Issues you need to know about

BY

LEO IGWE

Humanism is a way of thinking and living that focuses on humanity, human rights and dignity. Humanists believe that “all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights”; that humans “are endowed with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood”(and sisterhood). Humanists believe that all individuals are entitled ‘to equal rights and freedoms without distinction, of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.’ Unfortunately, this is not practically the case. The world is plagued by so much inequality, injustice and division

Today, millions of people are victims of caste discrimination and untouchability worldwide. They suffer and endure various forms of indignity, inhuman and degrading treatment

In October, humanists and human rights activists will be gathering at Imo State University to explore ways of combating and eliminating this social disease. Both caste discrimination and untouchability are closely related. Those who are discriminated against on the basis of caste are treated as untouchables, that is, those who are socially dirty and capable of defiling others.

For those of you that don’t know, the great state of Colorado will be voting on a constitutional amendment that will declare a fertilized egg a person. Yeah, the Dog can’t believe it either, but it is true. In this state we have 106, 000 people that were willing to sign a petition to get this amendment on the ballot, which can only make you sad for the state of critical thinking in CO.

Here is the thing, we know very precisely when pregnancy starts, and it is when the fertilized egg implants itself in the uterine wall. This signals the woman’s body that it is time to gear up and start making the hormones that drive the biological changes which sustain the embryo. It is also when home pregnancy tests can tell if she has a bun in the oven. Unfortunately, this can happen as long as 8 days after the egg is fertilized. This new amendment (note, not a law, but an actual change in the constitution) would recognize the egg as a person eight whole days before anyone could reasonably know that it existed!

By Leo Igwe

In October, humanists will be meeting in Owerri in Southern Nigeria to explore ways of combating caste discrimination and untouchability in Africa ’s most populous country.

The event, to be held at Imo State University , is organized by the Nigerian Humanist Movement with the support of the International Humanist and Ethical Union- a London based umbrella group of humanist, ethical and freethought groups worldwide.

Caste discrimination is a social disease the affects millions of people around the globe. The Caste system obtains in countries such Cameroun, Gambia, Japan, Nigeria, Senegal, India etc. It accords some human beings inferior- sub-human- status and denies them their fundamental rights and dignity.

In Nigeria , caste discrimination is most pronounced in the South-east where the Osu people are treated as “untouchables” .

Throughout the world, millions of people suffer systematic disability, injustice, oppression, stigmatization, indignity and human rights abuses because of their caste status. This conference is significant because it aims at providing a rational, humanist and human rights based response to this cultural scourge.

By Leo Igwe

Recently I attended a human rights meeting in Swaziland . It was held in Ezulwini, one of the country's few cities and tourist destinations. This event offered me an opportunity to acquaint myself with the Swazi society-the history, thought, culture and tradition of the people. I interviewed many Swazis, met with some university students and activists to find out about the religious and superstitious beliefs in the country. Swaziland in a land locked nation surrounded by South Africa and Mozambique . It is one of the smallest countries in Africa with a population of almost one million comprising primarily Bantu speaking Swazi people. The Kingdom was colonized by Britain and gained independence in 1968. Swaziland is a deeply religious and superstitious society. The Swazi people like other Africans believe in God, spirits and charms to a fault. They revere these supernatural objects and uphold all sorts of irrational beliefs and traditional nonsense to the extent that they undermine their cultural development, political emancipation and civilization.
According to the online Encyclopedia - the Wikipedia - 82 percent of Swazis are Christians, while 18 percent profess Islam, Bahai, Hindusm, and other beliefs.

BY LEO IGWE

Critical Thinking is the ability to examine, reason, and judge issues, claims and propositions, objectively, vigorously, thoroughly and carefully. To think critically, one must be able to question, analyze and challenge ideas. One must be undogmatic. One must be able to exercise the will to doubt. The Greek philosopher Socrates acknowledged the value of critical thinking when he said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” And there is no way can truly realize an 'examined life without examining our beliefs particularly the paranormal ones

MIRACLE SCANDAL IN SOUTH AFRICA.
By Leo Igwe

In April, a South African newspaper the Sowetan, published a report http://www.sowetan.co.za/News/Article.aspx?id=740954 revealing the deception, fraud, manipulation and exploitation underlying the miracle sessions of the Nigerian televangelist, Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and his church, the Christ Embassy. The report indicts Pastor Chris for staging and faking miracles.
A member of the church in South Africa the Sowetan that one of the pastors offered him 10,000 rands ( 150,000 naira) to rehearse and pretend to be in a wheelchair three weeks before the all night prayer called Night of Bliss held at the Johannesburg stadium in April. The man was approached by a pastor of the church in the quest ‘for people to work for the church’ and ‘help draw crowds’ to the event. The plan was that the man would sit on a wheelchair and be moved around while pretending to be physically ill and would stand up and walk as soon as Pastor Chris stopped praying for him.”

The rights of religious minorities
By Leo Igwe
RELIGIOUS minorities refer to non-dominant faith or belief groups. These communities lack access to power, face discrimination, persecution and human rights abuses. They have development policies of the religious majorities imposed on them by the state.
In Nigeria, Islam and Christianity constitute the religious majorities. While the Traditional Religion, Jehovah Witness, Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, Bahai Faith, Grail Message, Eckankar, Rosicrucian, Hare Krishna, Mormons, Gordian Religion, Devotees of Guru Maharaji and Satya Sai Baba, Humanism etc are the religious minorities. I want to quickly point out that humanism is categorised as a religious minority not because it is a religion per se, but because it is a life stance informed by religious unbelief.

Again, in some parts of the country, Islam and Christianity are religious minorities. For instance, in South-east and South-south, Islam is a minority faith. While in North-east and North-west, Christianity is in the minority.

Cross posted from DailyKos.

The U.S. has a long history of using its forces and laws to put down Labor. In the late 1800s Pinkerton agents, paid by the DOJ, became famous for infiltrating the Molly Maguires. In the early 1900s, state militias and local police were used to break strikes by breaking heads.

Today, the criminal immigrant isn't an Irish miner; it's a Mexican warehouse worker, meatpacker or hotel maid. And today's Pinkertons are ICE agents working outside their own rules and the rule of law to coddle exploiters and criminalize the exploited.

The latest incident is occurring in Long Island City, Queens, where the Teamsters of Local 805 are working to organize nearly 900 warehouse workers at a FreshDirect warehouse.

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