11th April, 2012
via 774 ABC Melbourne
Co-host of the Conversation Hour with Jon Faine this episode is John Safran. He’s the host of Sunday Night Safran on Triple J and well known for his television series including Music Jamboree and John Safran vs God. Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor are visiting Melbourne from the United States of America. The two are in town speaking at the Global Athiest Convention. Mark Thomas is one of few Britons that can claim to have walked the Israel West Bank Barrier and list his profession as comedian.
Dawkins shades Pell in battle of belief – The Age
by Karl Quinn
10th April 2012
via The AgeIn the great showdown between God and the godless, it was the silver-haired professional agnostic in the middle – calm throughout, pointed in his questions, and thankful that his warring guests were “not grunting” – who emerged victorious on the ABC’s Q&A last night.
To the left of Tony Jones on the panel of two sat Cardinal George Pell, Catholic Archbishop of Sydney; to his right sat – or more accurately, slumped like the jet-lagged traveller he was – Richard Dawkins, professional atheist.
Continue readingThe Magic of Reality: Richard Dawkins interview with Fran Kelly
10th April 2012
via Radio NationalRichard Dawkins is an atheist, evolutionary biologist and author. He’s in Australia to be a keynote speaker at the Global Atheist Convention in Melbourne, and was on ABC1′s Q&A last night. His latest book has just been released and is aimed at children. It’s called ‘The Magic of Reality: How We Know What’s Really True.’
To what extent has chocolate replaced Christ? – Channel 10 Breakfast
7th April, 2012
via Channel 10 Breakfast
Why have a Global Atheist Convention?
by David Nicholls
3rd April, 2012
via On Line OpinionA humorous sub-title would be, ‘…and three days of silence’. Of course, in reality, that is not the case. There is a massive paradigm shift happening in all societies, especially in developed nations, where the taken-for-granted truths about supernatural origins are being critically questioned like no other time in history. As an example, the last Atheist Convention held in Melbourne in 2010 attracted over 2,500 people and the very recent Reason Rally in the USA gathered a crowd of around 20 thousand of the non-religious who stood in the rain to hear speakers expounding on what this shift in thinking means.
A demonstration of the fear this type of occurrence has implanted in the minds of conservatism is that media coverage in the USA was very dismal indeed. In Australia it was the same story. How many readers knew of it? A gathering of such numbers should have been headline news and it would have been even if it was the same number of basket-weavers. A greater reason for reporting such events is that in general, atheists and freethinkers tend to just get on with their lives and have not in the past, placed much value in mass demonstrations. Surely it is newsworthy that now, they do.
Continue readingAtheist Quotes Go Viral
To countdown the days until the 2012 Global Atheist Convention, we’ll be releasing quotes of reason via our official social media channels every day until the big event. So make sure you’re following us on Twitter, Facebook and now Instagram, and please ‘Like’ ‘retweet’ and ‘share’ to help spread the word!
Jason Ball on 3CR
23rd March, 2011
via 3CR Community RadioJason Ball, spokesperson for the 2012 Global Atheist Convention, joins John Safran and SUWA’s Andy and Cam to discuss religion and politics on 3CR Community Radio.
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The Atheist Foundation of Australia is back on the buses!
With the 2012 Global Atheist Convention only one month away, the AFA is again advertising on public transport in Melbourne.
Using a provocative quote by Woody Allen, “IF GOD EXISTS, I HOPE HE HAS A GOOD EXCUSE”, the intention is to inform people who otherwise might not know about the convention, that it is going on and that it is going to be an absolutely fantastic and unrepeatable experience not to be missed.
David Nicholls, president of the Atheist Foundation of Australia, had this to say about the adverts: “Woody Allen’s words encapsulate the thoughts of the freethinking community and the sneaking suspicions of a growing number of religious people as well. Considering the immensity of the unnecessary death, pain and suffering on the planet, an alleged all-powerful and all-loving god certainly has a lot to answer for.”
Continue readingGold Passes Sold Out
Gold Passes for the 2012 Global Atheist Convention are now sold out, as is the Saturday Night Gala Dinner.
“The 2012 Global Atheist Convention is shaping up to be an outstanding happening. The organising committee has gone to extraordinary lengths to make this the best atheist convention the planet has ever witnessed. It is going to one of those occasions where it will be far better than the sum of its parts. And, the parts are extraordinary in themselves. My advice is, don’t miss it”
- David Nicholls, President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia and Chair of the Global Atheist Convention
Eugenie Scott on The Science Show with Robyn Williams
By Robyn Williams
3rd March, 2012
via ABC Radio NationalTEACHING OF EVOLUTION AND CLIMATE SCIENCE IN US SCHOOLS
The National Center for Science Education tries to ensure evolution is taught in schools rather than creationism. Teachers are being pressured not to teach evolution and climate science and need help to deal with the pressure. Climate science is being caught up with domestic politics in the US, with very few Republicans accepting climate science.
