An Intelligent Voter’s Guide to Austerity and Economic Beliefs

Austerity and Economic Beliefs PosterWednesday 23rd April 7.30pm The Green House Hotel,  4 Grove Road, Bournemouth BH1 3AX

A presentation by economist Douglas Lock

If nations are like households then of course they shouldn’t try to solve a debt crisis by piling up more debt. But maybe nations are nothing like households and the very worst thing they can do in a recession is to cut spending.

Why do politicians tenaciously maintain their economic beliefs even in the aftermath of massive, systemic failure?

In this fascinating talk Douglas will trace the history of a set of economic beliefs which have become known as ‘neoliberalism’. These beliefs have held sway in much of the world economy for the last thirty years and show little sign of decline despite increasingly extreme inequality, and having brought the world to the brink of economic collapse in that period. He will also explain how he believes the Coalition Government’s austerity policy is irrational, has cost us billions in lost wealth, and has hit the poor hardest.

Douglas is a retired university economics lecturer and Chair of Christchurch & East Dorset Constituency Labour Party. His key interests are economic affairs, politics and community life.

“Join us for an intriguing examination of austerity policy and its implications, from retired economics lecturer Douglas Lock”

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

(The Green House Hotel can also be accessed from Gervis Road, which is well lit and has roadside parking).

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

The Paradox of Skepticism and the Dangers of Bogus Skeptics

Paradox of SkepticismSaturday 12th April 2.00pm  
Moordown Community Centre, Coronation Avenue, Moordown Bournemouth BH9 1TW

With Richard Wilson, skeptical activist and author of ‘Don't Get Fooled Again: The Sceptic's Guide to Life’.

Skeptics try to take a rational, evidence-based approach to life, yet a cold hard appraisal of the evidence suggests that, for most human beings, rationality is a constant struggle.

Even those disseminating wholly bogus ideas, from corporate pseudo-science to paranoid conspiracy theories, have sought to appropriate the language of rational inquiry with increasingly disastrous results. But what are the hallmarks of bogus skepticism, and how can we distinguish it from the genuine article? In this presentation, Richard highlights the problems that can arise when peddlers of myth and quackery succeed in portraying themselves as skeptics.

Richard’s book ‘Don't Get Fooled Again: The Sceptic's Guide to Life’ highlights the extent to which we are all vulnerable to deception and delusion, and proposes practical ‘rules of thumb’ to minimise the risk of being fooled in future. ‘Don’t Get Fooled Again’ has been praised by George Monbiot as “rigorous, witty and beautifully-written”, slammed by Spiked Online for failing to be sceptical enough about climate change, and cited by the High Court in a strike-out of a defamation case against the Health and Safety Executive by one of those named in the book.

"Join us to hear author and skeptical activist Richard Wilson explain how to protect ourselves from the dangers of bogus skeptics

Free entry (donations appreciated).     Everyone welcome!

Richard Wilson is a writer and activist with a particular focus on scepticism, corruption, human rights and freedom of expression. He studied philosophy at University College London, and has written for the New Humanist, New Statesman, Prospect Magazine and Comment is Free. His first book, Titanic Express, recounts his search for the truth about the death of his sister Charlotte, who was killed in Burundi in 2000. 

Please help us promote Dorset Humanists and this event by displaying an A4 poster. Download an A4 printable copy here, or email Dave at DHcensus(at)hotmail.co.uk for a PDF.

Click here to view details of other forthcoming and recent events on this website.

Dorset Humanists affiliate to NSS

At Dorset Humanists 2014 AGM on 8th March, members voted to affiliate to the National Secular Society (NSS).

We trust it will be a long and mutually beneficial partnership.

March Bulletin

DW 6298984 (crop)Our Annual General Meeting this Saturday (8th March) promises to be an interesting meeting with updates from your committee, discussions about our aims and objectives, and a proposal for us to affiliate to the National Secular Society.  Full details are inside this month's Bulletin

We're also looking forward to David Croman's fully-illustrated talk on Sigmund Freud later in the month. David's talks are always very well-prepared and absorbing, so do come along. And don't forget our popular social evening too, this Thursday (6th March). For more information on these and all our forthcoming events, download this month’s bulletin.

The bulletin also features Humanist news from Dorchester, Hamburg and Iceland, as well as a book review and profiles of two new committee members.

We look forward to seeing you soon.

Best wishes,
David Warden
Chair of Dorset Humanists