Press Release

November/December Humanist Magazine Features Alternative, Cutting Edge Articles

For Immediate Release - Contact: Fred Edwords, Editor, 202-238-9088 fedwords@theHumanist.org

(Washington, D.C., October 23, 2003) KATE MICHELMAN OUTLINES GROWING DANGERS TO REPRODUCTIVE FREEDOM: The anti-choice movement's "human life" amendment would, for pregnant women, force childbirth by law and thereby put government in charge of one of the most intimate aspects of women's lives. And four more years of a Bush presidency won't only be the undoing of Roe v. Wade but of the right to birth control as well. This is why women are renewing the mobilizing spirit, with a plan to march on Washington, DC, in April 2004. (Contact fedwords@theHumanist.org for article)

LESTER BROWN WARNS OF IMPENDING INTERNATIONAL FOOD CRISIS: Humanity is taking more from the Earth than it can give back, leading the world directly toward an international food crisis that will affect us all. But there's still time to prevent disaster if the United States takes the lead in an immediate, all-out effort of global proportions. (Contact fedwords@theHumanist.orgfor article)

A GROWING CONSUMER REVOLT IS CALLING FOR A PURCHASE-FREE CHRISTMAS: Western society's high consumption rates aren't a victimless crime. As a result, Buy Nothing Day has become an international initiative against purchasing on the day after Thanksgiving. But now this effort is expanding to cover the whole holiday season. (See:http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/BoivieN003.pdf)

AWARD-WINNING JOURNALIST MICHAEL I. NIMAN TELLS WHY THE LIGHTS WENT OUT: Thirty-eight years after the great East Coast blackout of 1965 we should have learned enough to prevent such massive power outages. But industry deregulation has made it too easy for grid maintenance to take a back seat to higher profit margins. Hence the blackout this past August. (Contact fedwords@theHumanist.org for article)

CHALLENGES FACED BY CHILDREN OF GAY PARENTS DENIED MARRIAGE: Efforts to legalize gay marriage aren't simply about giving full recognition to same-sex relationships, they are also about recognizing and serving the best interests of millions of children who have same-sex parents. As laws stand, many "family values" are denied households where gays are parents. (Contact fedwords@theHumanist.org for article)

BEHIND BUSH'S DRIVE TO WAR: Revelations about the number of well-placed neoconservatives in the Bush administration has led to discoveries that, while not inherently religious in itself, the neocon outlook justifies using religion to arouse the public and manipulate those in power. The result has been a religious president who has been induced to launch two wars in two years. (See: http://www.thehumanist.org/humanist/articles/CabrejasN003.pdf)

MEDICAL EDUCATION'S DIRTIEST SECRET: Serious litigation and legislation are now being directed toward ending physical and psychological abuses of hospital interns and residents--abuses which contribute to the nearly ten thousand patient deaths per year caused by provider error. (Contact fedwords@theHumanist.org for article)

The Humanist (www.thehumanist.org) applies Humanism--a naturalistic and democratic outlook informed by science, inspired by art, and motivated by compassion--to broad areas of social and personal concern.

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