Humanist Cafe
Dec 18, 2013
Topic: Issues to ponder for 2013 and 2014 – Why are we celebrating?
Happy Holidays??
As a Humanist, what are you celebrating this solstice holiday season? Let’s look at the year 2013 and star-gaze into 2014 for signs of human progress or failure.
Some major world media events of 2013:
January – Hostage taking at Algeria natural gas facility – 40 killed
February – Francis becomes new Pope as Benedict retires
March – EU bails out Cyprus banks for 10 billion Euros
April – Building collapse in Bangladesh killing 1129
April – Boston Marathon bombing
June – Edward Snowdon discloses US spy operations
June – India flash floods kill 5700 and trap 20,000
July – Egypt, President Mohamed Morsi is deposed in a military coup d’état
September – Islamic militants attack mall in Nairobi kill 62
November – Massive typhoon hits The Philippines kills more than 6000
November – Iran negotiates to limit their nuclear development program
December – Nelson Mandela dies
Some lesser known events from 2013:
January – Patti Page dies
February – Invention of 3-D printer
March – Canada becomes the first country to withdraw from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
March – UN adopts Convention to Combat Desertification
April – The UN adopts the Arms Trade Treaty
May – Scientists create first embryonic stem cells by cloning
December – Situation at Fukushima nuclear site deteriorates
[You may think of another important event not listed here – bring it to the discussion!]
Questions to ponder:
Are natural disasters increasing? Are the effects of climate change likely to get worse in 2014?
How do the world geo-political events of 2013 affect us here in Canada?
Will Homo Sapiens be better off in 2014?
Who cares?
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Joke for the season: Q: “What did one planet say to the other planet?” A: “I hear you have Homo Sapiens… Don’t worry, it will pass.”
See you there!