From passionate racers to dockside loungers, the Royal Newfoundland Yacht Club has harboured sailors from 1935, when Arthur and Marjorie Johnston, along with Max Barbour, decided that the great maritime nation of Newfoundland needed a yacht club.
The following spring, a determined group built a 20 x 40-foot clubhouse on the shore of inner basin in Long Pond and the Avalon Yacht Club was born.
After years of growth and an amalgamation with a newly-formed Newfoundland Yacht Club in 1960, the club relocated to the site of the present clubhouse at the end of Greenslade's Road. In 1964, the club received its Royal status and joined a group of only nine yacht clubs in Canada and only slightly over a hundred worldwide to have the privilege of using Royal in their name. The club has expanded over the years and has hosted such national events as the Canada Summer Games in 1977 and other sailing regattas.
During the summer months, the club runs a terrific sailing school which had its beginning in 1978 and was expanded to become the base of operations for the Newfoundland and Labrador Sailing Association in 1994.
The school is open to all comers, from parent and tot programs to those seeking to attain their Ocean Yachtmaster certificate. Last year, the keelboat program was revamped to follow a set ISPA curriculum and enjoyed major growth.
This winter, the junior sailing fleet is undergoing a complete refit thanks to material contributions from members of industry and volunteer work from the newly revived Memorial University Sailing Team.
Over the next few seasons, the club hopes to build from this and create a vibrant sailing school that continues to feed more sailors into the friendly and welcoming racing and cruising community in Conception Bay.
The club has become an integral part of the recreation attractions in the Conception Bay South/Greater St. John's area and has a restaurant, bar and pool for its members.
Every June, the club opens in the tradition of yacht clubs around the world with the formal sail past. On this occasion steeped in centuries of tradition, the Commodore is saluted by the members as they sail by and dip their ensigns or luff their sails. Truly an event to behold — either from the pier or sitting comfortably perched at the bar. Wednesday night racing becomes the regular fixture through the season, and an annual race week held mid-August.
After many years of impossible waiting lists, a generational change means that there are finally a few openings. The RNYC is now actively looking for new members, offering specials including $1,000 off the first year of membership for newcomers and creating a social membership for those who don't have boats but would like to participate in boating or simply enjoy the facilities.
In addition, the club is making a major push to encourage boaters from places near and far to come and avail of the short stay rates — maybe spend a weekend at the club and do your laundry with the onsite facilities for long-term cruisers, or simply enjoy hopping over from a nearby marina for a change of view.
Whatever the reason, any boater that drops in will receive a wonderful welcome and need only fear having their ears overworked by a few of the longtime members who enjoy wagging their jaw.
With all this said and done, a great part of the appeal to the club is its patio and deck which overlook the bay. After a day of sailing, there is no more enjoyable place to have a drink or a snack.
To cap it off, whales can be seen in front of the club and on a clear summer evening the sunsets are magnificent.
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TheAtheist.net
A Portal for Atheists in Victoria
Atheist Society
What is Atheism?
Non-religious solutions are needed for many of Australia's and the world's problems.
Only the Secular Party can provide the required policies.
Individual Freedoms and Choices
Progressive Economic Policies
A Fair and Equitable Society
Secular Solutions to Global Problems
Religions are difficult to talk about – that's part of the problem. We believe in religious freedom, but not to the extent that religious beliefs should be imposed upon others. Unfortunately, if we look around ourselves realistically, many of our problems today are caused by just that. Those that think they are possessed of the "one true religion" assume they are entitled to impose their beliefs upon others. We disagree.
After centuries of religious warfare in Europe, modern civilisation was built on the concept of secularism – the separation of religion from the public sphere. With the problem of terrorism, and the even greater problems caused by the "war on terror", many of the pillars on which our civilisation was built are eroding. Our liberties are being curtailed by draconian legislation. Internationally, the rule of law is being disregarded. Rational thought is no longer considered paramount. Secularism has been eroded and replaced by tacit endorsement of all forms of religion, especially in education. Religious intolerance is increasing, as is social disharmony.
We aim to reverse these trends and reassert the ideal of establishing truth through reason and observation. We aim to re-establish the ideal that represents the only real alternative to sectarian strife – the ideal of secularism, based on the universal values of honesty, compassion, freedom and justice. In view of the many problems that humanity faces in the 21st century, this is a critical task. We need your support, and your help.
In his song "Imagine", which is of increased relevance today, John Lennon thought of a world without countries and without religion, where there would be no motivation to kill and die and where people could live in peace and brotherhood.
We hope you'll join us. Today!
Authorised by John Goldbaum, Secular Party of Australia,
7 Rockwall Crescent, Potts Point NSW 2011
About Religion
Views on religion
The Melboune Atheist Society and the Secular Party is not anti-religion in the sense that we believe that people should be free to indulge their beliefs, provided they do not infringe the rights of others. So while we support freedom of religion, we recognise that, as with any freedom, there are inevitable limitations that must be applied in support of the public good. Where religious practitioners err, we contend, is in presuming that the supposed authenticity of their beliefs gives rise to a right to impose their beliefs on others.
Belief in religions requires faith, which necessarily entails a departure from rationality. It is widely presumed that this departure is either desirable or acceptable. The Secular Party questions this presumption. On the basis that the validity of any contention must in some way be tested on the basis of reason and observation, we assert that, due to their lack of supporting evidence, and due to their numerous contradictions with each other, within themselves, and with known facts, we cannot accept that any religion could be true.
The fact that people willingly adhere to false beliefs is not necessarily harmful. Indeed, we concede that in providing psychological consolation and in inspiring charitable works, the practice of belief may be somewhat beneficial. We contend however, that only wilful blindness to the violence and destruction caused by religion, over centuries and to the present day, could obscure the fact that religions are on balance harmful to society. Whatever moral, charitable or consoling advantages religions may have had, in the 21st century these are best obtained by other means.
In a climate of tolerance and multiculturalism it has become taboo to question the authenticity of anyone's religious belief. In sympathy with the motivation behind this convention, the Secular Party also seeks a harmonious and peaceful world. However we contend that is it wrong not to confront beliefs that are not only false but harmful. This confrontation must extend, not only to extremist beliefs, but to all false religious beliefs, since all carry the potential of causing harm. The Secular Party thus advocates rational discourse as the antidote to delusion and unfounded bigotry.
While in an ideal world we might prefer that all religious practices and freedoms should be conducted in private between consenting adults, we are realistic enough to accept that this will not be achieved. However we certainly think curtailing government support, endorsement, subsidy and promotion of religion is possible. This we vigorously advocate.
On religion in particular, the time appears to me to have come, when it is a duty of all who, being qualified in point of knowledge, have, on mature consideration, satisfied themselves that the current opinions are not only false, but hurtful, to make their dissent known. John Stuart Mill
Policy Directions
The Problems We Face
The world today faces grave problems never before encountered in human existence. Global conflicts caused by religious delusions threaten civil disorder and destruction, such that the continued existence of civilisation as we know it is at risk. In addition, global warming threatens the environment of the planet, portending such disaster to the extent that, again, civilisation as we know it is under threat. No policies currently exist that effectively deal with these problems. Here, we outline some policy directions that are designed to address these two most critical issues. Outlines of the policies of the Secular Party on other matters may be found elsewhere on this web site, further details of which will be forthcoming.
In the Middle East, the delusory presumption that Judaic mythology is literal and factual has led to the assertion of territorial claims that have ignited a firestorm of conflict. This has particularly inflamed believers in Islam, which is a religion that its adherents claim originated from the revelations of an angel in a cave. While this is perhaps no more implausible than the doctrines of any other religion, the effects of this religion on its adherents, and on others, is particularly devastating. The Secular Party believes not only that all sides are victims of violence due to the religious beliefs of others, but that they are also in fact victims of their own beliefs.
Adding to this volatile mix, the Christian majority in the most powerful country in the world, the United States, believe that they have a divinely ordained Manifest Destiny to lead the world, and in effect, to rule it. The United States has at times been a great force for good in the world. However the situation now exists where an American leader believes that he has been divinely chosen to use the world's most powerful military forces to act in accordance with his delusory religious beliefs. This situation is critically dangerous. The proliferation of nuclear weapons in the world is dangerously wide and the threshold to their use is dangerously low.
Apart from the threat of destruction by nuclear weapons, global society also faces the gradual erosion of the secular values on which it depends. Particularly at risk are the essential pillars of civil liberties and the rule of law. At a time when global rules and co-operation are increasingly necessary, international law, as agreed in United Nations charters and conventions, is being increasingly disregarded in the name of national self-interest and the so called "war on terror". In gross abrogation of its responsibilities of global leadership, perhaps the biggest culprit in this regard is the United States of America.
In this political climate it is perhaps little wonder that the other critical global issue, that of global warming, has received so little attention in terms of the effective and rational proposals for remedial action that it desperately requires. The Secular Party here offers its proposals regarding these critical issues. The solution to global conflict requires a solution in the Middle East. The solution to global warming requires that we stop, or at least drastically reduce, the burning of coal. In offering these solutions, there is no more important a function that the Secular Party can perform.
In a political context, the solutions we offer are no doubt courageous. Many people, even those inclined to secular views, may find them difficult to accept or may even find them emotionally abhorrent. We ask that you try to eschew any emotional reaction and think about the proposals rationally. The issues deserve this form of attention. If this is done, we are confident that it will be seen that in fact there is no other form of solution possible.
The Secular Party solution to the Middle East
That religions are delusions there is no doubt. That the delusions are pathological, the evidence is overwhelming. Nowhere is this more obvious than in the Middle East. It seems that there, not only is the conflict founded in delusion, but that the solutions commonly proposed are also entirely delusory. This applies in particular to the proposed two-state solution. The so-called road map to peace is in reality a road map to nowhere. This is not just because the conception of a Palestinian state that the current Israeli position would allow amounts to such a limited grant of sovereignty that no responsible Palestinian authority could be reasonably expected to accept. It is because even if a viable independent Palestinian state could have been established, which unfortunate Israeli "facts on the ground" have now prevented, there is simply no way that this would have permanently resolved the underlying grievances.
The Holocaust against Jews was the greatest crime against humanity ever committed in history. Resulting feelings of injustice and guilt led to the formation of the state of Israel. Prior impetus to realisation of the Zionist dream was given by the Balfour declaration and a similar U.S. Congressional resolution which stated in part "it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which should prejudice the civil and religious rights of Christians and all other non-Jewish communities in Palestine". This part of the bargain has never been honoured. The concept of a nation that seeks to define itself in terms of its ethnic or religious identity, as Israel does, is an anachronism and is totally at variance with universal secular values.
The only possible long-term solution to the Middle East problem, consistent with principles of honesty, compassion, freedom and justice, is a unitary secular state in which all people have equal rights. This will perhaps require a degree of compromise that all sides will find painful to accept. To allay Jewish fears that a specific homeland is required for their security, the Secular Party proposes that a coalition of countries be formed that will guarantee their asylum in the event of their persecution. In the proposed unitary secular state, no religion should be presumed authentic and no rights or privileges should be granted on the basis of claimed ethnicity or religious belief.
The primary obstacles in achieving this solution are firstly the Judaic beliefs that presume exclusive territorial entitlement, and secondly the irreconcilable Islamic beliefs that also necessitate superior claims to territory. The key to dissipating this irreconcilability is simply to put forward the proposition, which is impeccably based in reason, that the beliefs on which the conflict is based are false, unnecessary, undesirable, harmful, and based on nothing more than ancient mythology. Astoundingly, it seems that perhaps no political leader anywhere has ever put forward this proposition.
The Secular Party believes that reason and rationality can prevail over superstition and delusion, and that they must. This may not be as daunting a task as may be supposed. It is not long ago that the addictive and harmful practice of cigarette smoking was considered acceptable, desirable, and was widely promoted and widely practised. More recently, with limitations on promotion and health warnings, the habit of smoking has been greatly reduced. Religion is a similarly harmful addiction but has not been recognised as such. Perversely, it is still widely promoted, encouraged, even enforced. It is the mission of the Secular Party, within a political context, to seek to reverse this trend wherever possible by promoting reason and secular ideals. Nowhere is this more relevant and necessary than in relation to the issue of Israel and Palestine. Once secular ideals are implemented, the Zionist dream of Israel being "a light to the world", will truly have been achieved.
Only the willfully blind could fail to implicate the divisive force of religion in most, if not all, of the violent enmities of the world today. Without a doubt it is the prime aggravator of the Middle East. Those of us who for years have politely concealed our contempt for the dangerous collective delusion of religion need to stand up and speak out. Things are different now. "All is changed, changed utterly." Richard Dawkins
The Secular Party solution to global warming
That global warming is upon us and that greenhouse gas emissions are responsible is a proposition that cannot be ignored. The potential for global catastrophe is too great. Scientists warn that world emissions of carbon dioxide need to be reduced by at least 50 per cent to stabilise the climate. Yet even with the Kyoto protocol and all other proposed measures in place, the best estimate is that global emissions will increase by 50 percent by 2050. That is, the problem is not even remotely being addressed in the manner required.
The solution will be painful and costly which is no doubt part of the reason it has been avoided. Short term thinking, ignorance and cowardice on the part of politicians, local and national self-interest, and the lack of a global ethic are perhaps other reasons. One might also conjecture that, as with religion, susceptibility to mass delusion and inability to face reality might also be a contributing factor.
Most carbon dioxide is produced by the burning of coal and hydrocarbons in industry, transportation and in power generation. There are unfortunately few viable alternatives to using hydrocarbon liquid fuels and gas. In any case supply shortages and rising prices are eventually going to limit their use. We must focus our attention on the use of coal. Most of this is used in power generation. It is here that the greatest potential for substitution may be found. Proposed carbon dioxide emissions trading schemes are inadequate and in any case insufficiently targeted. We need to focus on seeking to eliminate the free burning of coal.
Coal is Australia's primary energy source, and our major export commodity. We have 200 years of reserves. Coal fired plants produce the cheapest electricity. The grim reality however is that we must drastically scale down the use and sale of these reserves. It is said that with billions of dollars of new investment, coal fired plants can be made more efficient and produce less greenhouse gas. This appears to ignore the basic fact that for every atom of coal (carbon) burned, one molecule of carbon dioxide is produced. No amount of political or commercial spin can alter the basic law of nature embodied in this chemical reaction. No further investment should be made in emitting coal fired plants, and all resources should be devoted to alternatives including nuclear.
The only way to properly address the problem is to impose a tax on the use of coal. This will need to be a substantial tax, in order to induce reallocation of resources away from coal into other forms of energy production. Japan has already implemented a small tax in this regard. However there is no reason to suppose that any country would unilaterally disadvantage itself to the extent required. Australia is the world's largest coal exporter and will continue to dominate the international coal trade. What is not often considered, is that due to inelastic demand, an export tax on coal would increase national export revenues, not decrease them.
As an interim measure the Secular Party proposes an International Coal Tax, to be levied per tonne on internationally traded coal. Given Australia's dominance of the global coal trade, it is incumbent upon Australia to initiate this proposal. The fact that coal is a highly visible commodity will assist implementation. Administratively, the tax could operate in a manner similar to that proposed for the Tobin tax on international currency transactions. An export tax on coal will serve as a precursor to the introduction of a more general global carbon tax.
This tax would operate in addition to proposed trading schemes for carbon dioxide emissions. International agreement may be easier to secure than for Kyoto type agreements because of the more limited number of exporters involved and because incentive could be provided in that revenues from the International Coal Tax could be used to compensate exporters and to assist them in restructuring their domestic energy production industries. Higher world coal prices would provide incentives for diversification of energy production globally. A similar tax, by agreement, should be applied to coal for domestic use, in all countries. The Secular Party suggests that the tax could be introduced at a rate of US$5.00 per tonne of coal, rated by carbon content. (This is equivalent to a tax of about $1.60 per tonne of emitted carbon dioxide.) The tax would then be increased by an additional $5.00 per a year, indefinitely. A proportion of the International Coal Tax revenue would be used to assist developing countries with the required adjustment.
Whatever the eventual details may be, it is obvious that some drastic measures of this kind are required. They will be extremely expensive and initially unpopular. The costs of doing nothing however, in terms of future global climatic catastrophe, may be far higher. The Secular Party believes that in offering reasoned and rational policies in this regard, the imperatives of human survival can provide persuasive arguments.
While all forms of renewable energy should be explored, the economics of which would become more viable with a higher coal price, it seems that the global restructuring or energy production world wide will be impossible without increased deployment of nuclear energy. The reason that Australia, per capita, has the highest per capita production of green house gasses in the world is because we do not have any nuclear power plants. Anomalously, we are a major uranium exporter. Like it or not, we must investigate the commissioning of the construction of nuclear power plants, as a matter of urgency.
A key aim of the Secular Party is to support a rational approach to human problems. Effectively dealing with the problem of global warming will likely require an international mobilisation of resources never before seen in peacetime. It will require an unprecedented level of goodwill and co-operation. This will not be achieved without the active promotion of a global ethic based on the universal values of compassion, honesty, freedom and justice. Instead the world is currently preoccupied with conflicts based on ancient religious ideologies that should have been confined to the dustbin of history centuries ago.
Few,even among climate scientists and ecologists, seem yet to realise fully the potential severity, or the imminence, of catastrophic global disaster; understanding is still in the conscious mind alone and not yet the visceral reaction of fear. We lack an intuitive sense, an instinct, that tells us when Gaia is in danger. James Lovelock
Policy details of the Secular Party
The Secular Party recognises the economic and social importance of education and its role in the promotion of universal secular values and social harmony. The Secular Party supports the 19th century notion that education be "universal, secular and free". In recent decades, this principle has been disregarded, and there has been a massive shift in funding towards private schools. Privilege has been entrenched and indoctrination encouraged. The seeds of future divisiveness and sectarianism have been sown. We seek to reverse these trends.
The Secular Party recognises the public good of public education. This is best provided by high quality and inclusive government schools, incorporating teaching based on universal values and principles.
The Secular Party also supports an adequately funded tertiary education sector. The future economic health of the country depends upon investment in education.
Tax exemptions for religion
Religious institutions receive significant advantages in terms of tax exemptions and benefits. At the same time these institutions are largely unaccountable for their receipt and distribution of funds. The policy of the Secular Party is to end these religious tax exemptions and subsidies. This will benefit the average taxpayer and a level playing field will be provided for all charities.
Oaths and Prayers
Oaths sworn in association with a chosen religious book have legal standing in Australia. Prayers to a particular deity are used to open parliaments and religious references are made on other ceremonial occasions. The veracity of such oaths and the solemnity of such occasions is not enhanced by such references.
The Secular Party believes that all citizens should be bound by the same undertaking, irrespective of their religion or non-religion, and that ceremonial references to religious beings are anachronistic, ethnocentric and divisive. It is our policy therefore that affirmations be taken, following which a religious oath may also be sworn upon request. On ceremonial occasions it is our policy that these entail pledges of loyalty to principles, and to the people of Australia.
Personal freedoms should be based on modern secular humanist principles. Only secularism can guarantee religious freedom and we endorse this freedom. However those that adhere to faith-based morality frequently seek to impose their religious views on the entire population. This occurs in policies concerning areas such as abortion, euthanasia, stem cell research, drug policy and gay rights.
The Secular Party believes in equal human rights. Same sex couples should receive the same privileges as heterosexual couples, in inheritance, and for all ceremonial, legal and medical purposes. Our policies on issues of high moral content such as abortion and euthanasia favour freedom of choice, and are based on rational assessment of the relevant issues.
The rights of citizens have been curtailed as a result of the 'war on terror'. There is a risk that these new laws will produce greater alienation amongst target groups. Citizens therefore need the protection of legislation that protects human rights. The Secular Party endorses and supports a Bill of Rights Act such as that proposed by New Matilda. The purpose of this act is to formalise in Australia rights that have already been agreed to in international treaties that Australia has signed and ratified.
Religious Attire
The Secular Party believes that ideally, expression of religious belief should be a private matter for adults. However we endorse the right of adult individuals to wear clothing of their choice.
The Secular Party believes that the religious indoctrination of children in schools violates the rights of the child. The requirement, whether by parents or schools, that children wear religious attire, is a form of indoctrination. The Secular Party therefore opposes this practice. It is the policy of the Secular Party that all forms of religious attire be prohibited in all government schools.
The Secular Party supports the right to access information and entertainment, in private, free from censorship dictated by religious ideas. We acknowledge the need for censorship for reasons such as violence and child pornography and to accord with accepted standards on public decency.
The Secular Party stands for the use of balanced judgement in economics, rather than any ideology. We recognise the general need for balanced budgets but do not accept free market fundamentalism. In cases of market failure, government intervention is required. We recognise that Australia's structural trade deficit and burgeoning foreign debt is unsustainable and must be addressed by appropriate industry policies.
The Secular Party recognises that monarchies embody the concept of hereditary privilege, and that this is incompatible with the principle of equal human rights. The British monarch is also head of the Church of England. Having the monarch as the Australian Head of State is thus a violation of the basic secular principle of separation of church and state. It is therefore the policy of the Secular Party that Australia become a republic, with an Australian head of state.
The Secular Party recognises there are many other motivations for a republic, including that the people of Australia be ultimately sovereign and the source of any authority in government.
Strategic defence planning, as indicted by scheduled purchase of military equipment for the army, navy and air force, indicates the assumption that the future use of the Australian Defence Force will be used for long range external purposes in association with the United States. The Secular Party acknowledges the need for alliances, but does not accept that these should predetermine our entire defence strategy. We therefore will restructure our defence capabilities in favour of greater self-reliance.
The Secular Party recognises that civilisation is sustained by the rule of law. Globally we support the enhancement of the International Criminal Court as a means of dealing with problems, rather than arbitrary superpower intervention. We support the development of international corporate law as a means of addressing adverse transnational corporate behaviour.
International Secularism
We recognise that secularism is a principle that has wide application in solving a number of global issues. We support the concept of comprehensive secularism, (as defined by the International Humanist and Ethical Union) which entails not only impartiality between religions and the separation of religion from state institutions, but also the intervention, where necessary, to protect human rights from violation by religious assertions and injunctions.
The Secular Party is opposed to theocracies, whether Christian, Islamic or Judaic. A state that preserves privileges to a particular religious, ethnic or national group violates secular principles and universal human rights. The Secular Party advocates that the only possible long term solution is one in which all citizens have equal rights.
We recognise global warming as a significant and dire threat to global civilisation. To address the problem, global carbon dioxide emissions must be reduced dramatically. Existing "cap and trade" proposals may not achieve anything like the magnitude of reduction required. They may therefore be a counterproductive diversion. The required emission reduction can best be achieved by the global cessation of emissions from coal fired electricity generation. This requires the phased introduction of a carbon tax, nationally and internationally.
The cost of investment in alternative energy production will be at least a hundred billion dollars in Australia alone. This can be financed from revenue from the coal tax. To facilitate the introduction of this tax internationally, and to ease the transition for Australian industry, the Secular Party proposes an International Coal Tax to be levied on coal exports, in conjunction with other coal exporters. Revenue from the tax will be distributed domestically and internationally to assist structural adjustment and provide welfare compensation.
All forms of alternative base load energy production will need to be utilised, including geothermal, tidal and nuclear. Given Australia's prominence in the world supply of uranium, the Secular Party considers that it is Australia's responsibility, and to our advantage, to participate in all stages of the nuclear fuel cycle, including power generation and waste disposal.
The Secular Party recognises the need for incarceration to prevent harm, to foster reform and as a deterrent. Revenge should not be a motivation in punishment. The Secular Party advocates policies that stress rehabilitation, crime prevention and harm minimisation.
The Secular Party endorses all medical research, with appropriate ethical oversight, that benefits humanity. This should not be limited by misguided or religiously inspired "sanctity of life" prohibitions. We do not support research involving animals for purposes such as the development of cosmetics.
The Secular Party recognises the need for health services to be accessible and affordable for all citizens, including dental care and prescription medicines. We recognise that multiple funding streams together with the burden of oversight means that private health insurance, and particularly public subsidies for private health care, are an additional inefficient burden and should be removed.
We further recognise cost shifting and perverse incentives through the tension between State and Federal Governments as a major problem in providing adequate funding, necessitating thorough reform of Federal-State health arrangements.
The Secular Party recognises that intellectual property rights protect the interests of creators and provide incentives for innovation. However, property rights should not be derived from non-creative findings. Native communities should maintain ownership of innovations derived from their custodial knowledge, and patents derived from the human genome – the custodial property of us all – should be limited.
Recognising that such rights are a reciprocal arrangement, and the need for ideas to return to the public domain, our policy is that copyright not be extended to more than 50 years after the author's death (as compared to the current 70 years).
Intellectual property rights should not subvert long held understandings about what "ownership" means – they should not limit an owner's freedom to make continued private non-commercial use and copying of a purchased item.
The Free Trade Agreement with the USA is noted to have damaged an equitable property rights approach; we therefore support the renegotiation of the Free Trade Agreement and limitation of its inequitable consequences.
The Secular Party recognises that those who have become marginalised in society, such as drug users, criminals, mentally ill, need support and fair treatment. We view that unwarranted cuts to services, that push responsibilities back to carers or others, merely create further problems. Our policy is to provide incentives for individuals and companies to support individuals in need.
The Secular Party recognises the crisis in housing affordability. We recognise the need for Government intervention, including the need for the provision of public housing.
The Secular Party believes that the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child should be enshrined in legislation so that children receive fair and equitable treatment, without being taken advantage of or being abused. We endorse institutions that support and educate parents in parenting issues including preschools, schools as well as other organisations that support the family.
In order for a democratic society to prosper its people and communities must show respect for each other. Even though individuals involved in past wrong doing may no longer be present, when the institutions within which they acted remain, it is a necessary first step towards future understanding and cooperation for those institutions to acknowledge their wrong doing and apologise.
Other Policy Areas:
The Secular Party is engaged in continuing discussion on policy development. While detailing our policy in the following areas the Party will use the same secular humanist values that have been used to develop its other policies. If you feel you could contribute, please feel free to join the party and assist us in our policy development in these areas:
We stand for:
Upholding and strengthening international law
Application of the rule of law in combating terrorism
Promoting secular values, laws and constitutions worldwide
Asserting the rights of children to be free of religious indoctrination
Rational solutions to global problems based on international cooperation
Strengthening of the Kyoto agreement to provide an international carbon tax
We stand against:
Unilateral pre-emptive military action
The policy of any country that seeks to promote a sectarian religious agenda
Policies based on the presumption of religious superiority
Theocracies of any kind, be they Judaic, Christian or Islamic
The unlawful invasion of Iraq in 2003 was not only the greatest travesty of justice in modern history, it was also the greatest strategic blunder. Religion not only inspires the modern scourge of terrorism, it has also inspired many of the most egregious acts in the so called 'war on terror', including the disastrous invasion of Iraq.
The breakdown in the rule of law internationally, the widespread and significant erosions of civil liberties, the prevalence of dangerous myths and superstitions, combined with the proliferation of destructive means, portend of a most alarming global scenario. It is urgently necessary that secular values and rational modes of thought be advocated, defended, and secular policies adopted world wide. The Secular Party undertakes to use all possible means to further the secular agenda internationally.
The core problem in the Middle East will never be resolved until all sides agree to put aside their religious claims to territory, claims that are derived from mythology rather than legitimate rights. The Secular Party advocates for Israel and Palestine what is in fact the only possible long-term solution – a unified secular state, where all have equal rights and no-one has any entitlements to impose or infringe upon the rights of others based on their religious belief or allegiance.
The disruption caused by the continuing strife associated with this religious dispute is a gross distraction and an impediment to taking action on the most significant global problem that we face – global warming. This problem is urgent and requires rational action to be taken at a global level. It is quite apparent that the amount of coal burnt annually in power plants must be severely reduced, and that this will require the massive global deployment of all forms of non-fossil fuel electricity generation, including nuclear. This will be extremely expensive. The Secular Party advocates that this be funded by the introduction of an international tax on the use of carbon fuel.
"Our world is fast succumbing to the activities of men and women who would stake the future of our species on beliefs that should not survive an elementary school education. That so many of us are still dying on account of ancient myths is as bewildering as it is horrible, and our own attachment to these myths, whether moderate or extreme, has kept us silent in the face of developments that could ultimately destroy us. Indeed, religion is as much a living spring of violence today as it was at any time in the past." – Sam Harris
A Fair and Equitable Society – Secular Viewpoints
Equal opportunity for all children
Universal secular education
Compulsory sex and drug education
Anti-discrimination and anti-homophobia education
Harm minimisation for drug users
Crime prevention, not large prison populations
Proper funding for our health system
Fair wages and conditions
Lower taxes and a broader tax base
Properly funded social security and pensions
A secular republic with an Australian head of state
The Secular Party believes that to build a better society requires greater respect for secular values and morals based on universal principles such as compassion, freedom and justice. Developing freedom of thought, unconstrained by artificial divisions caused by religion and prejudice, is the best way of inspiring dedication to this common purpose. Laying these foundations within the education system is an essential step on the path to a fair and equitable society.
A rational solution to many social questions can be found by better application of the proposition that prevention is better than cure. The transparent application of balanced judgement in pursuit of objective principles is the best way of inspiring citizens to act responsibly. Justice must be seen to de done.
A society where compensation is based on inherited privilege rather than merit is inherently more inequitable. The Secular Party is in favour of an Australian Republic because the concept of hereditary privilege as embodied in the monarch as head of state cannot be morally or practically justified.
"The principle of utility is … that principle which approves or disapproves of every action whatsoever, according to the tendency it appears to have to augment or diminish the [benefit, advantage, pleasure, good, or] happiness … not only of every action of a private individual, but of every measure of government." Jeremy Bentham
The Secular Party stands for:
Balanced budgets over the long term
Increasing the competitiveness of Australian industry
Reducing the trade deficit
Encouraging new technologies
Using the benefits of economic growth for the long-term advantage of all
Implementing an international tax on currency transfers (Tobin tax)
Implementing an international carbon tax
The Secular Party recognises that the age-old struggle between forces of labour and capital is no longer the major determinant in political economy. Unlike the major parties, we have no allegiance to the sectional interests of labour or capital. The Secular Party bases its economic policies on judgements concerning the long-term public interest and in the interests of global humanity.
In doing so we are guided by the heritage of the classical economists of the Enlightenment, including both Adam Smith and Jeremy Bentham. The Secular Party is also not so constrained by ideology to suppose that the macroeconomic management insights established by J. M. Keynes will never again be relevant. We therefore maintain that balanced government budgets, over the long term, as well as a balanced foreign trade account, are legitimate concerns of government policy.
We recognise that the benefits of capitalism are derived neither by exploitation nor by the exertion of monopoly power of any kind. Such benefits, as are apparent in the continuous rise in living standards that have been sustained for over two hundred years, are due not to any religion, but to what is in fact a Humanist phenomenon – technical progress and commercial innovation. The Secular Party has as its core philosophy the development and maintenance of economic policies that support this process.
The major economic challenges that lie ahead derive from international inequity and environmental problems associated with oil resource depletion and global warming. Insufficient provision has been made in Australia for looming environmental problems, especially in terms of water conservation and addressing dry land salinity.
Eliminating world poverty is a feasible goal, requiring the fostering of aid, trade and good governance, but will not be achieved without a far greater degree of international good will and co-operation. The continuing and egregious nature of global religious conflict is a severe impediment to achieving the co-operation required. Secular values must be promoted and secular policies implemented far more widely in order to achieve this.
Addressing global inequity requires genuine trade liberalisation, but this alone is insufficient. To provide global funds for poverty reduction programs, the Secular Party supports the implementation of a tax on international currency transactions (the Tobin tax).
It is necessary that the combustion of carbon by the electricity generation industry world wide be drastically reduced. Highest priority must be given to the introduction of taxes on carbon emissions. As an additional measure, due to the urgency of the global warming situation, the Secular Party proposes a tax on the international trade in coal, the proceeds of which should be mandated to providing alternative energy programmes, particularly in those countries adversely affected by the tax.
The social object of skilled investment should be to defeat the dark forces of time and ignorance which envelope our future. John Maynard Keynes
Individual Freedom and Choices
The Secular Party of Australia believes in personal freedom
A woman's right to choose an abortion
Voluntary euthanasia
The right to die
Religious indoctrination of minors
Counter-productive "anti-terror" restrictions on civil liberties
Religious values have an unwarranted tendency to intrude into moral affairs. Religious people often claim the right to prevent others from engaging in harmless consensual activity, merely because their own religious preconceptions are offended. We oppose such arrogant intrusion. We believe in equality – in all respects.
Religious values also presume, again on the basis of misconceived dogma, to prevent scientific research that benefits all humanity. We oppose such detrimental interference, often based on religious notions of morality, which have no objective basis.
The Secular Party believes that children should be protected from harmful influences. They should be able, via education, to develop to their full potential as human beings, with the capacity for freedom of thought unimpaired by religious biases. We are opposed to religious indoctrination in education, including via the wearing of religious attire in schools.
A major problem with the religiously inspired 'war on terror' is that it is likely to make the problem of terrorism worse. The restrictions on freedom of speech and association that have been imposed in this cause will merely result in greater alienation and hence resort to covert activities. The Secular Party believes in the free expression of religious views, so that the often venal and sinister nature of many such views should be more readily apparent.
"I am against religion because it teaches us to be satisfied with not understanding the world." Richard Dawkins
The Separation of Church and State
Teaching secular values in education
Phasing out of government funding for religious schools
Removing religious references from statutory oaths and pledges
Abolishing parliamentary prayers
Ending state support for religious institutions and personnel
Removal of tax advantages for religious institutions
The wearing of religious attire in schools
Government support or endorsement of any religion
The separation of "church and state" is the essence of secularism. In view of Section 116 of Australia's constitution, ("The Commonwealth shall not make any law for establishing any religion, or for imposing any religious observance …"), it is commonly believed that Australia is already a "secular state". This is a gross misconception. In 1981, the High Court determined that there is in fact no constitutional separation of church and state in Australia. Partly as a result, rather than a secular state, Australia now more closely resembles a pluralistic theocracy, where numerous religions have been "established".
Despite this however there is nothing in the constitution that necessitates the legislative establishment of multiple religions, or that prevents the creation of a truly secular state. This is what the Secular Party proposes to achieve.
The trend of recent decades towards the effective state endorsement of multiple religions, if not reversed, will have dire consequences for the future harmony of Australian society. Despite all pretences towards tolerance, religions necessarily engender a false sense of moral superiority. This is inherently divisive and is becoming increasingly problematic, in Australia and globally.
The intrusion of particular religious opinions into public life, in such a way that the rights and privileges of all citizens may be affected, is unwarranted. This generally arises due to unjustified presumptions of religious superiority, resulting in imposition of inappropriate and archaic value systems. The Secular Party asserts the superiority of universal value systems independent of any religion, and asserts the right of all citizens, anywhere, to be free from laws based on unfounded and mythological religious doctrines.
The Secular Party believes that it is imperative that Australia leads the way in establishing a society free of sectarian strife arising from ancient beliefs, especially those for which there is no evidence or which contradict known facts. It is urgently necessary for Australia, and for the world, to assume a globalist ethic based on universal moral principles. Without this, freedom and democracy may prove increasingly difficult to maintain.
"In every country and in every age the priest has been hostile to liberty. He is always in alliance with the despot." Thomas Jefferson
Atheist Society Lectures
Atheist Society : Lectures
The Atheist Society was formed in 1990, and has been having holding lectures/meetings every month since then.
To view the up and coming lectures, you can find the next few on the front page, or a more comprehensive list can be found here.
Records of previous lectures can be found here.
There are several different other meetings that are held at different times.
Please see the Melbourne Atheist Meetup.com website for more information.
Meetings in other locations will be arranged as required.
Free Piano on The Koran: Theology and value System

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Home » National Search Announced for Dairyland Power Cooperative CEO
National Search Announced for Dairyland Power Cooperative CEO
Barb Nick
CarterBaldwin
Dairyland Power Cooperative announces a national search for a new Chief Executive Officer. Current President and CEO Barbara Nick will retire in July 2020. The Dairyland Board of Directors has retained CarterBaldwin Executive Search to assist in the identification of their next CEO.
"Barb is an innovative leader who thinks strategically and has worked to position Dairyland to anticipate the future needs of its member cooperatives," said Dairyland Board Chairman Ed Gullickson. "She demonstrates the Cooperative Principles, values employee development and has developed a strong management team. During her five years as CEO, she has worked closely with the Board to ensure Dairyland is in a solid financial position to maintain future success."
The cooperative works with its members, community leaders, employees and stakeholders to be a strategic and innovative cooperative that improves the quality of life in the region. To learn more, visit www.dairylandpower.com.
Candidates may submit a letter of interest and resume to DPCCEO@carterbaldwin.com. Application materials will be accepted through April 27, 2020. Chris Guiney, Partner, CarterBaldwin Executive Search, is leading the search. He may be contacted at cguiney@carterbaldwin.com.
About Dairyland Power Cooperative: Dairyland, a Touchstone Energy Cooperative, was formed in December 1941. Headquartered in La Crosse, Wis., Dairyland provides the wholesale electrical requirements for 24 distribution cooperatives and 17 municipal utilities. These cooperatives and municipals, in turn, supply the energy needs of more than a half-million people in the four-state service area (Wisconsin, Minnesota, Iowa and Illinois).


Aftershocks continue to be reported in northern Haiti as of Monday, October 8, following the 5.9 magnitude earthquake that struck off the northwest coast of Haiti on the evening of Saturday, October 6. However, none of the aftershocks have resulted in significant damage. Transportation disruptions are possible in the area in the coming days as recovery efforts continue.
Saturday's earthquake, the epicenter of which was located approximately 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Port-de-Paix (Nord-Ouest department), damaged or destroyed several homes and buildings, notably in Port-de-Paix. No major infrastructural damage has been reported thus far. Government forces, including the military, have been deployed to the worst-hit areas, including Port-de-Paix, Gros-Morne (Artibonite department), and Tortue island.
According to official reports, at least 12 people were killed in Saturday's earthquake - eight in Port-de-Paix (Nord-Ouest department), one in Saint-Louis-du-Nord (Nord department), and three in Gros-Morne - with at least 188 more suffering injuries.
Earthquakes are relatively common in Haiti, which sits along the Enriquillo-Plantain Garden fault zone. The country is still recovering from a devastating 7.0-magnitude earthquake that struck in 2010.
Individuals present in the impacted regions are advised to monitor the situation, be prepared for further aftershocks, and adhere to all instructions issued by local authorities.


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This Is Not a Drill — You Can Snag an Apple Watch 3 for $110 Off on Amazon Right Now
Amazon's new Prime Day Apple Watch sale may be even more impressive than its Black Friday deals
By Jessica Leigh Mattern
Each product we feature has been independently selected and reviewed by our editorial team. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.
If you've long wanted an Apple Watch, but have been waiting for a rare sale or special sign to come along, get excited because now is officially one of the best times to buy the popular smart watch at an impressive discount.
You can get the Apple Watch Series 4 for just $349 on Amazon right now thanks to this new Prime Day deal, which will save you 17 percent on its typical retail price. What's more, the Apple Watch Series 3 is also a featured Prime Day deal starting at just $199 — that's 40 percent off its usual price.
The sale applies to the Series 4 in its 40mm size in the gold, silver, and space gray options, and the Series 3 in its 42mm size in both the silver and space gray styles, though you can also score $110 off the larger 42mm size in the space gray hues. What's more, Apple's Series 3 watch with GPS + Cellular is also $80 off.
The Best Apple Watch Deals on Amazon:
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) 42mm, $199 (orig. $309); amazon.com
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) 38 mm, $229 (orig. $379); amazon.com
Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS + Cellular) 42mm, $329 (orig. $409); amazon.com
The best-selling Series 3 edition is Amazon's most reviewed Apple Watch, which makes this sale even more noteworthy. Shoppers love its long battery life, easy-to-use interface, durability, and versatility, earning it an impressive 4.8-star rating. Reviewers say they use it non-stop, claiming it's a piece you don't realize you need until you get it.
With the Series 3 version, there are so many neat features that will allow you to leave your phone at home. You can your track workouts, calories burned, heart rate, and fitness goals, stream music, check the weather, and pay for purchases with Apple Pay, in addition to sending and receiving calls, texts, and emails. It's also water-resistant (yes, you can go swimming with it) and its battery will last up to 18 hours on a single charge.
"Long story short: I thought I would regret purchasing this and that it would be a waste of money, but I am extremely happy that I did," one reviewer wrote. "I utilize it more than I thought I would and I love all of the features on it."
Buy It! Apple Watch Series 3 (GPS) 38mm, $199 (orig. $309); amazon.com
"It's not even about style, there's just a huge practicality of having a small device attached to your wrist that makes so many problems go away," another reviewer wrote. "There's a small miracle that happens when you can answer your phone with your hands full, or glance down to see the text message you just got. I can leave the house and it's not even a problem if I left my phone, or go for a walk without having a heavy phone in my pocket. It's all those small little ways that make for a stupidly brilliant product."
"I've been one of those that rolled my eyes at this watch because who really needs this right? I've been pleasantly surprised at how much I love this," another chimed in. "How have I lived without it?"
We have a feeling this incredible Apple Watch Prime Day deal, which is just one of the many incredible tech sales now featured in Amazon's annual Prime Day sale, so get your carts ready because this special sale — and the other incredible deals — will go fast.
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Chicago Transit Authority Plans to Implement This Smart Way to Help Pregnant Riders Get Seats
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The Best Under-$25 Deals to Buy In the Final Hours of Amazon Prime Day
All Topics in Tech


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Josh Barron - Composer, Arranger, Producer
"Josh is a fantastic person to work with. He is an innovative composer but also a highly organized, precise, detail oriented, and smart professional. Josh understands complex matters even when outside of his direct area of expertise. He denotes a strong willingness for his both personal & professional development as a top notch composer and arranger."
— Masha Lepire (Founder, Conductor, and Director at Seattle Video Game Orchestra and Choir)
"Josh possesses a keen musical sense. I have now recorded for Josh on several occasions, and his arrangements are always interesting while providing a healthy challenge for me as a session musician. He really understands the art of crafting a complex arrangement from a melody."
— Ian Martyn (Musician, Composer, Co-Producer with The Travelers VGM)
"Josh is an exceptionally talented individual. He always gives his best, no matter what. In the many years I've been in this business, it's rare to meet people like Josh Barron who are willing to go the extra mile."
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— Trey Powell (Lead Director & Designer for Fallen Aces)
Copyright © 2020 Josh Barron. All Rights Reserved.
The Red Year (feat. Nerevar Rising by Jeremy Soule) 2:31
For the Empire (feat. Elder Scrolls Theme by Jeremy Soule) 3:24
The Forest Of Awakening For String Orchestra And Piano 3:14
Op. I - Windy Mountain (Preview) 4:12


I added a new Gem location in North Carolina. The Cherokee Ruby & Sapphire Mine is open for the season! They produce some beautiful specimens at this mine.
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A new site has been added to the gem list! Gem Mountain Montana in Philipsburg, MT. Search for sapphires at their mine location, their downtown store, or order online! Yes, you can order gem material online and have it shipped to you!!


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Giving Back to the Community Is Good for Business
Getting Financing
Running Your Office
Taxes & Accounting
Canadian Tax Info
Incorporating a Canadian Business
How to Transform Your Small Business into a Big Business
All Small Business
Small Business Marketing & Sales
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Investing in your community is a great way to give back to those who have helped support your business. Volunteer groups and nonprofit organizations do so much to help the communities that all of us are a part of, but they can't do it alone.
Many people really enjoy the intangible benefit of giving—a pleasant feeling of connectedness and the satisfaction of at least trying to make the world a better place. However, there also are tangible benefits. It contributes to bettering the community and also can serve as good publicity for your business.
Good for Business
Giving back to the community is an excellent way to promote your business and get the word out about your products or services. Plus, if you give enough, you'll be able to use the charitable deduction on your income tax.
Local newspapers are filled with photos of business people presenting checks to the directors of charitable organizations, which is great publicity. Charities and nonprofit organizations are only too happy to recognize donors by thanking them in published literature, websites, and at supported functions.
Partnering with a charity to sponsor an event is great exposure for your business, and potential customers like patronizing businesses that reach out to help others.
Supporting charities and attending charitable events also is great for networking. In addition to gaining customers, you may have the opportunity to meet other business people and develop relationships with complementary businesses.
Many businesses use their normal promotional venues to mention their favorite charities by adding statements such as "Proud Supporter of ....." to business taglines on email, websites, and on social media postings on Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Pinterest.
How to Give Back to the Community
Successful members of the community have the resources to help those who are less fortunate and contribute to the common good. When establishing a budget for upcoming fiscal years, it's a good idea to create a specific line item for charitable giving. This might, for example, represent a specific percentage of revenue to be divvied up among multiple organizations.
By planning for the expense, you're much less likely to feel the impact to your bottom line, and even when revenues are lower than expected, you can view the expense as a public relations investment.
There are many ways for your business to support the community that involve more than just writing a check:
Enter a float in an annual parade or help decorate the town at Christmas
Sponsor a youth sports team
Donate the use of a delivery vehicle or other resources for a local function
Offer your business services, when relevant, at a local event
Donate to a food bank
Have coin donation boxes and/or sell tickets for a charity event at your business locations
Donate a portion of your sales to a charity on a particular day or for a specific period of time
Give a charitable or community group a meeting or workspace on your business premises for free
Contribute All Year
Our hearts go out to others during the holiday season, but there are always those who are less fortunate than we are and will appreciate our help all year. Give what you can regularly to the charities that make a difference to your local and national community.
In addition to being more helpful throughout the year, the consistent giving also is more likely to keep your business on the tops of people's minds.
Here Is a List of Corporate Charitable Giving Programs for Nonprofits
Combine Gift Giving and Altruism by Shopping Through Your Favorite Charities
How to Make a Giving Day Work for Your Charity
How Nonprofits Generate Revenue Streams
Even Small Charities Can Convince Businesses to Sponsor Their Events
Top 10 Ways to Get Famous & Increase Your Worth as an Expert
How to Be a Smarter Donor at the Holidays
10 Ways to Get Word of Mouth for Your Business
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How to Start a Planned Giving Program
Break a Sweat and Help Your Favorite Charity
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The Rutgers Sinfonia, founded in 1995 as Rutgers Philharmonia, draws its membership primarily from the Rutgers undergraduate student body, supplemented by the most talented players from the larger Rutgers community, including students at area high schools.
The Sinfonia performs once each semester, concentrating on the central works of the orchestral repertory. The group was created to address the needs of the nonmajor string player who is unable to play at the level of the Rutgers University Orchestra or to make the necessary time commitment. High school students are recruited via the Extension Division, flyers sent to local school districts and by word-of-mouth.
Programs in past seasons have included the Fifth and Eighth Symphonies of Beethoven, the Unfinished Symphony of Schubert, and such popular works as the Barber's Adagio and the Rimsky-Korsakov Capriccio Espagnol.
The Rutgers Sinfonia also sponsors a concerto competition for Sinfonia performers each fall. The winner of the competition performs with the Sinfonia during the spring concert.
High school string players wishing to perform as part of the Sinfonia should contact the Mason Gross Extension Division for more information and to schedule an audition. 848-932-1500 | extdiv.office@mgsa.rutgers.edu. The Sinfonia is not open to high school brass, woodwind, or percussion players.
Brass and Wind placement in Sinfonia will be handled through the Wind Ensemble/Symphony Band audition process.
ALL STRING MAJORS must audition through the Rutgers Symphony Orchestra audition process on Thursday, September 6 from 10-7 p.m. in Schare Recital Hall.
Non-major string auditions (including high school string players) for Sinfonia will take place Wednesday, September 5, from 7:15–9 p.m. in Schare Recital Hall. Rehearsals for Rutgers Sinfonia take place Wednesday evenings 7:15–10 p.m. in Rehearsal Hall 104.
Students should prepare two pieces of their choice (one fast and one slow) to show their strengths. An audition signup form will be posted downstairs in the Marryott Music Building or click here to sign-up for an audition.


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The Wellcome Trust/DBT India Alliance is pleased to announce its 16th Science Communication Workshop that will be held in New Delhi on 7-8 September 2017. The Workshop will provide an interactive platform for young researchers to discuss with their peers and mentors various issues pertaining to science communication and career advancement.
We would appreciate it if you could share this information with anyone who might be interested in participating at this workshop. Download the flier here.


Construction of the church began circa 1440. The church consists of a nave and two aisles, a strongly projecting transept with blind transverse walls, a chancel with a heptagonal apse, two sacristies that were added later on and an originally Romanesque tower.
Justus Lipsius described it as Leuven's most beautiful church.


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Q: Sudoku - Region testing I'm creating a sudoku generator, using a 'brute-force' randomity approach.   I have been able to check the x / y axis for duplicate numbers just fine using the code:
for(l=0; l<9; l++){//Makes all vertical work.
                   if(sudoku[l][j] == temp){
                       isUsed=true;
                   }
                }
                for(m=0; m<9; m++){//makes all horizontal work
                   if(sudoku[i][m] == temp){
                       isUsed=true;
                   }
                }

I decided to implement the 'box' or 'region' checking (where you check every 3x3 square from the origin) and I just can't seem to wrap my head around the code.   Here's what I've done so far. I just can't quite figure out where my logic error lies (for the record the program will run with this code, but will not check regions properly)
rowbase = i-(i%3);
                if(i==2  || i==5 || i==8 ){
                    if(rowbase == 0 || rowbase == 3 || rowbase == 6){
                       isUsed= RegionCheck.RegCheck(rowbase, sudoku);
                    }
                }

Contents of regionCheck.java:
       boolean okay = false;
    int[] regionUsed = new int[9];
    int i=0, j=0, regionTester=0, counter=0, numcount;
    for (i=regionTester; i<regionTester+3; i++){
        for (; j<3; j++){
           regionUsed[counter]=sudoku[i][j];
           counter++;
        }
    }
    for(i=0; i<9; i++){
        numcount=regionUsed[i];
        for(j=0; j<9; j++){
            if(j==i){
                //null
            }
            else if(numcount == regionUsed[j]){
                okay=false;
            }
        }
    }

    return okay;

Somewhere along the way I'm just getting lost and not understanding how to 'select' a region and iterate through regions.
Full source here:  http://ideone.com/FYLwm
Any help on simply how to 'select' a region for testing and then iterate through it would be greatly appreciated as I'm really out of ideas.

A: You need to abstract it a bit. Think of it this way, any region (box, column, row) is just a list of values (and empty values). To check whether a value x can be inserted into region R , simply represent all the values in R as a list of values L. Now all you need to do is to check if L contains x
Good luck!

A: I cannot understand what you mean testing a region,
I assume test means each region has every number from 1 to 9 without duplication.
We can make may implementations:

*

*use for loops for vertical, horizontal, and 3x3 regions.

*use table which have location to each region, including horizontal or vertical one.

My recommend is 2nd one.
If you have a table, the loop which access regions is implemented once.
On the other hand, 1st one requires to implement 3 similar loops for vertical/horizontal/3x3.
Here is a code to generate the table:
for(int i=0, k=0; i<9; i++) {
    // generate vertical regions
    for(int j=0; j<9; j++)
        table[k][j] = new table_t(i, j);
    k++;
    // generate horizontal regions
    for(int j=0; j<9; j++)
        table[k][j] = new table_t(j, i);
    k++;
    // generate 3x3 regions
    for(int j=0; j<9; j++)
        table[k][j] = new table_t((i/3)*3+j/3, (i%3)*3+j%3);
    k++;
}

The code to generate vertical or horizontal regions is easy to read.
Though 3x3 region generation should be described.
The variable i is taken from 0 to 8, ((i/3)*3, (i%3)*3) points the corner of a 3x3 region each. And (+j/3, +j%3) moves each box in the region.
And you can test the matrix sudoku comply or not by following code:
boolean okey = true;
for(int i=0; i<27; i++) {
    int [] counter = new int[10];
    for(int j=0; i<10; i++)
        counter[i]=0;
    for(int j=0; j<9; j++)
        counter[ sudoku[table[i][j].x][table[i][j].y] ] ++;
    boolean ok = true;
    for(int j=0; j<9; j++)
        if(counter[j+1]!=1)
            ok = false;
    if(!ok)
        okey = false;
}

The array counter counts number of appearance for each digit
(I assume 0 is some special meaning and digits between 1 and 9 is valid).

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


my sadness is infinite and i'm sure i share it with you all. we saw them growing and enjoyed daily their progress. RIP little maru.
nevertheless i want to thank you all for taking your time daily to report and share with all silent readers. special tx to urmas for all the explanations. and many thanks also to amr. hopefully you are lucky to find maru.
About the photos, I think like Anne7 & Michi.
We don't need it on the forum, but it's important for history and research.
Especially after Urmas explained that it's impossible to examine the remains.
Thank you so much, Amr.
Thank you to take Maru's body to a vet.
Thank you so much, Amr Hady!
It is very sad news, but let´s hope that Karula will survive!
Amr, we are very thankful that you give Maru's body to a vet and that you saved the transmitter.
Fantastic work by a wonderful person.
Amr, you are our great hero.
Thank you very much for your help! And especially thanks for giving our little Maru to a veterinarian.
I sincerely hope that the reason will be found, why she perished. That will help Urmas and all other ornithologists too.
thanks for your commitment, Amr Hady.
Mr Hady ... I too would like to thank you very much for your effort. It is not self-evident.
So that, I'm very glad that our Maru is not left in this field.
Me too, Sova. I'm very glad about it.
Thank you for the hug! I feel sick today.
at least that fact that she is dead, but now it is credible that it is true. Many thanks to Amr for finding her !
Maru discovered and experienced so many beautiful places on her way from Estonia to Africa, but why on earth did she have to fly there near wastewaters for so long? There can of course also be beautiful, but no one had no chances to tell her about that waters quality (wether the water is guilty or not), although Karl is in Africa too, but so far away from Maru.
Thank you Maru for this 9 months with you, I hope you have a good time now, rest in peace!
Vita Zagrebacka-"I'm writing to some Egyptian birders already"
Vita Zagrebacka-"I've sent an e-mail to Urmas, hopefully he'll answer. I have to people interested to help"
I connected him with a men in Egypt but they still don't know when they can go"
Vita Zagrebacka- "...., please, tell Urmas to check his e-mail. A friend from Egypt is waiting to make a contact with him."
Vita Zagrebacka- "It's OK. They are in conntact"
So that every option would be prepared."
That's what the group initially was made for, to help storks in every possible way, to connect us, to be active if needed, not only to post data and photo"
A big big thank you to Amr and Ahmed for taking the effort to search for our poor Maru!
Thank you all with all my heart for your hard work every day in documenting "our" storks' journey.
Solo, you're a star!! Thank YOU for your initiative!
Vita Zagrebacka:-"You reacted, you made it move ❤"
Vita Zagrebacka "Dear ..., all the thanks are going to Mr Ahmed Waheed who engaged from the first moment and found a birdloving person to go and search for Maru, Mr Amr Hady. And thanks to Mr Bassim Rabea, willing to help from the first moment, too. Thank you for all your efforts, ...! That's what we all are about - to help and do whatever we can"
Solo, many thanks for your successful efforts!
And of course also a very sincere thank you to Vita Zagrebacka, Ahmed Waheed, Bassim Rabea and especially to Amr Hady - and anyone else involved.
What a wonderful cooperation! You are fantastic people.


text:
Q: How to check database for duplicates before inserting? I would like to check the database for duplicates before inserting into the database. It is only considered a duplicate when plateNo, driverID and resDate match.
Here is how I get the data that will be inserted to the database
 private void jButton1ActionPerformed(java.awt.event.ActionEvent evt) {

        String client = (String) clientCmb.getSelectedItem();
        String[] cparts = client.split("-");
        String cpart = cparts[0];

        String driver = (String) driverCmb.getSelectedItem();
        String[] dparts = driver.split("-");
        String dpart = dparts[0];

        String van = (String) vanCmb.getSelectedItem();

        java.util.Date oDate = jXDatePicker2.getDate();
        DateFormat oDateFormat = new SimpleDateFormat("yyyy-MM-dd");
        String date = oDateFormat.format(oDate);
        model2.addRow(cpart, dpart, van, date);

    }

And here's the code for my addRow method
public void addRow(String client, String driver, String van, String res){

        try {
            String sqlRes =  "Select * from reservation";
            rs = st.executeQuery(sqlRes);
            rs.moveToInsertRow();

            rs.updateString("clientID", client);
            rs.updateString("plateNo", van);
            rs.updateString("driverID", driver);
            rs.updateString("resDate", res);
            rs.insertRow();
            rs.moveToCurrentRow();
            rs = st.executeQuery(sqlRes);
            this.fireTableDataChanged();
        } catch (SQLException ex) {
            Logger.getLogger(MyModel2.class.getName()).log(Level.SEVERE, null, ex);
        }

A: Let the database do the work for you.  Define a unique index/constraint specifying that those three values are unique in the table:
create unique index unq_reservation_3 on reservation(plateNo, driverID, resDate);

If you attempt to insert a duplicate -- or do an update that results in a duplicate -- then the database will return an error.  You simply need to catch the error.

A: Use MERGE statement: T-SQL or ORACLE, or for MySQL:
PreparedStatement p = con.prepareStatement("
    INSERT INTO reservation tgt (clientID, plateNo, driverID, resDate)
    SELECT (? As clientID, ? As plateNo, ? As driverID, ? As resDate)
    FROM DUAL ins
    LEFT JOIN reservation ref
        ON  ref.resDate = ins.resDate
       AND (ref.plateNo = ins.plateNo OR ref.driverID = ins.driverID)
    WHERE ref.clientID IS NULL;
");
p.setString(1, client);
p.setString(2, van);
p.setString(3, driver);
p.setString(4, res);
return p.executeUpdate(); /* 1 - Success | 0 - Ignored Duplicate */


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Since Barberton's founding in 1891 by noted industrialist Ohio Columbus Barber, Barberton has been an innovative community in industry and new technology. Barber's Diamond Match company was a leading producer of wooden matches in 1891. Later, Barber developed an elaborate farm complex made up of some 40 brick barns and 400 acres, giving the nation one of the first agracorps and experimental farms.
This spirit of innovation continues to thrive in Barberton today. It is a center of research for Babcock and Wilcox Nuclear and Fossil Fuel Divisions and is home to PPG's manufacturing of Teslin™, a synthetic polymer paper. A diversity of smaller companies also play a vital role in Barberton's economy.
Barberton Community Development Corporation (BCDC) provides gap financing in the form of low interest loans for fixed asset financing (land, buildings and equipment) and for working capital needs.
The Southern Summit County Community Improvement Corporation (CIC) issues Industrial Revenue Bonds (IRB) that can provide businesses 100% of financing for eligible fixed assets. Interest rates are 3/4% to 3% below current market rates and terms are up to 30 years, often with an option to buy the project financed at maturity.
The Barberton Planning Department offers technical assistance to businesses who are completing State of Ohio 166 and Ohio Treasurer's Link Deposit low interest loan applications. They also can assist businesses with SBA 504 and 7a loan applications and EDA Public Work Grants.
The city may also utilize Tax Increment Financing (TIF), the increase in taxes after a new development is complete, earmarked for making public improvements in an area of new development.
Enterprise Zone Areas offering tax abatement may be available for a period up to 10 years and up to 100% of taxes on real property and tangible personal property used in business. To qualify, a business must either increase employment or establish, expand or renovate a facility.


Announcement. Screen Actions the extraordinarily talent-rich youth bash that has sprung up beside its parent event, Cornwall Film Festival, run in partnership with Cornwall College & Truro Penwith College will be held on Tuesday 14th November at The Poly, Falmouth. A full day of screenings and talks provided by industry professionals.
Cornwall Film Festival are pleased to announced that the 2017 Screen Action Rising Star shall not only receive our coveted trophy, but will also be invited attend our Bafta Masterclass as part of this years festival programme.


Environmental education is part of the mainstream education system in Indonesia and is integrated into both school curricula and after-school activities. The innovative Adiwiyata Program began in 2006 to encourage schools across the country to adopt environmentally friendly practices. A variety of stakeholders have contributed to this program, including universities, government agencies, and NGOs, and the program provides incentives and awards to schools who adopt environmentally friendly practices, including "greening" their curriculum.
Environmental education is a right for community, as mentioned under Article 65, Paragraph 2 of Indonesia's Environmental Protection and Management Act (2009). The Ministry of Environment & Forestry, Ministry of National Education, and Ministry of Religion began cooperating around environmental education in Indonesia in 2006, and have signed an Environmental Education memorandum of understanding (MOU).
Environmental education is conducted through formal and informal education approaches. In schools, environmental education is integrated into various curricular areas, including biology, physics, and other subjects, rather than treated as a separate subject. Students also have opportunities to engage in EE through extra-curricular activities. At least 6,000 Indonesian schools have been active in the Green School program. Moreover, the Green Scout program has been established through cooperation with the National Scout Organization across 34 provinces in Indonesia.
Indonesia has not yet developed special certificate for environmental educators. The development of environmental education in formal education carried out by the government, while informal education by the government as well as NGOs and environmental education community. Environmental education professional development is mostly led by the government.
Indonesia's Ministry of Environment and Forestry supports the development of environmental education through formal education including the Green School and Green Campus programs, as informal education through the Green Scout program.
The government allocates a budget for environmental education development in the formal and informal education sectors. In addition, many companies such as the national petroleum company support activities related environmental education.
Since 2010, Ilyas Asaad has been involved in developing environmental education programs in Indonesia, including the Green School, Green Campus, and Green Scout programs. At least 6,000 schools across Indonesia are involved in Green School program. Since 2014, the Green Scout program has been established in 34 provinces in Indonesia.


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"My condolences to his family. Mike was a solid son of the Smokies."
"Thanks for posting. Best wishes to Mike for a speedy recovery."
John Quillen commented on Dana B Koogler's blog post Blackberry Farm Consortium Rezoning Request Denied!
"I'm proud of Blount County commissioners for standing up for the citizens. They did that for us several years ago when the park shoved fees down everyone's throats. Not that the park necessarily gave a flip, but the county spoke so loudly…"
"This is one of my favorites from the public comments we FOIA'd. It is from the guy who formerly managed these facilities for the Smokies as a Ranger."
"So, you would like to see less people accessing the park, then? I don't. And even though I am a backcountry camper primarily, I would love to see families take their kids into any campground. However, these egregious fee increases…"
"Ca$$iu$ is back from his time out in Washington following the mishandling of the wildfires. And he brings his fee game to the tune of 25% increase to you frontcountry folks. We turned out a lot of public comments, which largely opposed…"
That it used to be totally supported by MY tax dollars, not a backpacking tax.
Important Public Lands Legislation Pending with Smokies Ramifications.
This is super important for the Smokies . Please consider sending in an email comment telling legislators that "the People's Park" is not for sale. Let them know that the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act needs scrapping and dayhiking fees will not sit well in the South. You may not be aware that concessionaires have a personal log in to reservations systems in the Smokies. Imagine what expanding their presence will afford!
Upon dedication of the Great Smoky Mtns National Park on Sept 2, 1940, President Roosevelt uttered the following words.
Just last weekend we had a beautiful outing in the park and the snow was incredible. After setting up camp we all huddled around the fire to warm up, relax, and eventually reflect on our love for the smokies. We also talked and laughed about all our favorite memories up to that point of backpacking in this great mecca. As the night progressed the fee finally arose as the topic of conversation. There was four of us and as we did the math we realized that if we did pay for our stay in the backcountry it would have cost us $16. that's ridiculous! There are 4 frontcountry campgrounds we could have stayed at for $2 cheaper with all the extras. Can someone help me out with my logic if im wrong. Why should we pay more for a desolate backcountry site than we do for a nice warm bathroom ?
Thank you for the invite to the other site. I signed up. As for Sugarlands, I have to decide between a scheduled bike ride with several people or the meeting. Any idea how many plan to be there?
Other than smokemont Friday evening, no camping. That Newton Bald campsite is the worst campsite I have encountered.
Saturday, Newton Bald Trail is still an uphill climb.
John, I got some friends that are in great shape and want to try climbing Chimborazo or Cotopaxi. You got any advice on which one is best and guide service/time of year to go? I used a cheap fly-by-night kind of guide with a busted down 40 year old car we had to push over the humps on the road going in and worn out equipment. Plus the weather was out of control. So I want to make sure they get a better experience and don't hate me.
Yes, Neighbor, I am one and the same! Your mom keeps me updated on all your travels. I live vicariously through your many of your adventures.
Thanks for the info. I don't get into the backcountry as often as you do, but when I have, we've usually had the campsite to ourselves.
Last time I was at a backcountry site, we had it all to ourselves both nights. Just curious....with all these empty backcountry sites, and only a few of us that actually use them, how are they figuring on making any money to pay for anything???
If you will post the response from FOIA, I think we can all get in on it and help out to formulate a response.
I'm someone whose Mother was born inside the park lands and has many ancestors buried inside the park AGREE with your blog post 100%. Just another "get the foot in the door" approach to larger fees. Welcome to the Site.
People have been pretty heated around here. Have a great time at 32 and hope the fingers are doing better. Hopefully see on the trail at some point.