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The
Humanistisch Verbond Flanders
Goals
The Humanistisch Verbond (H.V.) groups people who cherish a laic-humanist
worldview.
The H.V. emphasizes
the freedom of thought and action for the individual as well as
the social responsibility of man. The H.V. in other means defends
both freedom and solidarity.
H.V. believes in the alliance and affinity of people all over the
world and also respects nature deeply. H.V. groups the freethinking
movement that existed before world war II and was created as a movement
for critical thought, freedom, dialogue and tolerance. It was founded
1951.
- H.V. devotes itself
to building a pluralistic community that holds respect and space
for each attitude of life.
- H.V. endeavours
for the recognition of the humanist attitude towards life in all
issues of ethics and philosophy of life.
- H.V. informs,
gathers, sustains and helps the member subsidiaries on local and
provincial level that were created over the years in Belgium.
Youth
The H.V. has reached many of the important goals for which it was
created: the equal rights (with other confessional beliefs), the
constitutional recognition of the laic community in Belgium, the
creation of the laic course in the schools and now recently the
law on euthanasia.
But there is still work ahead; we can do many things in terms of
debate, sensibilisation and information on the field of bioethics,
multicultural and pluralistic society, discrimination of smaller
groups (lesbians and homosexuals), human rights etc.
We plan to engage and interact with youth to build a society of
active and conscious citizens.
Contact person: Sien Simoens, info@vrijzinnighumanisme.be.
Organisation
The H.V. was one of the most important forces behind the construction
and defence of the laic organisational structures. The H.V. is a
member-organisation and has around a hundred of local departments
in the Flanders.
The H.V. has also a number of different workgroups that work around
topics such as old age (de Grijze Geuzen), gender (the women workgroup),
community forms, politics, multicultural society (MUSA) and ethics
(in the field of education). Each of these groups is a place of
meeting and discussion with all those interested, be it individuals
or groups in the community.
Periodicals:
1. Het Vrije Woord Magazine (bimonthly)
Magazine by and for the freethinker community.
2. Mores (bimonthly)
Pedagogical magazine for teachers of the school course on laicism
and for parents of the pupils.
3. Het Kaderblad, magazine for the heads of the subsidiaries
of H.V.V.
The H.V. also publishes books and pamphlets.
Media:
Radio Broadcasts
Each monday the H.V. broadcasts the programme 'laicism and philosophy'
on VRT-Radio 1 from 19:20 PM to 19:45 PM.
Teletext
The H.V. looks after the teletext pages of the H.V. on the public
channel CANVAS (Cantext p. 731) with attention to freethinking related
issues or views and upcoming activities.
Contact H.V.
Website: www.vrijzinnighumanisme.be
or www.uvv.be.
Address: Lange Leemstraat 57, 2018 Antwerpen, Belgium,
Tel.: +32 (0)3- 233 70 32, Fax: +32 (0)3- 233 55 13,
E-mail: info@vrijzinnighumanisme.be.
@Written by Sien Simoens, Study Departement
H.V.
Involvement in IHEYO
The H.V is a member organisation of the International Humanist and
Ethical Union (IHEU). The H.V. was present by means of a representative
at the 2002 International Humanist Youth Conference in the Netherlands.
The head of the Humanistisch Verbond, Marianne Marchand, was present
at the "adult conference" of IHEU.
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Humanistische
Jongeren
Humanistische
Jongeren (HJ) is an open, progressive, freethinking/liberal, pluralistic
youth organization.
HJ gives high priority to youth matters,
focusing in particular on recognizing the contribution that young
people can make as responsible citizens. HJ is committed to communicating
directly with young people on issues that have an impact on them.
The main objectives of HJ:
- to promote secular humanist principles,
- to stimulate social consciousness
of young people,
- to call for the endeavour for
a liveable earth with social justice, mutual respect for the rights
and opinions of every human being and every society, an earth
without pulling down the environment,
- to battle against racism,
- to constitute a world picture
that is objective by engaging in research relating to the critical
examination of all elements in their respective context and many-sidedness,
- to focus on the negative impact
of global economy on society and the rise of the right wing. The
HJ tries to give alternative solutions and has implemented several
major initiatives to support this priority.
Open Space
HJ wants to create an open space for young people so they can develop
themselves freely and culturally to get a bright perspective on
the future.
This creation of an open space is
important as alternative to a commercial society of consumption,
profit and individualism with a rapid changing of values, especially
regarding external appearances and body-culture. Young people fully
committed to the environment or discovering the values of music,
the beauty of literature, etc. probably get more satisfaction than
out of any trend of the next most popular jeans.
Cultural development means personal development, as well as development
of a communal sense and cooperation with other people in order to
build a bridge between different cultures and classes and to make
culture accessible for all classes.
How does HJ realizes its objectives?
- by analysing and discussing the
society in all its aspects,
- by collecting information on emerging
problems and by providing youth of objective information,
- through: skill training, youth
training programmes for people at the age of 16, capacity-building
for youth, youth leaders and youth NGOs through leadership training
programmes
- to give services to children and
youths
- regional meetings or conferences
- workshops on youth related problems
and interests
- organising activities for raising
awareness and thematic meetings on specific issues
- publication of several magazines
for different age-groups of children and teenagers (two monthly
magazines) that can be used in the moral lessons at primary and
secondary schools. During the year 2001-2002 HJ has published
magazines under the broad title "Time is money" which
was aimed to stimulate thinking about time.
Overview of recent activities
*The legislation of an association.
*What is humanism/what are freethinkers?
*Debate on Palestina (June 2002).
*Skill training: language: copywriting, ortography.
*Pukkelpop: great music festival (August 2002).
*Cooking activity: how to cook healthy and cheap (Sept. 2002).
*African day (Sept. 2002).
*The National Youth Weekend to celebrate and promote the contribution
of young people to HJ (Oct. 2002).
*How to create a website (Nov. 2002).
Contact HJ
Address: Humanistische Jongeren VZW,
Moretusstraat 2 and 4, 1070 Brussel
Tel: +32 (0)2-521 79 20, Fax: +32 (0)2-521 46 42
E-mail: info@humanistischejongeren.org
Website: www.hujo.be
@Written by Lieve Vleaminck and Nicolaj Vercruysse
Involvement
in IHEYO
The HJ is a full member of IHEYO.
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Unie
Vrijzinnige Verenigingen
Brand Whitlocklaan 50, 1200 Brussel
Telefoon: 02 735 81 92, e-mail: Frederik.dezutter@iheyo.org
Website: www.uvv.be.
*UVV
is a full member of IHEYO.
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Youth
humanism around the world