YS: Can we meet you, briefly (full name and positions held within the
humanist circuit, local and international)?
 
Uttam: I am Uttam Niraula, current vice president of IHEYO and the executive director of Society for Humanism (SOCH) Nepal. I have spent about 6 years volunteering within the humanist movement.   
 
YS: Nepal is the host country for the next IHEYO conference, how far with preparations?

Uttam: We are in the peak perios of our preparations. Venue and accommodation plans are completed. We are also almost through with preliminary discussions on the topics and sub-themes of the conference. Names of guest speakers are also almost finalized. A lot of international friends are contacting us for joining IHEYO conference in Nepal. The whole IHEYO team is also working hard to make the conference a huge success.  The entire plan and program schedule will be on IHEYO’s website soon.    
 
YS: Secularism. How did your group arrive at tagging the conference for secularism?

Uttam: Nepal is the youngest secular country in the world. It was declared secular just 2 years back. Earlier it was the only  Hindu country in the world. Many religious extremists are still crying foul over this change to secularism and for seeking for reversion of that decision. Nepal is also drafting its constitution at the moment.  

Furthermore, there are a lot of religious unrests happening in almost all South Asian countries. Political parties are clearly carrying the religious flags which is the main cause of social unrests and violations of human rights. They are making each person enemy against other community by birth. This is the social schooling which is carried out by politicians, and of course religious groups and unfortunately government itself. Until state and beliefs are separated, our society would not be able to make any significant move towards peace and justice. We can see many religious massacres in India, dogmas in Middle East, Pakistan and Bangladesh. It is the same in Nepal. It is just because of lack of awareness of secularism. People still do not know the meaning and importance of secularism.

In this backdrop, SOCH,Nepal is supporting community and parliament of Nepal in drafting secular constitution which will guarantee the natural justice to all people. We are therefore glad to have IHEYO's support in further enthreshing and highlighting the essence of secularism during this conference in Nepal. It has two benefits for participants: participants will observe and analyze the process of writing secular constitution in Nepal and also help Nepalese community by showing solidarity for secularism.  
 
YS: What do you think are the roles of and for youths in guaranteeing a secular global community?

Uttam: My only concern is how to spread humanist ideas. For that, organizations like IHEYO, SSA should establish massive youth networking in every corner of the world. Today’s youth should at least see the beauty of the world breaking religious barriers for that is the only way to push the world towards harmony and justice.  
 
YS: Aside talking, talking and talking, what other side attractions should intending participants expect?

Uttam: We are organizing the visit of Participants to a village where SOCH Nepal is implementing the sustainable development program. Participants will also visit the parliament of Nepal where the secular constitution of Nepal is being drafted. Of course they are youths so will want some refreshment and recreation, we will assist participants for that as well.  
 
YS: What are your greatest challenges now as local organisers of the international event?

Uttam: We are in political transition in Nepal with a lot of ups and downs at the moment. It is hard for Nepal government to uphold strong sense of the rule of law. Now you can imagine the mamoth of challenges that  we, as local organisers, have to surmount. But so far our optimism has brought us thus far and in fact we are more fired-up for the conference now.
 
YS: Thanks for your time. Do you have any parting shot for us (last words)?

This thought holds in almost all life situations and happenstances as well as in the management of social relations. In an organisation, for instance, the yesterday, as vital as it is to the organisation, is only useful if relevant to today's situation, mostly as a source of history in setting records straight and; today, as dear as it is to us, is ever conscious of posterity, often brought about by tomorrow. Finally, tomorrow is like a ghost that hunts, just like yesterday, and so uncertain, as today. This paradox then explains why organisations are so concerned about all these three phases of life for without due concern to the three there will be no history, no event and no projections. Indeed, the going concern is never guaranteed.

The yesterday-today-tomorrow nexus explains why the board members of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) are so concerned about the survival of their youth arm, the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation (IHEYO). Several measures have been taken, and are being taking, to ensure that IHEYO remain active not just for today but to guarantee the going entity of the lifestance called Humanism. The leaders of the protected youth arm, IHEYO, on the other hand, are ever conscious of posterity hence their untiring efforts in ensuring that despite all odds, they are able to carry on witn certain projects that can endear and sustain the youths within the humanist lifestance.

While the leaders of these two organisations have the onus task of setting priorities and engineering projects that will gurantee the future, it is the task of everyone of us to work together with them so that when we become part of 'yesterday', those that will be living 'today' at the time, will not just think well of us but also be happy to borrow a leaf from us for the sake of their own 'tomorrow'. This is an obligation that every humanist must fulfil for the sake of yesterday, today and tomorrow! We can do it.

Onward!

'Yemi Ademowo Johnson, Editor

This thought holds in almost all life situiations and happenstances as well as in the management of social relations. In an organisation, for instance, the yesterday, as vital as it is to the organisation, is only useful if relevant to today's situation, mostly as a source of history in setting records straight and; today as dear as it is to us is ever conscious of posterity, often brought about by tomorrow. Finally, tomorrow is like a ghost that hunts, just like yesterday, and so uncertain, as today. This paradox then explains why organisations are so concerned about all these three phases of life for without due concern to the three there will be no history, no event and no projections. Indeed, the going concern is never guaranteed.

The yesterday-today-tomorrow nexus explains why the board of the International Humanist and Ethical Union are so concerned about the survival of their youth arm, the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation. Several measures have been taken, and are being taking, to ensure that IHEYO remain active not just for today but to guarantee the going entity of the lifestance called Humanism. The leaders of the protected youth arm, IHEYO, on the other hand, are ever conscious of posterity hence their untiring efforts in ensuring that despite all odds, they are able to carry on witn certain projects that can endear and sustain the youths within the humanist lifestance.

While the leaders of these two organisations have the onus task of setting priorities and engineering projects that will gurantee the future, it is the task of everyone of us to work together with them so that when we become part of 'yesterday', those that will be living 'today' at the time, will not just think well of us but also be happy to borrow a leaf from us for the sake of their own 'tomorrow'. This is an obligation that every humanist must fulfil for the sake of yesterday, today and tomorrow! We can do it.

Onward!

'Yemi Ademowo Johnson, Editor

This thought holds in almost all life situiations and happenstances as well as in the management of social relations. In an organisation, for instance, the yesterday, as vital as it is to the organisation, is only useful if relevant to today's situation, mostly as a source of history in setting records straight and; today as dear as it is to us is ever conscious of posterity, often brought about by tomorrow. Finally, tomorrow is like a ghost that hunts, just like yesterday, and so uncertain, as today. This paradox then explains why organisations are so concerned about all these three phases of life for without due concern to the three there will be no history, no event and no projections. Indeed, the going concern is never guaranteed.

The yesterday-today-tomorrow nexus explains why the board of the International Humanist and Ethical Union are so concerned about the survival of their youth arm, the International Humanist and Ethical Youth Organisation. Several measures have been taken, and are being taking, to ensure that IHEYO remain active not just for today but to guarantee the going entity of the lifestance called Humanism. The leaders of the protected youth arm, IHEYO, on the other hand, are ever conscious of posterity hence their untiring efforts in ensuring that despite all odds, they are able to carry on witn certain projects that can endear and sustain the youths within the humanist lifestance.

While the leaders of these two organisations have the onus task of setting priorities and engineering projects that will gurantee the future, it is the task of everyone of us to work together with them so that when we become part of 'yesterday', those that will be living 'today' at the time, will not just think well of us but also be happy to borrow a leaf from us for the sake of their own 'tomorrow'. This is an obligation that every humanist must fulfil for the sake of yesterday, today and tomorrow! We can do it.

Onward!

'Yemi Ademowo Johnson, Editor

The topic of the 2009 International Youth Humanist Conference is  "Secularism: The Open Door for Human Rights Defense" and we shall be  discussing human rights questions  as pertaining to church-state separation. We shall also be focusing on youth humanism globally and how we, as individuals and organizations, can work together to achieve our common goals.

For more information and inquiries contact: communication.office@iheyo.org

http://www.iheyo.org/node/846

The pastor of one Pentecostal church in north-west London said he held four or five exorcisms a year and claimed they always worked. However, gay campaigners said the 20-minute ritual often traumatised those on whom it was carried out. Details of the practice emerged after a video of the exorcism of a 16-year-old American boy was posted on YouTube.The footage was taken down amid calls for the church leaders involved to be prosecuted. Here, the Rev John Ogbe-Ogbeide, who runs the United Pentecostal Ministry in Harrow, said he carried out the riutal to cast out evil spirits that were responsible for homosexuality.

He added: 'The evil spirits are telling you what's wrong is right, the opposite sex is not attractive.'There was no minimum age for the ceremony because a demon could take hold at any point in life, said Mr Ogbe-Ogbeide.Sometimes people were calm during the process but sometimes their body convulsed.'There are some who speak but we know this is the demon. The demon can speak through anybody,' he added.

Mr Ogbe-Ogbeide last performed the ritual in January to help a young man, who was planning to marry his girlfriend but said he was also in love with another man. He added: 'He said if it carried on it would upset their plans to have kids and he wanted to live in matrimony.' But the Lesbian and Gay Christian Movement said it was frequently contacted by people left traumatised by the experience.

Chief executive the Rev Sharon Ferguson, said 'a lot of fundamentalist groups believe homosexuality can be cured'.Human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell said he had heard of exorcisms on children, which was child abuse 'pure and simple'. He added: 'Some adults who have been pressured into exorcisms have been preyed upon when they're in a vulnerable state and not really able give fully informed consent.

'They're maybe people with learning difficulties or mental health problems. There needs to be a thorough investigation of all the churches who are doing these exorcisms.' In March, it was revealed that a fifth of therapists, many in the pay of the NHS, had attempted to 'cure' patients of homosexuality.

For the most part it is believed that Michael Jackson did not officially practice any one religion devoutly, although he did explore different alternative religions throughout his life. Michael Jackson's parents were Jehovah's Witnesses. Michael was born a Jehovah's Witness, and practiced this religion for a short period of time after his hit "Thriller" was released. In 1987, when the Jehovah's Witnesses criticized his album, Michael Jackson announced that he was no longer a member of this religious following.In 2007, he briefly took interest in Islam when his brother Jermaine was converting to Islam. There is speculation that Michael Jackson converted in November 2008. However, no official statement or confirmation of these rumors has ever been made, or been publicly released by him or his publicists.

There is no doubt that Jackson's personal life generated significant controversy but what many do not know is thay he is a true humanitarian, an example to us all.  Jackson devoted much time and money to a wide range of charities. He loves children and takes time out when touring secretly visting sick children. He also has special rooms at his home Neverland for sick and terminally ill children to stay over. He was listed in the 2000 edition of the Guiness Book Of World Records for breaking the world record for the "Most Charities Supported By a Pop Star". It states that Michael Jackson has supported 39 charity organizations either with monetary donations through sponsorships of their projects or by participating in their silent auction.

Michael Jackson wrote “We Are The World” with Lionel Richie in 1985 and performed it as part of an all-star single to raise money for Africa in 1985.

In 1984, Jackson equiped a 19-bed-unit at Mount Senai New York Medical Center. This center is part of the T.J. Martell-Foundation for leukemia and cancer research. Later in the year, he visited the Brotman Memorial Hospital, where he had been treated when he was burned very badly during the producing of a Pepsi commercial. He donated all the money he received from Pepsi, $1.5 million, to the Michael Jackson Burn Center for Children. In 1986, he set up the “Michael Jackson United Negro College Fund Endowed Scholarship Fund”. This $1.5 million fund is aimed towards students majoring in performance art and communications, with money given each year to students attending a UNCF member college or university.

He donated the proceeds from the sales of The Man In The Mirror to Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a camp for children who suffer from cancer. Jackson donated tickets to shows in is 1989 Bad Tour to underprivileged children. The proceeds from one of his shows in Los Angeles were donated to Childhelp USA, the biggest charity-organization against child-abuse. Childhelp of Southern California then established the “Michael Jackson International Institute for Research On Child Abuse”.

In 1992, he established the Heal The World Foundation, whose work has included airlifting 6 tons of supplies to Sarajevo, instituting drug and alcohol abuse education and donating millions of dollars to less fortunate children.
Here is a list of some charities he has supported:
    * AIDS Project L.A.
    * American Cancer Society
    * Angel Food
    * Big Brothers of Greater Los Angeles
    * BMI Foundation, Inc.
    * Brotherhood Crusade
    * Brothman Burn Center
    * Camp Ronald McDonald
    * Childhelp U.S.A.
    * Children's Institute International
    * Cities and Schools Scholarship Fund
    * Community Youth Sports & Arts Foundation
    * Congressional Black Caucus (CBC)
    * Dakar Foundation
    * Dreamstreet Kids
    * Dreams Come True Charity
    * Elizabeth Taylor Aids Foundation
    * Juvenile Diabetes Foundation
    * Love Match
    * Make-A-Wish Foundation
    * Minority Aids Project
    * Motown Museum
    * NAACP
    * National Rainbow Coalition
    * Rotary Club of Australia
    * Society of Singers
    * Starlight Foundation
    * The Carter Center's Atlanta Project
    * The Sickle Cell Research Foundation
    * Transafrica
    * United Negro College Fund (UNCF)
    * United Negro College Fund Ladder's of Hope
    * Volunteers of America
    * Watts Summer Festival
    * Wish Granting
    * YMCA - 28th Street/Crenshaw

Jackson died at the age of 50 on June 25, 2009, in Los Angeles, California after suffering from cardiac arrest. Indeed, the world has lost a rare gem, a rare heart tied to giving!

http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/113-michael-jackson
http://www.looktothestars.org/news/2729-michael-jacksons-charity-legacy
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Jackson
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_was_Michael_Jackson%27s_religion

The Russian President Dmitry Medvedev expressed "outrage" at the murder, and ordered a top-level investigation. Ms Estemirova had been investigating human rights abuses in Chechnya for the independent Memorial group. Memorial is one of Russia's best known rights groups, working to document Soviet-era abuses and those taking place more recently, especially in Chechnya.

In recent months, she had been gathering evidence of a campaign of house-burnings by government-backed militias.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8152351.stm

Medvedev said preteen students at about 12,000 schools in 18 Russian regions would take the classes. They will be offered the choice of studying the dominant Russian Orthodox religion, Islam, Buddhism or Judaism, or of taking an overview of all four faiths, or a course in secular ethics. Students and their parents must be allowed to choose freely, Medvedev said in addressing top clerics and officials at his residence outside Moscow. "Any coercion, pressure will be absolutely unacceptable and counterproductive," he said.

By 2012, the classes might be expanded nationwide, Medvedev said. The pilot project includes about 20 percent of Russia's schools. The offer of a choice appeared aimed to ease concerns that Russian Orthodoxy will be forced on schoolchildren as the church gains influence and tightens ties with the state. Mandatory classes in Orthodox culture were introduced in a few Russian regions three years ago, but they alarmed adherents of other confessions who said religion has no place in schools in a secular state. The classes also were criticized as being reminiscent of the forced study of communism or scientific atheism during Soviet times, with one mandatory ideology being substituted with another.

In New Zealand, the Roman Catholic Church imposed a ban on priests placing Communion wafers on the tongues of worshippers and on the sharing of Communion wine. It also asked parishioners to avoid bodily contact at services, including shaking hands. In Chile, where 40 people have died from swine flu, authorities canceled a popular religious festival that normally draws tens of thousands of worshippers to the northern town of La Tirana, prompting protests from the faithful.

The militant group, locally known as 'Taliban', is opposed to western education and has been campaigning for the imposition of Sharia'h (Islamic law) on the 36 states of the federation. The group allegedly sparked off the crisis when its members launched an attack on a police station in Bauchi, leading to the bloodbath.

Over 150 people were left dead, while indigenes of the area are said to be fleeing their homes.

http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=149983

TS has a well organized structure to achieve and realize its aims and objectives. There are units in almost all the villages and towns. These units are elected by the direct participation of all the members of the unit. These preliminary units are controlled and guided by the democratically elected district Bodies. These District Bodies are elected by the office bearers and all the members of the preliminary units. This whole set up is maneuvered by the state Body duly elected by the district bodies and the preliminary units.

In order to disseminate the philosophy of atheism, rationalism and free thought the TS organizes public meetings, conferences study camps, seminars, publication of literature and its distribution, dramas and demonstration of scientific games and play let etc. TS has its own drama and cultural squads and magic show teams.

TS has its own teams who shoulder the responsibility of treating the mentally deranged individuals. TS has solved about 300 cases of brick/stone throwing in the houses, burning and tearing of clothes, missing of precious and valuable articles including gold and silver ornaments from the houses. TS has also treated 40,000 cases psychologically ill patients allegedly said to be possessed by the ghosts, bhootas, pretays and evil spirits etc. The activities of TS are mainly confined to the state of Punjab but now and then it operates in the neighboring states of Haryana, Himachal Pardesh, Rajsthan, Delhi and Chandigarh, Uttar Pardesh, Madhya Pardesh & Jammu Kashmir also.

With an open mind and with a view to enhance and promote the cause of atheism and rationalism TS has very cordial relations and understanding with all other like-minded organizations such as Atheist center Vijaywada, India Rationalist Association, The Atheist Society of India Visakhapatnam, Bihar Budhivadi, C.S.I.C.O.P. India (lead by B. Premand) etc. TS is having a firm Convection of exchanging the view and experiences with other organizations for the mutual benefit and in order to establish a strong world fraternity of the atheists/rationalists etc.

TS encourage and accelerate the spirit of free inquiry among its members, sympathizers, supporters and school going children. TS thus liberates them from the shackles of religious mental slavery.
Find out more on the organisation's website www.tarksheel.in

My hope for Nepal conference is not only that of a fruitful deliberations, but also an expectation of good resolutions and experiences we can be proud to take home to better our national organisations and working fields. Sometimes we just listen to already familiar knowledge, sometimes we learn so much new things, but it is never a waste of time as repetitions make it possible to reflect and re-evaluate our work again and again; while  new issues bring new ideas, reconstructions and projects. It is too late to be pessimistic. It is time to take action; why not join us in Nepal?

Silvana Uhlrich, President IHEYO

He thinks to himself "I know I lead a wild life but I wasn't that bad. I never thought it would come to this." Looking up he sees that it is his turn to be processed into hell. With fear and a heavy heart, he walks up to the counselor.

Counselor: What's the problem, you look depressed?

Guy: Well, what do you think? I'm in hell.

Counselor: Hell's not so bad, we actually have a lot of fun. Do you like to drink?

Guy: Sure, I love to drink.

Counselor: Well then, you are going to love Mondays. On Mondays we drink up a storm. You can have whiskey, rum, tequila, beer, whatever you want and as much a you want. We party all night long. You'll love Mondays. Do you smoke?

Guy: Yes, as a matter of fact I do.

Counselor: You are going to love Tuesdays. Tuesday is smoke day. You get to smoke the finest cigars and best cigarettes available anywhere. And you smoke to your heart's desire without worrying about cancer because you are already dead! Is that great or what? You are going to love Tuesdays. Do you do drugs?

Guy: Well in my younger days I experimented a little.

Counselor: You are going to love Wednesdays. That's drug day. You can experiment with any drug you want and you don't have to worry about overdoses or getting hooked because you are already dead. You are going to love Wednesdays. Do you gamble?

Guy: Yes, I love to gamble.

Counselor: You are going to love Thursdays because we gamble all day and night -- black jack, craps, poker, slots, horse races, everything! You are going to love Thursdays. Are you gay?

Guy: Uhh...no.

Counselor: Oh , you're gonna hate Fridays...

By Rorke Haining (Culled from http://www.angelfire.com)

The paper outlines how young people can be included and empowered as part of the strategies that Member States and the United Nations system are creating for the achievement of the MDGs. It can be used as a lobby tool and guide for programmatic action, but ultimately, it is a call to all Member States, UN specialized agencies, and civil society to create mechanisms for youth to participate in the implementation of the MDGs and take advantage of the work and activities youth are already leading. This paper aims to show that investing in youth will provide a long-lasting and effective dividend towards meeting the MDGs through building social capacity for development to 2015 and beyond.

Download Youth and the MDGs report in: English