PRESIDENT'S REPORT
ALAN McPHATE
The New Year is a time for reviewing the previous year.
We thank our retiring Treasurer, John Drake, for his conscientious
attention to the Society's finances and look forward to his continued
involvement in assisting to arrange speakers for our public meetings.
Ray Dahlitz is taking a year's leave of absence from Committee
duties and we thank him for ensuring that the Humanist public meetings
at the Balwyn Library each month were addressed by excellent speakers
on a wide range of topics. We also acknowledge Ray's work as Acting Editor
of the Victorian Humanist during last year. Ros Ives has agreed to
undertake this role, in addition to the responsibility for production
the quarterly Australian Humanist. Clearly this is a huge task for one
person and the Committee is keen to recruit assistance in this field.
We welcome our new Treasurer, Stephen Stuart and new Committee Members,
Marie and Howard Hodgens.
There are a number of issues relevant to Humanists for 2001
continuing from previous years. Jubilee 2000, the aims of which we
share with many church organisations, did not achieve its objective
for the 'developed' countries forgiving the debts of the 'under-developed'
world. However, the United Kingdom Government has now cancelled all
debts owed to it. There is little chance that the new United States
administration will follow suit. We hope we are wrong in this prediction!
We will continue to be involved with the process of Reconciliation,
concern for the detention of 'boat people', mandatory sentencing and
the continuing debate on voluntary euthanasia.
The Humanist Standing Committee on Bio-ethics, convened at the
recent Australis2000 Congress, plans to give a Humanist
view when subjects such as social implication of cloning and related
topics are brought up for public discussion. We look forward to another
year of activism for Victorian Humanists.
Congratulations
Australia Honors 2001
To Gareth Evans, Australian Humanist of the Year 1990
and HSV member, made an AO (Officer of the Order of Australia),
for services to the Australian Parliament, particularly for
advancing foreign policy and trade interests in Asia and
through the United Nations.
Also, to Margaret & Tup Baxendall Australian Humanists of
Year 1994 and HSV members awarded a OAM (Medal of Order of
Australia) for services to community organisations.
-
I went to a bookshop and asked the saleswoman,
"Where's the self-help section?" She said if she told me
it would defeat the purpose.
- Is there another word for synonym?
- What do you do when you see an endangered animal eating an endangered plant?
- Everybody repeat after me: "We are all individuals."
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Humanist Action
On Government failure to sign United Nations Optional Protocol (CEDAW)
The HSV sent a letter of protest to office of Prime Minister over
failure of government to sign the United Nations Optional Protocol,
on the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination
Against Women (CEDAW). A long self-justificatory letter was received in response.
On Destruction of ABC
The HSV wrote to Managing Director of ABC, Jonathon Shier, Minister for
Telecommunications, Senator Alston and the Leader of Opposition, Kim Beazley
expressing the view that the role of the ABC as an independent, National and
comprehensive broadcaster of news, information and entertainment was essential
for Australia to be an effective democracy, as well as a civil society.
Our letters voiced strong concern over the axing of the science program
Quantum and dismantling of the Quantum production unit,
the failure to renew Paul Barry's tenure as presenter of Media Watch
without securing a suitable replacement. We also pointed out how
inappropriate and injudicious was the blow-out in senior management salaries
at a time when the ABC is making do with less due to successive cuts to its budget.
Responses
-
From Mr Shier, on 21 Dec. 2000, we were assured that
"Media Watch will continue to be broadcast, returning in the new year,
stronger than ever. A decision and an announcement about a new presenter
will be made shortly."
-
From Senator Alston. The Pontius Pilate, "the Government has no power of
direction over the ABC in relation to operational and staffing matters."
-
From Mr Beazley agreeing with HSV concerns and while not able to give
any detailed commitment he states "that the ABC must be adequately funded
so that it can meet its community service obligations and fully embrace
the opportunities offered by the introduction of new technologies."
They can't do this to our ABC
Letter in The Age 4.12.2000
Who gave Mr Howard, Senator Alston, Mr McDonald and Mr Shier the right
to emasculate the ABC - our ABC? Mr Howard, as part of his election manifesto,
did not say "I promise, if elected, to cut funding, reduce news and current
affairs and commercialise the ABC."
Whether you believe the present restructuring is outside the control
of Mr Howard or that he is condoning it or encouraging it or has set the agenda
is immaterial, because the process of turning the ABC into a banal
organisation is happening with frightening rapidity.
It is still our ABC. We cannot afford to let this destruction continue.
Once the stimulation for debate and thought is gone, it will be very
difficult to restore.
Meg Paul, Camberwell (HSV member)
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