Secular Activism Conference

Sydney Atheists, in conjunction with the Secular Coalition of Australia conducted the first Secular Activism conference of its kind on Saturday 22nd of February. We had 65 attendees from as far afield as Perth, Adelaide, Melbourne, and Newcastle. The speakers: Professor Marion Maddox from Macquarie University, Cathy Byrne, Lara Wood from Fairness in Religion in Schools, Joe Kelly - the Principal for Cranbourne South Primary School in Victoria- and former senator Lyn Allyson presented a magnificent array of talks that were very engaging and relevant to the quasi religious state that we find ourselves in.

The print, audio and visual media, particularly in Victoria has run very hard on the issue of religious incursion into the State School system, one of the most important topics discussed on the day:

www.theage.com.au/victoria/primary-school-principals-shut-down-religious-education-classes-20140216-32ty8.html

http://www.smh.com.au/victoria/primary-school-principals-shut-down-religious-education-classes-20140216-32ty8.html

http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/uproar-at-biblezine-sex-tips-for-kids-20140222-338zn.html

http://www.theage.com.au/national/education/access-ministries-asserts-its-right-to-teach-religion-in-schools-20140221-337r1.html

http://www.theage.com.au/comment/the-age-editorial/children-do-not-deserve-this-kind-of-religious-instruction-20140222-3391k.html

On behalf of Sydney Atheists and the Secular Coalition of Australia, I would like to give our most heartfelt thanks to attendees and the speakers who made the event the great success that it was.

Steve Marton

Extra Speaker at Secular Activism Conference

Joe Kelly (http://www.theage.com.au/victoria/primary-school-principals-shut-down-religious-education-classes-20140216-32ty8.html) the Principal for Cranbourne South Primary School in Melbourne axed religious instruction classes from his school. He has received widespread coverage in the Melbourne media over the last few days. Joe is coming to Sydney for the Secular Activism Conference and has been added to the list of speakers .

Seats are still available. For details, please go to http://www.meetup.com/sydneyatheists/events/161265172/ and book through http://www.trybooking.com/EDQK or ring Steve Marton 0450 123 211

Success in Victoria against Special Religious Instruction

Just in time for the Secular Conference comes a massive article in The Age regarding opting out of religious classes in Victorian schools. One of our guests, Lara Wood from Fairness in Religion in Schools, will report on that success on Saturday.

Tickets are still available
To make a booking, please go to: http://www.trybooking.com/EDQK 

February Talks

A big thank you to Teresa Russell from Primary Ethics for her talk about the history of  Primary Ethics, what the organisation does, its success and its future.

Those who would like to contribute as Ethics teachers can contact Primary Ethics via their website at http://www.primaryethics.com.au/

Also a big thank you to Bruce Long who told us about the meaning of life.

All in all a Valentine's evening well spent

Secular Activism Conference

If anyone is able to take a billet from interstate,

please contact me.

Thank you,

Steve Marton

0450 123 211

Secular Activism Conference

Saturday 22nd February 11.00am till 6.00pm, with option to stay for social and dinner till pub closing.

Please make and pay for your bookings as soon as possible, as the event will be open to the public from Wednesday the 12th of February. Admission is by ticket only.

For details please see below or on our Meetup website:  http://www.meetup.com/sydneyatheists/events/161265172/

To book, go to:

http://www.trybooking.com/EDQK 

Debate:

To watch the Bill Nye/Ken Ham debate “Is creation a viable model of origins?”, please go to: http://debatelive.org/

To view the letter from the Secular Coalition of Australia to Bill Nye, please go to: http://whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com/2014/02/02/an-open-letter-to-bill-nye/#respond