AAI Media Releases

Secular Movement Builds Momentum, Canadian Atheist Convention Sells Out

11 May 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

The global movement toward a secular world, governed by reason and evidence, continues to gather momentum. Imagine No Religion 2, which has sold out weeks in advance, will bring together world-class speakers, thinkers and activists at an atheist convention to be held 18 - 20 May 2012 in Kamloops, British Columbia.

Hosted by the Kamloops Centre for Rational Thought (KCFRT) and supported by Atheist Alliance International (AAI) and the Centre for Inquiry Canada (CFI Canada), speakers at the convention include Lawrence Krauss, theoretical physicist and bestselling author of A Universe from Nothing: Why There Is Something Rather than Nothing, Maryam Namazie, an activist and commentator who founded Iran Solidarity and is Spokesperson for One Law For All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, PZ Myers, biologist and author of the Pharyngula blog, Desiree Schell, host of the Skeptically Speaking radio show, Christopher diCarlo, activist and author of How To Be A Really Good Pain in the Ass: A Critical Thinker's Guide to Asking the Right Questions, and many others. Further information on the convention speakers can be found in the Appendix.

Bill Ligertwood, Director of the Kamloops Centre for Rational Thought, said "KCFRT is excited to be hosting Imagine No Religion 2. We have doubled attendance from last year's convention, with people attending from as far away as Amsterdam and from all over western Canada and the US. This year's convention marks the largest of its kind in Canadian history and for a relatively small organization in a small city, it's an accomplishment that KCFRT is very proud of. KCFRT continues to put the secular worldview out front in British Columbia and Canada - this is especially important right now with an avowed right-wing Christian federal government in power."

“Imagine No Religion 2 is part of a growing international movement. There was record attendance for the 2012 Global Atheist Convention in Australia last month, the first Southeast Asian atheist convention was held in the Philippines recently and Imagine No Religion 2 is a fantastic part of this series,” said AAI President Tanya Smith. “Globally, atheists and freethinkers are demonstrating that we will no longer remain silent and we demand that public policy is based on reason and evidence, not religious interpretations. Atheism is no longer taboo, nor is it something to hide; instead it is a point of pride.”

Michael Payton, National Director of CFI Canada said "It is truly a pleasure to work with such esteemed collegues as AAI and KCFRT to present this convention to the public. Imagine No Religion 2 is easily set to be the most successful, educational and enlightening event to take place for atheists and skeptics in Canada and we are happy to welcome our guests, speakers and fellow leaders to take part in moulding a more inclusive and cooperative environment for all freethinking people in Canada and across the world."

Filipino non-belief - are you ready for this?

18 April 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

The Philippine Atheist and Agnostics Society (PATAS) will host its first convention, Filipino non-belief - are you ready for this? this Saturday 21 April at the Bayview Hotel, Manila.

Filipino non-belief - are you ready for this? will be the first atheists/agnostics convention in Asia and represents a significant step for non-believers in Asia. John Paraiso, Executive Director of PATAS said "This convention is a wake-up call for the Filipino non-believer that he or she is not alone. A call to come out of the closet and recognize that non-belief in a deity is neither a mental illness nor a desire to do wrong. The convention is also to call the attention of the Filipino pious, so that they can learn the truth about our stand as non-believers. It may be only a day event, but the impact of this convention will be felt for many days to come."

Atheist Alliance International, a sponsor of the Convention, will be represented at the event by Tanya Smith, President. Tanya Smith said "It is magnificent to see atheists in the Philippines being organised and active. After A Celebration of Reason in Australia last week and with conventions in Germany and Canada in May this is a fantastic period of atheist activism around the world."

Atheist Alliance International congratulates the 2012 Global Atheist Convention, A Celebration of Reason

13 April 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

The 2012 Global Atheist Convention, A Celebration of Reason will be held at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre this weekend, 13 - 15 April.

Arranged and hosted by the Atheist Foundation of Australia, A Celebration of Reason will feature some of the world's leading atheist speakers including Richard Dawkins, Daniel Dennett, Sam Harris, Ayaan Hirsi Ali, Ben Elton and Eugenie Scott.

Atheist Alliance International will be represented at the Convention by Tanya Smith, President, and Victor Franco, Director. Tanya Smith said "With thousands attending, this will be the largest atheist convention ever, anywhere. Followed by atheist conventions in the Philippines, Canada and Germany over the next month or so, A Celebration of Reason is a leading example of atheists being visible, organised and saying 'the damage done to our society by religion has got to stop'. It will be a fantastic weekend of rational thought and a unique opportunity to hear from this group of world-class speakers."

Atheist Alliance International launches new branding

11 April 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Atheist Alliance International launches new branding

Atheist Alliance International (AAI) is pleased to launch its new branding today, a further step in AAI's evolution after the 2011restructure to separate its former US-focused activities and re-launch as a genuinely global alliance.

The new branding was created by Jake Stollery of Stollery creative company in Australia, who said "The logo is a visual unification of the characters A, A, and I, represented by the two apexes, single line and circle at the base. Elegant typography balances the strong, crimson logo - a colour chosen for its association with the atheist 'Out Campaign'. The new branding is the culmination of several months of close work with the AAI Board and represents the bold, progressive direction of AAI's goals."

Tanya Smith, AAI President, said "We are thrilled with the new branding. It is the result of Stollery's creativity and input from the many AAI members and supporters who took the time to review options and provide their feedback."

Atheist Alliance International strongly condemns violence in Afghanistan after Quran burning

26 February 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Podras encontrar una version en espanol despues de la version en ingles

Atheist Alliance International strongly condemns violence in Afghanistan after Quran burning

Atheist Alliance International strongly condemns the violent protests in Afghanistan, which erupted after copies of the Quran were burnt in error at a US base. It has been reported that more than 30 people have died, including protesters and US troops.

Tanya Smith, President of Atheist Alliance International said "We oppose the burning of the Quran. Burning books - regardless of their content - is an affront to freedom of expression, and a particularly insensitive action in this case. The mistake was quickly acknowledged and apologised for, as it should have been. However, the response to the burning of the Quran has been far worse than the burning itself - real people have died and Afghanistan has been destabilised further. Those who protest violently and commit murder deserve far stronger condemnation than those who accidentally burn a book, no matter how sacred some people consider that book to be."

AAI launches appeal to support Alex Aan

25 January 2012

MEDIA RELEASE

Indonesian authorities must support freedom of speech and conscience

Atheist Alliance International launches appeal to support Alexander Aan

Atheist Alliance International (AAI) demands that the Indonesian government support freedom of speech and freedom of conscience by immediately releasing Alexander Aan from custody and dropping all charges against him, pursuing the perpetrators of the physical attack against Aan and repealing the country’s oppressive anti-blasphemy legislation.

“Alexander simply expressed his view that there is no god. In contrast, his attackers assaulted a real person and must be brought to justice,” said AAI President Tanya Smith.

“Indonesia’s anti-blasphemy laws are an appalling relic from the country’s period of dictatorship. They should be repealed as an essential step towards the freedom of Indonesia's people and the country's participation in the modern world,” Smith said.

Karl Karnadi, an Indonesian atheist associated with AAI said "Any religious person would say that gods of other religions do not exist. Why should Alex be arrested for effectively saying the same? Just because he is an atheist doesn't mean that he should be jailed. Religious and non-religious people are going to disagree and that may offend some, but that's a natural outcome from people having different views. Such an absurd law should not exist in Indonesia or in any other place."

Police in Dharmasraya, western Sumatra, on Friday (20 January) said that Aan had been charged with blasphemy for postings he made on a 1,200-member Facebook group.

Aan had initially been taken into ‘protective custody’ after he was beaten by a mob of religious zealots. There have been no indications that his assailants will face prosecution. Aan, a civil servant, has also been threatened with the loss of his job.

Muslim-majority Indonesia officially recognizes only six faith traditions: Islam, protestant Christianity, Catholicism, Buddhism, Hinduism and Confucianism. Citizens are forced to choose from one of these traditions when applying for identification cards.

Atheist Alliance International has launched an appeal for donations to help pay for Aan's legal costs and to support the Aan family's living expenses while he is in jail, at www.atheistalliance.org/support-aai/donate (Legal/Support Fund for Alex Aan).

UPDATE: Please sign the petition to support Alexander Aan here.

UPDATE: Please contact the Indonesian authorities to call for Alex Aan's release and express your concern about Indonesia's blasphemy laws.

AAI's 2011 Top 10 Stories for the International Atheist Community

Written by Stuart Bechman | 01 January 2012

As we commence 2012, AAI looks back at the Top 10 stories for the international atheist community in 2011.

1. Outspoken Atheist Christopher Hitchens Dies

Journalist, author, iconoclast and outspoken atheist Christopher Hitchens died in 2011 after struggling against esophagal cancer for over a year. Hitchens was not only well-known for his fiery rhetoric and incomparable wit, he was also celebrated in the atheist community as one of the best-known to take religion to task for its harm to society.

Hitchens first became known in much of the atheist community with his release of The Missionary Position, a scathing expose on Catholic nun "Mother" Theresa and the community center she ran in Bangladesh. Hitchens followed this work a few years later with God Is Not Great, a more comprehensive tome on the failings and corruption of religion over the centuries.

He will be missed.

Libya should provide genuine freedom to all its citizens

27 October 2011

MEDIA RELEASE

Versión en español a continuación

Atheist Alliance international (AAI) calls on the National Transitional Council (NTC) to establish Libya as a secular state that respects the rights of atheists, freethinkers and other non-religious citizens.

The official declaration of the liberation of Libya on 23 October 2011 is welcomed by AAI as an important symbolic step towards a democratic, free society in the country. Libya's NTC will prepare a new constitution for the country within the next few months.

Tanya Smith, President of Atheist Alliance International, said "While the underlying motivation for the Libyan people to fight against Gadhafi's forces was a desire for freedom, the NTC has ignored a crucial aspect of freedom: the draft new constitution states that "Islam is the state religion" and "the Islamic Sharia law is its principal source of legislation."

Consistent with the draft constitution, the head of the NTC, Mustafa Abdel Jalil, has stated that Sharia law would be the “fundamental source” of authority in Libya and that any existing laws that contravened Sharia law would be immediately revoked. During his speech in Benghazi on 23 October, Mustafa Abdel Jalil stated that “We are an Islamic country,” and that “We take the Islamic religion as the core of our new government. The constitution will be based on our Islamic religion.”

Perspectives of Atheism - national, regional, global

2012 European Atheist Convention to be held in Cologne, Germany

Versión en español a continuación
Version française ci-dessous

Atheists from Europe and around the world will meet in Cologne, Germany on 25 - 27 May for the “2012 European Atheist Convention: Perspectives of Atheism - national, regional, global”, co-hosted by Internationaler Bund der Konfessionslosen und Atheisten (IBKA, International League of Non-Religious and Atheists) and Atheist Alliance International (AAI).

The conference will cover a broad range of topics relevant to atheists, freethinkers, humanists, rationalists, skeptics, agnostics and secularists. Attendees will interact with leading personalities from the worlds of science, activism, literature, entertainment, philosophy and the media.

Confirmed speakers include:

Carsten Frerk, author and editor of the German Humanist Press Service
PZ Myers,biologist and author of the Pharyngula science blog
Annie Laurie Gaylor, Founder and Co-President of the Freedom from Religion Foundation (FFRF)
Dan Barker, former evangelical preacher, author and FFRF Co-President
Michael Schmidt-Salomon, Executive Spokesman of the Giordano Bruno Foundation
Taslima Nasrin, physician, author and international human rights activist
Michael Nugent, Chair of Atheist Ireland
Rebecca Watson, Skepchick blogger and promoter of critical thinking among women

Supporting secularism: the approach that treats all citizens equally

15 September 2011

MEDIA RELEASE

This Saturday, 17 September 2011, thousands of people will rally in central London to demand secularism in Europe. Supporters of the rally include British biologist and author of The God Delusion Richard Dawkins and PZ Myers, an American biologist and author of the science blog Pharyngula.

Atheist Alliance International, with its UK Affiliates, Atheism UK and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, is proud to support the Secular Europe Campaign and congratulates the event organisers and sponsors.

Tanya Smith, President of Atheist Alliance International said: “Secularism is the only approach that treats all citizens equally and fairly, whether they are religious or not. Public policy should be based on reason, evidence and compassion – and not whichever religion happens to be the strongest in a certain country at a certain time. Religious privilege affects all of us – through our taxes and through its influence on issues like end-of-life choices, women’s reproductive rights and equality for same-sex oriented people. If people want to live in a fair society they need to stand up and be heard.”

Mark Embleton, President of Atheism UK added: "It is no longer sufficient just to be a passive atheist. Atheists everywhere need to be active in protesting the growing influence and power that the various religions are gaining in every corner of Europe. Religious lobbyists are putting pressure on a weak European Parliament to seek even more privileges through legislation that, if enacted, will lead to further restriction of free speech for everyone.”

Hassan Radwan, Management Committee member of the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain, also called for action saying: “It's critical to make public our support for the separation of religion from the state and educational and judicial systems. The simple act of showing public dissent to religion that enforces conformity through fear, is the most empowering thing one can do. It erodes that fear and emboldens others. This is what the Islamists dread the most. They know that when people lose their fear, they gain their reason.”

Atheist Alliance International, Atheism UK and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain encourage all people concerned about the privileged place of religion in Europe to attend the London rally this Saturday and have their voices heard in support of secularism.

New Atheist Alliance International Launched in Dublin, Ireland on 3 June 2011

03 June 2011

For immediate release

Atheist Alliance International (“AAI”), a global network of atheist and freethought organisations, launched today as prominent atheists, including British biologist Professor Richard Dawkins and Danish science writer Dr Lone Frank, gathered at the World Atheist Convention in Dublin, Ireland.

With membership comprising 19 atheist/freethought groups plus individuals from Europe, North America, South America, Africa, Asia and Australia, Atheist Alliance International will:

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