Grass Roots Humanism

The British Humanist Association defines Humanism as "an ethical and fulfilling non-religious approach to life."

They aim to "extend and deepen public understanding of Humanism" , to promote a way of life that is "rational...and ethical" and "seek to make meaning in life in the here and now".

One audience the BHA hopes to reach is religious people - not to `convert`  them away from their beliefs, but "with a view to increased mutual understanding" and "to ensure that humanists and the non-religious are represented in dialogue between people of different beliefs on a local level."

If that sounds like your kind of thing and want to learn more, click here ; 

http://humanism.org.uk/about/our-aims

Leicester`s History Preserved

Earlier this month, Leicester Civic Society launched their `At Risk` War Memorials Project. They are asking for the public`s help to trace four missing memorials and they are also appealing for more information on two servicemen whose memorials they have rescued.

The two sites involved are St Saviour`s and St Michael`s & All Angels, both churches and both in Leicester City I believe.

More information can be found here ;

http://www.leicestercivicsociety.org.uk/news.asp?item=195

If you are interested in this issue you may also like to see my article `War Memorials`, posted 13 June 2012 at http://angpav.blogspot.com .

The Leics Civic Soc has also joined the campaign by a local councillor for a statue to commemorate suffragette Alice Hawkins (1863 - 1946), who lived in Leicester for most of her life, working as a machinist at a local shoe factory and also raising a family there ;

http://www.leicestercivicsociety.org.uk/news.asp?item=188

 

 Alice Hawkins

 

 

 

 Alice Hawkins` descendants run a memorial website in her honour, `Alice Hawkins Suffragette ; A  Sister of Freedom`. A link to the site can be found by clicking on the Civic Society link directly above this picture.

 

 

 

 

 

This Month`s Good Cause ; Brake - The Road Safety Charity

Another change I`ve made to this blog is the addition of a `This Month`s Good Cause` feature at the top right-hand side of the blog as you look at it.

I`m making a start with Brake - The Road Safety Charity.

I`ve been interested in this organisation for quite a while - when it was formed in the mid-`80s (as Brake - The Campaign for Safer Lorries) the trade union I was a member of at that time was one of it`s main backers and for some reason the interest stayed with me.

Since then, Brake has grown in size and sophistication and now takes on a much broader role than originally envisaged, including support for victims of traffic accidents and their families.

Of course, there are many charities and other worthy causes competing for our attention these days, but give Brake`s site a look. If anyone feels moved to send a donation or become involved in some way, that would be great, but if I only manage to raise a few people`s awareness of the work they do, I`ll be happy with that.

The Amiable Virtues of Amber Valley

Regular visitors to this blog may notice that I`ve made a few changes lately.

Among these are the inclusion of a set of links relating to Derbyshire`s  Amber Valley, the area in which I live, particularly Visit Amber Valley and Amber Valley Info.

Amber Valley is an area that combines attractive countryside, a fascinating history, particularly in the area of industrial heritage, and, let`s be honest, some areas badly in need of regeneration. 

Personally  I  feel that the countryside in this area is not nearly as widely known and appreciated as it could be, and, as you may have noticed, I do try to address this issue in my own small way from time to time.

I would like to take this opportunity to give an extra plug to Amber Valley Info, a project set up by local councillor Paul Curran-Bilbie to promote business, community and tourism in the area. I am very much in favour of this, and would encourage others to visit the site. If you like it, recommend it to others !

I`ve already provided a link, but just to re-iterate, the site can be found at www.ambervalley.info.

Hoonaloon Books

The current Hoonaloon Books newsletter is online now and can be found at http://hoonaloon.blogspot.com.

Yorkshire Bill Has Another Charitable Impulse

As I`ve mentioned before, Yorkshire-based musician Bill Nelson has found an interesting way to support the Sara`s Hope Foundation, a charity which works to support children who have cancer and their families.

Some time ago, the charity approached Bill, who achieved fame and fortune in the `70s/`80s with the bands BeBop Deluxe and Red Noise and as a solo performer, to ask if they could use some of his music for promotional purposes.

Bill came up with his own counter-proposal, which was that each year he would compose and record a song specifically to be sold online as a fundraiser for the charity.

He has done this for some years now, and the latest track, called Starland, can be purchased by clicking on this link ;

http://www.musiczeit.com/album.php?album=2631&Bill+Nelson+Starland

The Nelson/Sara`s Hope tracks from previous years can still be found at the same site, their titles being  Six Strings for Sara, A Million Whistling Milkmen, Rocket to the Moon and Holey Moley It`s a Parallel World.

Any queries  ;

www.billnelson.com

http://sarashopefoundation.co.uk

Sherwood Wayfinder Campaign

Somewhat belatedly, we turn our attention to the issue of Nottinghamshire Walker dated Autumn/Winter 2012.

The magazine contains details of the Sherwood Wayfinder Campaign, which incorporates the Sherwood Forest Project and the King`s Clipstone Project.

The campaign aims to promote Sherwood Forest as whole (not just the various attractions located there) as an attraction for visitors and to reclaim what Ramblers President Kate Ashbrook calls "the lost and secret paths in the area."

The project has been spearheaded by Ramblers members Chris Thompson and Stephen Parkhouse and the intention is to "build a partnership ...between all interested parties, whether user groups, environmental groups, businesses, landowners or public bodies."

Mr P  concedes that "a marvellous network of multi-user routes already exists in and around the Forest" but point out that "five times as many people make google searches for the New Forest as Sherwood Forest" with the ratio falling to 40 to 1 for walking, hotels and B&Bs. 

A website has been set up, and our intrepid duo are keen that as many people as possible should visit the site, which is at www.sherwoodforestvisitor.com. Anything anyone can do to promote the site, whether by giving it a plug in an article, adding it as a link to a blog, sharing it with others or any of the other things people do will be much appreciated, I am sure.

Relevant articles in the Notts Walker are ;

Chris Thompson - Area Footpaths Secretary`s Report
Stephen Parkhouse - Sherwood Wayfinder Campaign ; Opening Sherwood`s Secret Paths
and additional material provided by Kate Ashbrook* after her visit to the area during October 2012.

I am not sure who you would contact to get a copy of the magazine, but here are some useful sites ;

www.sherwoodforestvisitor.com

www.nottsarearamblers.co.uk

* Ms Ashbrook has reproduced her comments on her blog, which can be found at http://campaignerkate.wordpress.com . They are headed `Sherwood  Wayfinder Campaign` and were posted 26 Dec 2012.