The BC Humanist Association and Centre for Inquiry Canada have spoken out against events on Vancouver Island featuring alternative medicine proponent Brian Clement.

Clement has been widely criticized for reportedly claiming that after attending his clinic people have been cured of a wide range of conditions including multiple sclerosis. Last year, two Canadian aboriginal girls with leukemia abandoned their evidence based treatments in favour of Clement's treatments. One of the girls later died and the other was withdrawn from the clinic.

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

As we approach the longest night many of our most vulnerable citizens are experiencing an increased need for warmth. As part of our Humanist Action campaign to put our values into practice, we are collecting coats and warm clothes for those in need.

Please check your closets and your Humanist hearts for coats, blankets, thermal underwear, socks and gloves to donate to: 
Downtown Eastside Women's Centre and First United Church Shelter.

Wednesday is Remembrance Day, a day to remember those who've lost their lives in military combat. While views on war and armed conflict vary widely within the Humanist community, it's a fact that many Humanists and atheists have served in the military and some have lost their lives. One Canadian soldier and atheist who died in combat was John Gallagher, who was shot and killed last week by an ISIS gunman in Syria.

The National Post shared one of Gallagher's Facebook posts, reproduced below, on why he volunteered to fight with Kurdish forces against ISIS. While I don't personally agree with everything Gallagher says, I think it's important to highlight to both refute (once more) the lie that there are no atheists in foxholes and to remember the sacrifice of people like Gallagher and others who have served.

Finally, I'd also recommend David Brittain's 2012 Guardian article on why Humanists should be included in Remembrance Day ceremonies in the UK.

Lest we forget

-Ian Bushfield, Executive Director, BC Humanists

On Wednesday, Canada's new Prime Minister and cabinet were sworn into office. Three Liberal MPs elected in BC were appointed to cabinet and each of them choose a secular affirmation over the traditional swearing on a Bible.

The BC Humanist Association today called on BC Minister of Health Terry Lake to reverse his decision to refuse recommendations to guarantee access to assisted dying through the BC health care system.

The all-party Select Standing Committee on Health had presented its recommendations on assisted dying regulations in BC following a year-long consultation with British Columbians. Rather than adopt the recommendations, the Minister and BC Government instead chose not to endorse the report until the federal government acts.

Through our weekly newsletter, we like to let you know about our upcoming events as well as a number of issues and campaigns that we think might be of interest to you. Let me know if you have any suggestions to include in future roundups. Email: [email protected]

And for the latest news items, be sure to like the BC Humanists on Facebook and follow @BCHumanist on Twitter.

DISCLAIMER: The opinions which appear in the newsletter and in this roundup of all the news which didn't fit within the newsletter are not necessarily shared by all or even most of the members and board of the BC Humanist Association.

Update: Click here or keep reading for the latest.

Following the latest attacks on Humanist and atheist writers, bloggers and intellectuals in Bangladesh, the BC Humanist Association is calling on Prime Minister designate Justin Trudeau to make Canada a "safe haven" for those facing persecution for their views.

This weekend, religious fanatics murdered Humanist Faisal Arefin Dipon and sent three more Humanist bloggers to hospital in Bangladesh. Dipon published freethought and pro-secular books, including some by Avijit Roy who was murdered in a separate attack earlier this year in Dhaka.

The International Humanist and Ethical Union has more details on this latest assault on free expression.

Yesterday the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada released a joint declaration opposing assisted dying.

Michael Coren sums up their opposition in today’s Toronto Star:

No to abortion, no to gay rights, no to euthanasia. Because [the Christian right] have lost the first two they are fighting like zealots to defend the last.

What happens when religious believers want to infringe on the rights of patients and healthcare practitioners?

Right now, the answer is we don’t know - but it isn’t looking good.