June 4, 2019
Reykjavik, Iceland
A gathering of humanist organizations all over the world and headed by the Humanists International with world conference host Siðmennt, or the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, the event was held at the Askja, University of Iceland. The world congress was a three-day spectacle which started Friday, May 31 with a conference held with the Young Humanists International (YHI) simultaneously with the European Humanist Foundation (Fédération Humaniste Européenne, EHF-FHE) then a lecture series the next day hosted by Siðmennt, and then followed by a gala dinner June 01. On the third day, June 02, the General Assembly of the Humanists International was held which was then followed by a series of seminars/humanist training sessions which tackled on humanist ceremonies and counseling and another one on humanist campaigns and communications.
The Askja, University of Iceland
As posted on the Humanists International website,
“The General Assembly brings together representatives of Humanists International Member Organizations from all over the world to form the democratic governing body of the humanist movement. We hold our General Assembly each year in conjunction with a conference hosted by one of our Member Organizations. In 2019, we’re in Reykjavik, hosted by the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association, who are holding an international conference on Saturday 1 June.”
The participants of the Young Humanists International (YHI) Conference, Day One.
Conference 2019
Siðmennt – the Icelandic Ethical Humanist Association
What are the Ethical Questions of the 21st Century?
Askja, University of Iceland
Reykjavík, June 1. 2019
Day 02 of the humanist gathering in Iceland was a conference sponsored by Siðmennt. To open the said event, a welcome address was made by the president of Iceland himself, Mr. Guðni Th. Jóhannesson. Most Icelanders support the separation of the church and the state so it is not surprising that the majority of Icelanders do not consider themselves religious. In his welcome speech, the president outlines the history and diversity of belief in Iceland and concludes: “The religion of one, or many, cannot be the basis of laws of the land.”
This conference was divided into four (4) sessions tackling the Environment, Refugees, Economic Injustice, and finally Democracy.
Session 1 – ENVIRONMENT and CLIMATE CRISIS
We begin a session now on the environment and the climate crisis. pic.twitter.com/CCWElq8SBu
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Auður Önnu Magnúsdóttir (General director of Landvernd, the Icelandic environmental association) stresses that we need “to cut the ties between finance and politics”, stop thinking in terms of quarterly reports and more in terms of future generations, and “reconnect with nature”.
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
“We are in an overwhelming situation”, says academic Guðbjörg R. Jóhannesdóttir. And maybe in this anthropocene era, we need “a new understanding of what it is to be a human being”. pic.twitter.com/wliyvqrGwy
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Sian Berry, co-leader of the UK Green Party, outlines her ethical questions, including how we involve people – everyone – in the necessary transformation of society. “Never before has the need to bring capitalism to heel been so great,” she says. #HumanistsIceland pic.twitter.com/6Qxjlwi4UZ
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Session 2 – REFUGEES
Session 2 has begun, on refugees and migration. Þórunn Ólafsdóttir has worked to aid refugees in extreme situations. She recalls having to deliver aid in circumstances where there wasn’t enough food, humanitarians forced to choose who would get to eat or not. pic.twitter.com/PlGdVPRm7V
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Session 3 – ECONOMIC INJUSTICE
Guðmundur “Gummi” Ævar Oddsson kicks off the afternoon session on economic injustice. Notes that social class is often thought of as “unmarked” in Iceland, but that doesn’t mean it does not exist. #HumanistsIceland pic.twitter.com/LjF2rnSMzx
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Session 4 – DEMOCRACY
To resist the “grievance structure” of populism we should think less of “defending democracy” and more of “social engagement” with the criticisms of populism which are not altogether spurious or false, says Ólafsson. How do we empower people who feel politically at sea?
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Jón Ólafsson from the University of Iceland discusses populism, seen as a “degraded form of democracy”, and tending toward authoritarianism. But we must recognize that populist narratives may, he says, pose some real moral challenges to existing structures. pic.twitter.com/EelQBf30K2
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
With Andrew Copson (president of Humanists International), Eva Quiñones (president of Humanistas Seculares de Puerto Rico) and Gerardo Miguel Rivera Chaparro of Secular Humanist Association La Universidad de Puerto Rico – Recinto Universitario de Mayagüez
With American Humanist Association President Rebecca Hale
With Roslyn Mould of the Humanist Association of Ghana, now also a Board Member of HI
With Kato Mukasa of the Uganda Humanist Association
With Dan Barker of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)
With Annie Laurie Gaylor of the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF)
An Icelandic yeasty bread served during one of the coffee breaks
Lobster Bisque (lobster soup) served during the Gala Dinner at Restaurant Reykjavik
Roasted lamb with veggies served during the Gala Dinner at Restaurant Reykjavik
With Madhvi Potluri of the South Asian Humanist Association (SAHA)
With Tom Hedalen, head honcho of Human-Etisk Forbund (The Norwegian Humanist Association) and a humanist celebrant.
With David Lopez, head of the French Humanist Society and a board member at the European Humanist Federation (EHF-FHE) and Daniel of Slovakia
With Christina Magallanes-Jones of Atheists United
Day 03 was the General Assembly conducted by the Humanists International headed by HI President Andrew Copson. In attendance also were HI Vice-President Anne-France Ketalaer and HI Chief Executive Gary McLelland as with the rest of the 2019 board members of HI. Among the highlights of this assembly was the discussion and approval of a new Reykjavik Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, and approved changes to the Humanists International membership structure designed to increase democratic participation from newer humanist organizations. The new name, visual identity and corresponding website for Humanists International was demonstrated and welcomed by Board and delegates. For the Asian humanist societies who are tagged as associate members, this would mean voting privileges next conference henceforth.
Today the Humanists International General Assembly passed the Reykjavik Declaration on the Climate Change Crisis, setting new policy on the environment and what we believe must be done: https://t.co/iyKK4VfEGg #HumanistsIceland pic.twitter.com/6HwodJTAKI
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 2, 2019
With Roslyn, Christina, and Uttam Niraula – another HI Board Member
And finally Sidmennt’s Humanist of the Year Award goes to local school children who rose up to protest against the planned deportation of a classmate. The whole #HumanistsIceland conference rises for a standing ovation. Emotional moment! pic.twitter.com/3slTWJQHCz
— Humanists International (@HumanistsInt) June 1, 2019
Many thanks to our gracious host Siðmennt for a successful conference. 🙂
You can download the Annual Report of Humanists International (PDF).
For editing soon: the Humanists International Bylaws (PDF)).
Photo opportunity with the President of Iceland
Restaurant Reykjavik at Vesturgata, venue of the Gala Dinner
