Laura Mappin

Humanist Interests Cross-pollination

Laura Mappin

November 10, 2013

Laura Mappin
Laura Mappin

 

Who are you? What do you care about enough to join an organization to work on it?

Probably each of us is connected with a number of other organizations doing interesting work in the world. What are those organizations? Who is connected to them? And what are they (you!) doing there?

Come and share your secrets with us!

Anyone present who would like to share a minute about an organization and how they’re involved with it will be invited to do so. We’ll work in a little Q&A throughout the program.

Feel free to bring flyers, business cards, links to websites, etc. to offer to those who might be interested.

 

Martin Squibbs <msquibbs@ix.netcom.com> has provided below the list of organizations discussed at the Forum.

Details of Organizations Promoted by those Attending November 10th HCSV Sunday Forum

(Revision B – Nov 16th 2013)

I list below the details of the organizations which were mentioned and promoted during the November 10th Forum. If anyone wishes to add further information, or add an additional organization, please email me at the email address below and provide the details and I will update this document and provide to the webmaster for uploading. msquibbs@ix.netcom.com

 

1)      Bill Rausch

Mended Hearts

http://mendedhearts.org/

Our mission is dedicated to “Inspiring hope and improving the quality of life for heart patients and their families through ongoing peer-to-peer support”.

 

2)      Alex Havasy

Planned Parenthood

http://www.plannedparenthood.org/

Planned Parenthood believes in the fundamental right of each individual, throughout the world, to manage his or her fertility, regardless of the individual’s income, marital status, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, age, national origin, or residence.

 

3)      Carlos Feder

Beit R’fuah (House of Healing), offering support relating to Mental Health issues

http://www.betham.org/community-caring-community/event/beit-rfuah-support-group-potluck-and-discussion-3

For patients suffering from a mental disease, and their relatives, The meetings take place on the second Wednesday of each month,  see above link. In addition to the support and free education that the group provides, its goals are to dispel the stigma of mentally ill patients.

 

4)      Burt Liebert

Transition Palo Alto

http://transitionpaloalto.org/

We’re part of a world-wide grassroots movement to build local resilience and connections close to home. Since 2010, we’ve been mounting creative and thoughtful responses to the challenges of resource depletion, climate change, and economic instability.

See also

http://www.transitionnetwork.org/

http://www.transitionus.org/

 

5)      Bob Gaunnt

Coalition for Democratic World Government

http://www.cdwg.org/

We are a coalition of organizations working in various ways toward a civilized system of world law.

 

World Peace Education Project

Please contact HCSV if you are interested in this group and we shall forward your enquiry to Bob.

Infohcsv@yahoo.com or 650 964 7576

 

6)      Paul Gilbert

ACLU – American Civil Liberties Union

https://www.aclu.org/

The ACLU is our nation’s guardian of liberty, working daily in courts, legislatures and communities to defend and preserve the individual rights and liberties that the Constitution and laws of the United States guarantee everyone in this country.

 

League of Women’s Voters

http://www.lwv.org/

The League of Women Voters is a citizens’ organization that has fought since 1920 to improve our government and engage all citizens in the decisions that impact their lives. Formed from the movement that secured the right to vote for women, the centerpiece of the League’s efforts remain to expand participation and give a voice to all Americans.

 

Peninsula  Peace and Justice Center

http://www.peaceandjustice.org/

Peninsula Peace and Justice Center has long been the local area’s leading grassroots voice for peace, justice and human rights.

 

7)      Martin Squibbs

The Humanist Connection

http://stanfordhumanist.org/

Serving the Humanist,  Atheist and Agnostic student communities of Stanford.

 

Ethical Culture Society of Silicon Valley

http://ethicalsiliconvalley.org/

Our values: Ethical Culture affirms the equal worth and right to dignity of every person. We cherish individual differences, cultural diversity, and the democratic process. We seek to bring out the potential of each of us to make our homes, workplaces, and communities kinder, fairer, and more joyful.

 

8)      Gerry Gras

350.org

http://350.org/

At 350.org, we’re building a global grassroots movement to solve the climate crisis and push for policies that will put the world on track to get to 350 ppm.

 

Move to Amend

https://movetoamend.org/

We, the people of the USA, reject the U.S. Supreme Court’s Citizen United ruling and other related cases, and move to amend our constitution to firmly establish the money is not speech, and that human beings, not corporations, are persons entitled to constitutional rights.

 

Citizens Climate lobby

http://citizensclimatelobby.org/

Political Will for a livable world

 

9)      Sena Havasy and Arthur Jackson

American Humanist Association (AHA)

http://americanhumanist.org/

The American Humanist association has stood as the voice of humanism in the United States for over 70 years.

 

Feminist Caucus of the AHA

http://americanhumanist.org/feminist

Working toward the advancement of women’s rights and equality

 

10)   Andrea Dorey

Electric Auto Association of Silicon Valley (EAASV)

http://eaasv.org/

EAA Silicon Valley is a chapter of the Electric Auto Association, a nonprofit organization formed in 1967 to promote the use of electric vehicles as a viable transportation alternative.

 

11)   Dominic Borg

Sunday Assembly Silicon Valley

http://www.meetup.com/Sunday-Assembly-Silicon-Valley/

The Sunday Assembly is a godless congregation that celebrate life. Our motto: live better, help often, wonder more. Our mission: to help everyone find and fulfill their full potential. Our vision: a godless congregation in every town, city and village that wants one. See also

http://sundayassembly.com/

 

For more information on the community’s vision and the San Jose initiative, see the links below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WexKRzPqKs&feature=youtu.be

http://content-magazine.com/welcome/church-without-god-sunday-assembly-hits-san-jose/

 

Less Wrong

http://lesswrong.com/

Less Wrong is a community blog devoted to refining the art of human rationality.
A handful of “aspiring rationalists” in the area meet in Mountain View most Tuesday nights to play games, discuss rationality-related topics and listen to speakers (both guest experts and group members) talk about a variety of fascinating and educational topics. Those interested in learning more can visit the main website about or can find out about past and future local events on our (informal) Bay Area Google Group at the URL below

https://groups.google.com/forum/?hl=en#!forum/bayarealesswrong

 

12)   Michael

National Space Society – Sacramento

http://www.nss.org/

Vision:  People living and working in thriving communities beyond the Earth, and the use of the vast resources of space for the dramatic betterment of humanity.

 

13)   Laura Mappin

American Foundation for the Prevention of suicide

http://www.afsp.org/

The nation’s leading organization bringing together people across communities and backgrounds to understand and prevent suicide, and to help heal the pain it causes.

 

Bay Area Humanists – San Francisco

http://sfhumanists.org/
Meets a couple times a month with different flavors. Has dynamic small group discussions with great facilitation around topics such as humanists and tolerance, assisted suicide, male privilege, and other topics.

Mother of all Meetups
http://www.meetup.com/Bay-Area-Atheists-Agnostics-Humanists-Freethinkers-Skeptics/

Related to San Francisco Bay Area Atheist, Agnostics, Humanists, Freethinkers, and Skeptics groups on Meetup. Find out who else is around here.

Our Taboo Museum
http://ourtaboomuseum.com

Transforming hard to discuss subjects – with humor if possible – using art, conversation, and products

 

14)   Eugene

Reading Partners

http://readingpartners.org/

In communities across the country, we’re working every day to ensure every child has the reading skills they need to unlock a bright future.

 

15)   Sandy Smith

Humanist Community in Silicon Valley (HCSV)

http://www.humanists.org/blog/home/

We value freedom, compassion, fairness and scientific knowledge. We seek ethical and personally fulfilling lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

 

 

Paul George

One Nation Under Surveillance

Paul George

November 3, 2013

Paul George
Paul George

When NSA whistle-blower Edward Snowden released a trove of documents detailing the extensive and intrusive nature of the covert surveillance of US citizens, politicians and pundits of all stripes called for a national “debate” about the illegal surveillance. President Obama launched an internal investigation into the National Security Agency’s methods and procedures (the investigation has been suspended due to the government shutdown).

The “national debate” has since subsided, but the urgency has not. In this talk, we’ll explore the history of US government surveillance (it goes back a long way), what information is being collected on US citizens and what the government can do with that information. Most importantly, we’ll examine ways ordinary people can and should be involved in the continuing efforts to rein in the NSA.

Our speaker’s main thesis is that out-of-control surveillance has historically been driven by two forces: a national war mentality (as in the current “war on terror”) and advances in technology.

Paul George, is Director of Peninsula Peace and Justice Center, the leading progressive grassroots activist organization on the Peninsula. Paul has been a human rights activist and grassroots organizer for over 45 years. During those years his work has taken on many forms: electoral campaigns (Gene McCarthy for President in 1968 and the single payer healthcare ballot measure in California in 1996); Central American solidarity work, which included several trips to El Salvador in the midst of that country’s civil war; political organizer for a large labor union; and 20+ years at the helm of PPJC.

Paul is frequently invited to speak on a wide range of issues and his public lectures are always well received. For the past 17 years, Paul has hosted a monthly television program called Other Voices and for 15 years he was the host of a radio talk show called Freedom Highway.

Humanist Community Forum (2013-11-03): One Nation Under Surveillance (Paul George) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

 

Laura Mappin

Taboos for Totalitarianism

Laura Mappin

October 27, 2013

Laura Mappin   The less we can discuss a topic honestly, the more we leave ourselves open to manipulation and control by others, including governments.

For example, if we cannot stomach the idea of just imagining that someone we know and trust could have molested our child, we might not believe her when she tries to tell us this is so. If we as a society force others to lead closeted lives that would otherwise hurt no one, we are responsible for emotionally torturing others, which can lead the closeted to behave or lash out in insidious ways. As a society or nation, if we cannot admit all of the truths about war, we can end up making choices that are sorely not in our interest.

In this presentation, Laura Mappin will discuss her taboo taxonomy and how she sees taboo subjects relating to each other. She will also discuss how she believes our increased ease with discussing these subjects and permitting some of them helps create healthier societies.

The argument to be presented is a work in progress. Your questions and thoughts are welcome.

Laura Mappin has been puzzled most of her life about what motivates people’s behavior and how those actions overlay with fairness. She has BS degrees in Computer Science and Math from the University of Pittsburgh, which probably impacted her ways of perceiving and graphing this squishy data. This presentation is the culmination of personal conundrums and ideas that have been percolating in her mind for decades.

 

Humanist Community Forum (2013-10-27): Taboos for Totalitarianism (Laura Mappin) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

 

For more information on this talk or to contact Laura, go to:
http://ourtaboomuseum.com/hcsv2

 

Martin Squibbs

Reality and our Memories of it
A theory of Memory and Mind, and its Implications

Martin Squibbs

October 20, 2013

Martin Squibbs
Martin Squibbs

I have introduced my theory regarding the form and nature of our minds and ourselves in previous talks. In this talk I want to focus on it and clarify it.

At its core, I propose that our brains not only hold our memories of our past, our knowledge, and our future; they actually form these memories in the first place. In fact, I propose the brain is the only place in reality where such memories are formed, exist and can be found. And we, ourselves, exist and live within our brain surrounded by this “world” of memories. I wish to consider the processes by which we form these and other different types of memory, along with distinguishing between our emotional and objective worlds. I wish to recognize the language and measurement systems we have abstracted from our memories in order to compare, consider, store, share and better understand them, and what methods we employ for storing and sharing them. Finally, I wish to consider some of the scientific and ethical implications of my theory, if it’s true.  That is, beyond Philosophical curiosity, what difference does this theory make; to ourselves, to our human worlds, to life, and to reality as a whole? How does it help us to live more ethically, more truthfully, more joyfully, and with greater integrity?

Slides from Martin’s presentation are available here.

 

           Dealing with Life
We remember them, wonderful, true,
Who gave us life, would see us through
We remember their love, kind and warm,
That’s cherished our worlds since we were born

And others too, of civilized means
Who created each country from fields of dreams
Who took the bitter anger of hate
And transformed it into a civilized state

And yet still more, with science in mind
Their dream, mysterious reality to find
They fill up time, with a Universe to know
Their job, true knowledge, to gently grow

Then those with a vision to improve our lives
With creative tools, and so they strive
To shape our science into technology new
And so, with computer, I write to you

And so many others, that live for our sake,
With the grain they grow, and the bread they bake
From constructing our houses, to packaging our tea
They’re shaping the dreams of the few into reality

And let’s not forget, the warrior soul
In honor and bravery, lies their role
From visions cruel, disturbed in offense
For their children above, they fight in defense

Yes, let us remember this human mind
Filled with this history of human kind,
And its dreams and its futures yet to come
Of so much work yet to be done

But my point, my friends, goes beyond these tales.
To nature, real, within which they are held.

So let us not forget where these minds persist
Within this body of life, is where they exist
Within this brain, with its billions of cells
Within this body, which poops and smells

Breathing in life, beating with heart
Walking on Earth, from the start
Relying on tree, and river, and vale
To know of now, and tell its tale

So for all the heroes remembered above
And joy and sadness, and fear and love
For all the stories we each proudly hold
Of dreams anew and pasts untold

They all depend on this living creation
Family, friends, company and nation
We must protect living nature real
To keep alive these worlds in which we deal

Martin Squibbs

 

 

Manuel Manga

Relational Intelligence: designing satisfying relationships

Manuel Manga

October 13, 2013

Manuel Manga
Manuel Manga

  Relational Intelligence: Human beings are social animals, we live in systems of relationships, with nature, other people, objects, etc.

In this talk we will focus on 5 key relationships for human beings. We will also focus on the role of language and conversations in creating and maintaining effective relationships. Conversations for creating relationships, conversations for exploring possibilities, and conversations for effective coordination of actions.  We will also look into the systemic relationship between emotions and conversations, and the emotion of love as the foundation to human relations.

Manga is the director of the Center for Evolutionary Leadership, which develops leaders for building a just, flourishing, and sustainable world. He is also a leadership coach and organizational consultant.

You can view the slides for this important presentation here.

Center for Evolutionary Leadership:   www.evolutionleader.com.   “Homo sapiens-ethicus evolutivo: being ethical & choosing to bring forth relational systems that are loving, just, flourishing, & sustainable.”

 

Humanist Community Forum (2013-10-13) – Relational Intelligence: Designing Satisfying Relationships (Manuel Manga) from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.