and sprinkled him primary school. At 3.00pm the Greater Manchester with holy water. Next week is his first Communion.” Humanist Choir sung 'Seikilos Epitaph' and 'Darwin's “I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and Revolution' both arranged by former Musical Director preached God’s holy Word. The bear was so Karl Kramer. This was followed by a talk by Professor mesmerized that he let me baptize him.” Matthew Cobb from the Life Sciences Department at

March 2017 Newsletter 1 the University of Manchester on "The Brave New next generation by editing the body’s somatic cells. World of CRISPR Gene Editing". This type of intervention is therefore not subject to Matthew introduced the topic by saying that he does the same ethical concerns as genetic manipulation of not think that governments and institutions human embryos. CRISPR therapies for blood based understand the importance and implications of recent diseases, leukaemia, HIV and sickle cell anaemia may developments in gene editing technology and the soon be trialled and the technique shows great CRISPR technique which enables the precise editing of promise as a treatment for Duchenne Muscular genes in virtually any organism, including humans. Dystrophy. CRISPR stands for ‘clustered regularly interspaced CRISPR is also being used in agricultural research short palindromic repeats’ which are segments of exploring its application to boosting crop resistance to DNA containing short, repetitive base sequences, that pests thereby reducing the toll of livestock disease. are the same in both directions. Each repetition is As to vector control, CRISPR could be used to followed by short segments of spacer DNA from introduce new genetic material into organisms that previous exposures to foreign DNA (e.g., a virus or transmit disease, such as the malaria carrying plasmid). The cell's genome can be cut at a desired mosquito, that both makes females sterile and location, allowing existing genes to be removed accelerates its spread throughout the whole and/or new ones added to effect improvements in population, so as to effectively eliminate that that DNA. population in a few generations. Work is currently being undertaken at Imperial College London on this. The scientific community is proceeding cautiously in this area given the potential impact on ecosystems. Matthew concluded his presentation by talking about the ethics of using CRISPR. He posed the question of whether it is ethical to limit its use and thus its potential in fighting disease, illness and poverty. He was clear that its further application should be properly regulated. Matthew explained that the ability to alter genetic material of organisms was developed in the 1970s In the question and answer session, when asked if but involved molecular tinkering over long periods. CRISPR could assist with curing dementia or cancer With the development of the CRISPR technique in Matthew responded that the application of CRISPR to 2013, modifications that took 18 months are now combat a disease will depend on whether the disease being done in 6 weeks. Two sources claim to have or condition has an identifiable genetic sequence that devised it: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer can be easily disabled. Dementia and cancer do not Doudna from Berkeley, and George Church and Feng have identifiable genetic sequences. Zhang from Boston Broad Institute. CRISPR genome When asked if CRISPR could be used to regrow organs, editing has many applications in the areas of human Matthew answered that this was possible in theory by gene therapy, somatic therapy, agriculture, and vector using stem cells that can be grown into any organ. control. Matthew thought the application of the CRISPR The application to human gene therapy enables system will need a political system to buy-in to it and changes in human genes that alter the genetic make- to enforce it and that the short-termism associated up of the next generation. There is a general with most political systems makes this problematic. reluctance to allow this on ethical grounds: CRISPR Matthew recommended the following sources on gene therapy is not legal in the UK, Australia or CRISPR: Ted Talks on CRISPR on YouTube, “CRISPR Canada. In the USA the technique cannot be applied Democracy: Gene Editing and the Need for Inclusive using federal money, but is permitted using private Deliberation” in Issues in Science and Technology, funds. Volume XXXII Issue 1 Fall 2015, “CRISPR-Cas9 ("Mr. CRISPR techniques can be applied in the treatment of Sandman" Parody) A Capella Science” on YouTube, illnesses without altering the genetic make up of the “Life’s Greatest Secret” by Matthew Cobb. March 2017 Newsletter 2 Other Upcoming Meetings Exploring Humanism: An Central Manchester – Humanist Discussion G Introductory Course roup Seven Tuesday evenings, 19 September to 31 Do you enjoy exploring contemporary social, political and philosophical themes? If so why not join GMH at October 2017, 7.00pm to 9.15pm their monthly discussion forum! The next meeting of At Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, M the group will be held on 21 March and will discuss anchester M2 5NS Artificial Intelligence and Morality. Notes for the The course has run for the last 8 years, and this year meeting are posted here. We meet at The will be its thirteenth presentation! Waterhouse, 67-71 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 It’s for anyone who is interested in finding out what 4EG at 8.15pm in one of the quieter spaces in the Humanism has to offer as a non-religious way of pub. The event is free but attendees are expected to answering the ‘big questions’ of life, and developing buy a drink. values that help us live enjoyable and worthwhile lives. Humanism provides the ideal value system for a Bolton secular society. The next meeting will take place at 7.00pm on The course is interactive and enjoyable, with video Thursday, 9 March and will involve lively discussion on clips, an input on Humanist ceremonies and group topics chosen by members. The meeting will take discussions of interesting and challenging issues with place in the Mercury Hotel bar, 540 Manchester Road, like-minded people. The course fee is £20 with an Westhoughton. There is no charge to attend the ‘early bird’ reduction to £17 for applications received meeting and all are welcome! Enquiries about the by September 4. For further details and application meeting or other group activities should be sent to form please contact Robin Grinter on [email protected] [email protected] Oldham The next meeting will take place at 2.30pm on From the BHA Sunday, 19 March The group have an informal discussion on the basic ideas of Humanism. The Schools Work meeting will take place at the Squire Knott, 55 In February 2017, thanks to a successful crowdfunding Yorkshire Street, Oldham, OL1 3SL. There is no charge campaign, the BHA distributed a children’s book What to attend but attendees are expected to buy a drink. is Humanism? to primary and secondary schools All are welcome! across the United Kingdom. The book explores Humanist views of morality and ethics, the origins of Stockport Humanists life, and the relationship between religion and the The next meeting will take place at 7.30pm on state. This is the first time the BHA has distributed a Wednesday, 15 March. Marge Rose, local Humanist book to primary schools, and for many schools it will Funeral Celebration comma will outline what her be the first book about non-religious worldviews in duties as a Funeral Celebrant involve as well as their libraries. sharing some anecdotes relating to her work. The The book’s authors Michael Rosen and Annemarie meeting will take place in the back room at the Boars Young commented: ‘Millions of people in this country Head, 2 Vernon Street, SK1 1TY (near the Market and all over the world work out their philosophy of Place). There is a £2 charge (free for first timers). life, and how to live, without referring to religion. The group’s next afternoon social will take place on 22 Schools quite rightly spend a good deal of time and March at 2.30pm at the Rhode Island Coffee Bar, 2 effort exploring the ideas and philosophies of the Little Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1JT. world’s great religions, but the ideas of humanism, secularism, and atheism are largely ignored. The mismatch between what is believed and what is taught is surely wrong. Our book aims at opening up a discussion about what humanism is, and how people

March 2017 Newsletter 3 live their lives as humanists. Throughout the book, We offer 18 months membership for your initial readers are encouraged to ask questions, in order to subscription if you take out a standing order. To take help them think for themselves and thus to counter up this offer, please complete the membership prejudice.’ Stephen Fry, Natalie Haynes, Philip application and the standing order form which can be Pullman, Jim Al-Khalili, and Shappi Khorsandi have downloaded from the same link, and return them also provided contributions. The BHA hopes that the both to us with your cheque for your first subscription book will go towards helping schools meet their duty (plus any additional donation). The date of the first (defined in the 2015 court judgement in Fox v payment under your standing order should be 18 Secretary of State for Education) to teach about months after the date on which you complete the Humanism, the UK’s principal non-religious worldview, membership application form. as part of Religious Education (RE) lessons.

Northern Ireland Humanists (NIH) Keep In Touch NIH have recently published a table setting out the For more about what’s going on at GMH check out most recent positions of the main political parties on some of the links below. eight issues of particular concern to Humanists.

See here http://www.meetup.com/Greater-Manchester- Humanists GMH Published Poet https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterHum You are invited to the launch of GMH member Fokkina anists McDonnell’s debut poetry collection Another Life. on https://www.facebook.com/groups/5231173231/ Tuesday 14 March 2017, at 7.30pm at The Engine House, International Anthony Burgess Foundation gmhumanists.blogspot.co.uk (IABF), Chatton Mill, Cambridge Street, Manchester, @gmhumanists M1 5BY. There is car parking opposite the building and a café with licence at the Engine House. Fokkina http://gmh.humanist.org.uk/ will read some of her poems during the first half with her Chorlton poet friends, including Hannah McKay and Rachel Sills. In the interval there will be time to Feedback buy a copy of Another life and Fokkina will read some If you would like to comment on this newsletter or of her poems after the break. The book is published send in suggestions for future content (jokes, articles, by Oversteps Books, Devon. If you’re planning to links, book reviews or whatever) please email the attend, please let Fokkina know by phone/text 07768 editor at: [email protected] 361899 or by email: [email protected] Cathryn McGarvey – Newsletter Editor Membership We now have:  87 paid up members  791 on our email list  309 Meet-up Group members  563 Facebook Group members

Annual subscriptions are £15 for waged and £10 unwaged. If you’d like to become a member of GMH you can download our brochure, which includes a membership application form, from http://gmh.humanist.org.uk/home/contact-us/.

March 2017 Newsletter 4