News

A collection of 649 posts

Brexit

Handing Over a Poisoned Chalice

This is a comment from below a recent Guardian article. Would be interested to see what people think: If Boris Johnson looked downbeat yesterday, that is because he realises that he has lost. Perhaps many Brexiters do not realise it yet, but they have actually lost, and it is all

EU referendum

My Thoughts on the EU Referendum...

It's been a late night and an early morning. I hope my head is clear enough to have written something at least representative of what I think and vaguely lucid. As our PM, David Cameron, quits (in October), and we wonder who the hell will replace him... My

EU referendum

I Have Voted

Unsurprisingly to anyone reading the blog over the last few weeks, I have voted for the UK to Remain. I think the UK will vote to leave at about 55% or more, even. Today's sad voting experience: Stubbington Community Centre and park, near where I live, have never

EU referendum

"Dishonesty on an industrial scale"

This is a must see video for information on the EU Referendum. A University of Liverpool lecturer in EU constitutional law, Professor Dougan, makes the above claim, whilst explaining how the EU works, complaining that there is not enough clear explanation about how EU laws work. His analogy of Creationists

EU referendum

What Has the EU Ever Done for Us?

This an oft-quoted question, but pertinent. Too often the arguments have been negative. This was part of my final summary in the EU debate I was in that seems like an age ago: I want UK to be at forefront, influencing the direction of the EU and of all of

Donald Trump

Orlando, Radical Islam and Trump

This is a very quick one as I have a trapped nerve in my back and typing is very painful. First of all, I hope the families of those involved are getting all the support they need. Real, tangible, non-prayery help. It's terrible. My gut reaction is that

Bernie Sanders

Brilliant: Owen Jones Interviews Michael Moore

Owen Jones (whom I have met and is a lovely guy) interviews the trailblazing Michael Moore in this fascinating 13 minutes. From Bush to Blair to Clinton to Obama to Brexit and Universal Healthcare. Oh, and Trump. Enjoy:   [youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=adLevrVBCqI[/youtube]

EU referendum

The Bias and Downright Lies of the UK Media over EU Referendum

[caption id="attachment_8245" align="aligncenter" width="617"] Anthony Hilton, Evening Standard[/caption] I have been planning on writing on the EU Referendum for some time now, having debated it in Bournemouth for the Dorset Humanists. For the US and other non-UK readers here,

Dorset Humanists

My Opening Speech in Last Night's EU Debate

As mentioned, I was on a three person panel defending remaining in the EU against three others arguing for leaving. The debate was in the context of humanism, especially as it was hosted by the Dorset Humanists, in Bournemouth. I was tasked with going first for Remain, and thought I&

Economics

The EU, Free Market Economics, Regulation and Vacuum Cleaners.

Sorry I have been a bit quieter than normal recently, but I have had to prepare for a public debate on the EU referendum obsessively concerning the UK at the moment. I was on a three person panel defending remaining in the EU against three others arguing for leaving. The

Debate

On the Panel for an EU Debate for Dorset Humanists

Just to let anyone know here that I am presenting in an EU debate in Bournemouth tonight. It is taking place at the Green Hotel for the Dorset Humanists. The details follow: Humanism shares many values with the European Union (EU) such as liberty, equality, human rights, democracy, the rule

Barack Obama

White Supremacy and the US Presidency

This is a meme going about the internet at the moment, but I think it is pretty much on the money. What do you think? When a faithfully married black president who was the son of a single-mother, the first black editor of Harvard Law review and a professor of

Debate

Upcoming Debate on the UK in the EU

I have a debate coming up later this month. As many of you may know, especially those British readers bombarded with stuff in the UK media, the UK will be undergoing a referendum in June to advise the government on the people's opinion as to whether or not

Bangladesh

Motiur Rahman Nizami: Top Bangladeshi Islamist Leader Hanged

We have all heard about the persecution of atheists, secularists and progressives in Bangladesh over the last few years. One might, at first glance, think this might be retaliation for such, or linked in some way. However, this is clearly not the case. It seems that the lust for secure

BHA

How Elections in NI and Wales Stack up for Humanists

Here are some infographics produced by the British Humanist Association (BHA) detailing which parties support humanist ideals: It seems like the Greens, the Lib Dems and Alliance Party of Northern Ireland are the clear winners. I saw, on the BHA facebook page this comment: Can't we keep humanism

BBC

Inside Obama's Whitehouse

This is a superb 4 part BBC series with behind the scenes footage, scenes and interviews with the people behind the decisions, and Obama himself. I learnt a lot from this. It is really very good. Watch it now before it gets taken off the net. Great stuff. I also

extremism

Shame on the liberals who rationalise terror

I am having a really busy day today, so will not be able to put up any commentary on this, but I will recommend reading Nick Cohen's excellent piece, "Shame on the liberals who rationalise terror". Kerry believes the satirists Islamist gunmen killed at the Charlie

atheism

Islamists call for Sharia law in Pakistan after Salman Taseer blasphemy row

Oh dear. You would think that the bombing in Pakistan my lead to a public outrage against hardline Islamic stances. Not so, as the Independent reports: Thousands of protesters have clashed with police in Islamabad in the second day of protests over blasphemy laws in Pakistan. Demonstrators gathered outside Parliament

Bangladesh

Bangladesh court upholds Islam as religion of the state

I reported on this the other day. However, unsurprisingly, the move to return Bangladesh to a secular state were ultimately unsuccessful. As AlJazeera reports: Dhaka, Bangladesh -  Bangladesh's High Court on Monday rejected a 28-year-old petition calling for the removal of a constitutional provision recognising Islam as the

Bernie Sanders

Clinton Most Reliable, Trump Highest Proportion of Lies, Research Finds

Politifact have been researching the reliability of claims by candidates in the US primaries, and the Republicans do not come out well, especially ole Trumpy. DailyNewsBin reports: The trendy knock on Hillary Clinton, even among those who acknowledge that she’s the most capable and knowledgeable of the 2016 candidates

Donald Trump

Trump IS Inciting Violence and Hatred. He Should Be Stopped

This is a terrible state of affairs. Watch this. It is very, very worrying. (You might need to turn your ad blocker off to see the video). Trump's campaign has been based around convincing voters that America isn't great and that he is the solution to

Donald Trump

Marco Rubio Goes To Town On Trump & The Media - His Best Moment?

If Rubio had been this forthright, sensible and erudite, he would have been in with a real chance, perhaps.

gun control

Oklahoma House votes to eliminate license, training requirements for openly carried sidearms

Oklahoma seems to have gone nuts. For a Brit, this is all so alien and obviously stupid, to my tiny mind. Not only can they openly carry guns in public, but they are not required to have licenses or training. I am stunned by this. As the Tulsa World reports:

Religion and Society

Missouri senate passes controversial religious liberty bill after 39-hour filibuster

To introduce this, the New York Daily News reports: A filibuster by a group of Democratic lawmakers in the Missouri state senate ended Wednesday after nearly 40 hours of non-stop debate. The senators, from the St. Louis and Kansas City areas, tried to stall a vote on a bill calling

climate change

Obama on Trump, Science, Reason and World Leaders

This is a seriously good and interesting speech. This is why Obama is a good leader for the US. He is so well respected around the world. Heck, I was in the Hampshire Schools Library Service today and emblazoned, as you walk in, was an awesome Obama quote. Could you