Happy Darwin Day!!!! How will YOU help advance Science and Humanity?

[cleanhippie]

Well, another year has come and gone, and in it's wake, more and more people are opening their eyes to Science as the best way to understand our world, our universe, and ourselves. Fewer and fewer are looking to superstition and mythology for answers about the real world, and ignorance is slowly but surely, ebbing into the night.

What is Darwin Day?

A Global Celebration

Darwin Day is an international celebration of science and humanity held on or around February 12, the day that Charles Darwin was born on in 1809. Specifically, it celebrates the discoveries and life of Charles Darwin — the man who first described biological evolution via natural selection with scientific rigor. More generally, Darwin Day expresses gratitude for the enormous benefits that scientific knowledge, acquired through human curiosity and ingenuity, has contributed to the advancement of humanity.

The International Darwin Day Foundation website provides resources and publicity for individuals and institutions across the world to celebrate science and humanity every year, on, or near, February 12, Darwin’s birthday. In addition to information about the life and legacy of Charles Darwin, this website provides practical examples, advice and templates for organizing and publicizing Darwin Day events. It also provides a directory of events where you can find celebrations taking place near you or register your own event for others to find.

Recognizing science as an international language accessible to all individuals and societies, the International Darwin Day Foundation provides a new global holiday that transcends separate nationalities and cultures. Darwin Day can be celebrated in many different ways: civic ceremonies with official proclamations, educational symposia, birthday parties, art shows, book discussions, lobby days, games, protests, and dinner parties. Organizers may include: academic societies, science organizations, freethought groups, religious congregations, libraries, museums, galleries, teachers and students, families and friends. In Darwin Day, we are able to recognize the diversity among us, while celebrating our common humanity and the universal understanding we share.

http://darwinday.org/about/

Some of our Congresscritters are again submitting a bill to recognize Darwin Day, much like the National Day of Prayer, so if you accept science as the best way to understand our world, contact your Congressperson and urge them to co-sponsor and/or support this bill TODAY!

H.RES.41.IH- -- Expressing support for designation of February 12, 2013, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of humanity. (Introduced in House - IH)

113th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. RES. 41

Expressing support for designation of February 12, 2013, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of humanity.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 22, 2013

Mr. HOLT submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology

RESOLUTION

Expressing support for designation of February 12, 2013, as Darwin Day and recognizing the importance of science in the betterment of humanity.

Whereas Charles Darwin's theory of evolution by the mechanism of natural selection, together with the monumental amount of scientific evidence he compiled to support it, provides humanity with a logical and intellectually compelling explanation for the diversity of life on Earth;

Whereas the validity of Darwin's theory of evolution by natural selection is further strongly supported by the modern understanding of the science of genetics;

Whereas it has been the human curiosity and ingenuity exemplified by Darwin that has promoted new scientific discoveries that have helped humanity solve many problems and improve living conditions;

Whereas the advancement of science must be protected from those unconcerned with the adverse impacts of global warming and climate change;

Whereas the teaching of creationism in some public schools compromises the scientific and academic integrity of the United States education systems;

Whereas Charles Darwin is a worthy symbol of scientific advancement on which to focus and around which to build a global celebration of science and humanity intended to promote a common bond among all of Earth's peoples; and

Whereas February 12, 2013, is the anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin in 1809 and would be an appropriate date to designate as Darwin Day: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the House of Representatives--

(1) supports the designation of Darwin Day; and

(2) recognizes Charles Darwin as a worthy symbol on which to celebrate the achievements of reason, science, and the advancement of human knowledge.

Which is being sunbmitted today by Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.)

On Tuesday, the 204th anniversary of British naturalist Charles Darwin's birth, Rep. Rush Holt (D-N.J.) will take to the House floor to formally introduce his resolution calling for February 12, 2013 to be officially designated Darwin Day.

In his bill, Holt -- a "Jeopardy!" champion with a doctoral degree in physics -- offers a strong defense of evolution, as well as Darwin's influence on scientific understanding and the "betterment of humanity."

Holt also takes aim at opponents, arguing that "the advancement of science must be protected from those unconcerned with the adverse impacts of global warming and climate change." He goes on to warn that the "teaching of creationism in some public schools compromises the scientific and academic integrity of the United States education systems."

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/02/12/rush-holt-darwin-day_n_2669359.html

[immoderate]

1. I'm celebrating with PZ Myers and James Randi

They are guests at our Darwin Day celebration, sponsored by Broward College, Center for Inquiry, James Randi Educational Foundation, and Florida Atheists and Secular Humanists (FLASH.)

We have activities through the day (Saturday) for kids and adults. My job is to throw together the program.

--imm

[cleanhippie]

2. Will you please post the video of them speaking?

Thats awesome, both PZ AND James Randi? Wow.

[immoderate]

5. I will try.

I don't think Randi will speak. He is a co-sponsor and usually addresses the similarly run Carl Sagan Day in November. But PZ will be the featured speaker.

I believe it's being recorded, but I'm not sure where it will be posted. I'll try to get that for you.

--imm

[zappaman]

3. DU Rec and kick! n/t

[Nuclear Unicorn]

4. How do random occurances have an "advance"?

Serious question.

[cleanhippie]

6. I do not understand your question.

I guess I need to clarification and context.

[Nuclear Unicorn]

7. Evolution is about unplanned, random genetic mutations

There is no "advance" because there is no purpose, goal, measurement or whatever.

[cleanhippie]

9. I am not understanding your point.

If you are questioning my use of the word "advance" in my title, kindly look at the entire thing...

How will YOU help advance Science and Humanity?

And if that is what you are talking about, I'm unsure how your comments about evolution are applicable to advancing science and humanity as the best method to understand our world and make it better.

[Puzzledtraveller]

8. Science and Humanity don't really go hand in hand

Humanity often works against science. Posit natural selection. We now through our humanity can prevent to an extent the extinction of species, even groups of humans who's extinction is either furthered by our own interventions or by natural processes over spans of time. There is a lot of science in what we do well and what we do extragavantly bad. Just my personal feelings on the subject.

[cleanhippie]

10. Perhaps the difference you miss is this...

advancing science AND humanity, not science FOR humanity.

[Puzzledtraveller]

11. Yes, I agree :)

[cleanhippie]

12. Sweet!