Janet Stemwedel has a brilliant post at the SciAm blog about the perils of idolizing human people.
The coordinated effort to build a reliable body of knowledge about the world depends on a baseline level of trust between scientists. Without that trust, you are left having to take on the entire project yourself, and that seriously diminishe[s] the chances that the knowledge you’re building will be objective.
The IHEU reports that a humanist group in Uganda that does terrific important work needs help in the wake of a robbery.
The Humanist Association for Leadership, Equality and Accountability (HALEA) runs education and support services for children in some of the poorest parts of Kampala. [Read more…]
Southall Black Sisters point out a bad new bit of proposed legislation.
Earlier this week, the House of Commons approved regulations which are intended to implement residence test for most of the 46 forms of civil legal aid. [Read more…]
And now, the NHS’s FAQ page for Ramadan.
Is fasting harmful when a woman is expecting a baby? Must pregnant women fast?
There’s medical evidence to show that fasting in pregnancy is not a good idea. If a pregnant woman feels strong and healthy enough to fast, especially during the early part of the pregnancy, she may do so.
Wtf? It’s not a good idea, but she may do so if she’s strong? Why would they say that?! That’s not medical advice – it’s contrary to medical advice. But it gets worse. [Read more…]
Another NHS page on how to deal with the health risks of Ramadan; this one is much more forthright, so that’s good.
Some common health complications that can arise from fasting and how to prevent and deal with them.
The following advice has been provided following consultation with medical experts and Islamic scholars.
Um…they’re the Health Service; they shouldn’t be consulting religious “scholars” on health issues. [Read more…]
The Student Secular Alliance had a conference – SSA Con East – this weekend.
Look who met there – three of the best!
Via Facebook
That’s Heina, Leo, and Hiba.
The NHS has advice on Ramadan fasting and health.
Fasting during the month of Ramadan can be good for your health if it’s done correctly. [Read more…]
Diana Darke reports for BBC News Magazine on the destruction of Syria’s ancient treasures. There are many photographs.
The Krak des Chevaliers has been bombed and shelled.
The Great Mosque in Damascus took a hit to some gorgeous mosaics.
The Temple of Bel in Palmyra has been battered.
The temple is one of the most important religious buildings of its time in the Middle East – it represents a synthesis of Roman with Greco-Persian-Babylonian architecture. [Read more…]
Kirsten Gillibrand – you know, the wild and crazy “radical feminist” US Senator – tweeted about a must-read article in the New York Times today, so I read it.
It’s an extended look at one investigation of a sexual assault complaint at a college.
She was 18 years old, a freshman, and had been on campus for just two weeks when one Saturday night last September her friends grew worried because she had been drinking and suddenly disappeared. [Read more…]
This is a bit weird. I don’t mean in a “help help omigod US soldiers are being told to be polite to Moooslims” way, but in a “wait what about the health and safety of the soldiers themselves” way. US troops have been told to respect Ramadan.
Some 5 million people live in Baghdad but its busy sidewalk restaurants are now empty. No smoking, no drinking — not even water. [Read more…]