Eve S On-Line Dating Profile

Welcome

We had a very successful event on 12 March to mark Darwin’s birthday. The event was well attended and brought our members and supporters together for the afternoon in a relaxed environment to hopefully ponder the wider issues relevant to Humanism. The event also provided us with a focus on publicising the work that we do generally and has resulted in an increase in our supporter and membership base! Thanks to our committee and in particular David Milne for doing such a good job on the promotion of the event!

LOL!

Eve’s On-line Dating Profile

Sex: Female

Age: About 15 minutes since I was invented, but I don’t look a minute over 10 minutes

Location: Over by some ferns

Height: A tall vine

Weight: A bunch of sticks

Body type: Only female type there is

Favourite music: Birds

Favourite movies: Birds

Favourite food: Birds

Hobbies: Being tempted, birds

Profession: Woman

Personality: VERY easily tempted

Turn-ons: Adam, birds

Income level: A handful of beautiful sticks

Looking for: The only other person in existence

A priest, a minister, a rabbi and a bear!

A priest, a minister, and a rabbi want to see who’s best at his job. So each one goes into the woods, finds a bear, and attempts to convert it. Later, they all get together. The priest begins: “When I found the bear, I read to him from the catechism and sprinkled him with holy water. Next week is his first Communion.”

“I found a bear by the stream,” says the minister, “and preached God’s holy Word. The bear was so mesmerized that he let me baptize him.”

They both look down at the rabbi, who is lying on a gurney in a body cast. “Looking back,” he says, “maybe I shouldn’t have started with the circumcision.”

Past Events

Darwin Day Celebration – 12 February

The regular Central Manchester monthly meeting was replaced by a celebratory day at the Manchester Conference Centre to mark Darwin’s birthday on 12 February. The event started at 1pm and was attended by 90 visitors. There were a range of exhibits from Population Matters, RSPB, Amnesty International,thINK the book, Friends of the Earth, Barton Theatre Company and Peace Mala from a local primary school. At 3.00pm the Greater Manchester Humanist Choir sung 'Seikilos Epitaph' and 'Darwin's Revolution' botharranged by former Musical Director Karl Kramer. This was followed by a talk by Professor Matthew Cobb from the Life Sciences Department at the University of Manchester on "The Brave New World of CRISPR Gene Editing".

Matthew introduced the topic by saying that he does not think that governments and institutions understand the importance and implications of recent developments in gene editing technology and the CRISPR technique which enables the precise editing of genes in virtually any organism, including humans. CRISPR stands for ‘clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats’ which are segments of DNA containing short, repetitive base sequences, that are the same in both directions. Each repetition is followed by short segments of spacer DNA from previous exposures to foreign DNA (e.g., a virus or plasmid). The cell's genome can be cut at a desired location, allowing existing genes to be removed and/or new ones added to effect improvements in that DNA.

Matthew explained that the ability to alter genetic material of organisms was developed in the 1970s but involved molecular tinkering over long periods. With the development of the CRISPR technique in 2013, modifications that took 18 months are now being done in 6 weeks. Two sources claim to have devised it: Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna from Berkeley, and George Church and Feng Zhang from Boston Broad Institute. CRISPR genome editing has many applications in the areas of human gene therapy, somatic therapy, agriculture, and vector control.

The application to human gene therapy enables changes in human genes that alter the genetic make-up of the next generation. There is a general reluctance to allow this on ethical grounds: CRISPR gene therapy is not legal in the UK, Australia or Canada. In the USA the technique cannot be applied using federal money, but is permitted using private funds.

CRISPR techniques can be applied in the treatment of illnesses without altering the genetic make up of the next generation by editing the body’s somatic cells. This type of intervention is therefore not subject to the same ethical concerns as genetic manipulation of human embryos. CRISPR therapies for blood based diseases, leukaemia, HIV and sickle cell anaemia may soon be trialled and the technique shows great promise as a treatment for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

CRISPR is also being used in agricultural research exploring its application to boosting crop resistance to pests thereby reducing the toll of livestock disease.

As to vector control, CRISPR could be used to introduce new genetic material into organisms that transmit disease, such as the malaria carrying mosquito, that both makes females sterile and accelerates its spread throughout the whole population, so as to effectively eliminate that 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.

In the question and answer session, when asked if CRISPR could assist with curing dementia or cancer Matthew responded that the application of CRISPR to combat a disease will depend on whether the disease or condition has an identifiable genetic sequence that can be easily disabled. Dementia and cancer do not have identifiable genetic sequences.

When asked if CRISPR could be used to regrow organs, Matthew answered that this was possible in theory by using stem cells that can be grown into any organ.

Matthew thought the application of the CRISPR system will need a political system to buy-in to it and to enforce it and that the short-termism associated with most political systems makes this problematic.

Matthew recommended the following sources on CRISPR: Ted Talks on CRISPR on YouTube, “CRISPR Democracy: Gene Editing and the Need for Inclusive Deliberation” in Issues in Science and Technology, Volume XXXII Issue 1 Fall 2015, “CRISPR-Cas9 ("Mr. Sandman" Parody) A Capella Science” on YouTube, “Life’s Greatest Secret” by Matthew Cobb.

Other Upcoming Meetings

Central Manchester – Humanist Discussion Group

Do you enjoy exploring contemporary social, political and philosophical themes? If so why not join GMH at their monthly discussion forum! The next meeting of the group will be held on 21 March and will discuss Artificial Intelligence and Morality. Notes for the meeting are posted here. We meet at The Waterhouse, 67-71 Princess Street, Manchester, M2 4EG at 8.15pm in one of the quieter spaces in the pub. The event is free but attendees are expected to buy a drink.

Bolton

The next meeting will take place at 7.00pm on Thursday, 9 March and will involve lively discussion on topics chosen by members. The meeting will take place in the Mercury Hotel bar, 540 Manchester Road, Westhoughton. There is no charge to attend the meeting and all are welcome! Enquiries about the meeting or other group activities should be sent to

Oldham

The next meeting will take place at 2.30pm on Sunday, 19 March The group have an informal discussion on the basic ideas of Humanism. The meeting will take place at the Squire Knott, 55 Yorkshire Street, Oldham, OL1 3SL. There is no charge to attend but attendees are expected to buy a drink. All are welcome!

Stockport Humanists

The next meeting will take place at 7.30pm on Wednesday, 15 March. Marge Rose, local Humanist Funeral Celebration comma will outline what her duties as a Funeral Celebrant involve as well as sharing some anecdotes relating to her work. The meeting will take place in the back room at the Boars Head, 2 Vernon Street, SK1 1TY (near the Market Place). There is a £2 charge (free for first timers).

The group’s next afternoon social will take place on 22 March at 2.30pm at the Rhode Island Coffee Bar, 2 Little Underbank, Stockport, SK1 1JT.

Exploring Humanism: An Introductory Course

Seven Tuesday evenings, 19 September to 31 October 2017, 7.00pm to 9.15pm

At Friends Meeting House, 6 Mount Street, Manchester M2 5NS

The course has run for the last 8 years, and this year will be its thirteenth presentation!

It’s for anyone who is interested in finding out what Humanism has to offer as a non-religious way of answering the ‘big questions’ of life, and developing values that help us live enjoyable and worthwhile lives. Humanism provides the ideal value system for a secular society.

The course is interactive and enjoyable, with video clips, an input on Humanist ceremonies and group discussions of interesting and challenging issues with like-minded people. The course fee is £20 with an ‘early bird’ reduction to £17 for applications received by September 4. For further details and application form please contact Robin Grinter on

From the BHA

Schools Work

In February 2017, thanks to a successful crowdfunding campaign, the BHA distributed a children’s book What is Humanism? to primary and secondary schools across the United Kingdom. The book explores Humanist views of morality and ethics, the origins of life, and the relationship between religion and the state. This is the first time the BHA has distributed a book to primary schools, and for many schools it will be the first book about non-religious worldviews in their libraries.

The book’s authors Michael Rosen and Annemarie Young commented: ‘Millions of people in this country and all over the world work out their philosophy of life, and how to live, without referring to religion. Schools quite rightly spend a good deal of time and effort exploring the ideas and philosophies of the 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 live their lives as humanists. Throughout the book, readers are encouraged to ask questions, in order to help them think for themselves and thus to counter prejudice.’ Stephen Fry, Natalie Haynes, Philip Pullman, Jim Al-Khalili, and Shappi Khorsandi have also provided contributions. The BHA hopes that the book will go towards helping schools meet their duty (defined in the 2015 court judgement in Fox v Secretary of State for Education) to teach about Humanism, the UK’s principal non-religious worldview, as part of Religious Education (RE) lessons.

Northern Ireland Humanists (NIH)

NIH have recently published a table setting out the most recent positions of the main political parties on eight issues of particular concern to Humanists.

See here

GMH Published Poet

You are invited to the launch of GMH member Fokkina McDonnell’s debut poetry collection Another Life. on Tuesday 14 March 2017, at 7.30pm at The Engine House, International Anthony Burgess Foundation (IABF), Chatton Mill, Cambridge Street, Manchester, M1 5BY. There is car parking opposite the building and a café with licence at the Engine House. Fokkina 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 buy a copy of Another life and Fokkina will read some of her poems after the break. The book is published by Oversteps Books, Devon. If you’re planning to attend, please let Fokkina know by phone/text 07768 361899 or by email:

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/.

We offer 18 months membership for your initial subscription if you take out a standing order. To take up this offer, please complete the membership application and the standing order form which can be downloaded from the same link, and return them both to us with your cheque for your first subscription (plus any additional donation). The date of the first payment under your standing order should be 18 months after the date on which you complete the membership application form.

Keep In Touch

For more about what’s going on at GMH check out some of the links below.

http://www.meetup.com/Greater-Manchester-Humanists

https://www.facebook.com/GreaterManchesterHumanists

https://www.facebook.com/groups/5231173231/

gmhumanists.blogspot.co.uk

@gmhumanists

http://gmh.humanist.org.uk/

Feedback

If you would like to comment on this newsletter or send in suggestions for future content (jokes, articles, links, book reviews or whatever) please email the editor at:

Cathryn McGarvey – Newsletter Editor