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From the Director |
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April kicks off with two Institute of Ideas debates. Tomorrow evening (1 April), the IoI is at the Think-in-Kingston festival debating whether free speech is being curtailed through fear of controversy. Then, on Thursday (3 April), the Secularism 2008 Series concludes with the final event at Bishopsgate Institute. The panel, including recently added speaker Julian Baggini, editor of the Philosophers’ Magazine, will question whether the ‘New Atheists’ are just ‘flogging a dead horse’. If you missed the previous debate, you can now watch it in its entirety on FORA.tv.
On the eve of the London mayoral elections, a Battle in Print published today takes issue with the political posturing over the London Olympics. In “‘The Regeneration Games’, London 2012”, Prof James Woudhuysen challenges the mayoral candidates to give us the vision and leadership for real growth in London, above and beyond the 2012 Olympics. Read the essay here.
A month before the start of the Beijing Olympics, a one-day Battle of Ideas satellite conference will look at China’s rise as an economic and political power. The Battle for China on Saturday 12 July is part of the CHINA NOW festival and will be hosted by international legal practice, Norton Rose, in their London offices. Visit the Battle of Ideas website for all Battle news, readings, Battles in Print and more.
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NEWS
AND EVENTS |
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**IoI @ Think-in-Kingston**
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YOU CAN'T SAY THAT!
Is free speech being curtailed through fear of controversy?
Tuesday 1 April, 7pm @ Galsworthy Building, Kingston University
The days of obscenity trials and overt political censorship may be long gone, but do we truly have freedom of expression in Britain today?
Speakers: Peter Tatchell, Jonathan Heawood, Maria Grasso, Dolan Cummings.
Tickets: Free, but reservation needed. Call 020 8547 5205. For info visit the Think-in-Kingston page.
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**Secularism 2008 Series**
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FLOGGING A DEAD HORSE:
Can we make a positive case for atheism today?
Thursday 3 April, 7pm @ Bishopsgate Institute, London
This last salon in the series will ask why religion perists and what today’s atheist intellectuals propose, beyond mere unbelief.
Speakers: Julian Baggini, Mike Fitzpatrick, Martin Summers, Mark Vernon.
Tickets: £7 (£5 concesssions). Call 020 7392 9220. For info visit the Secularism 2008 page.
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WORLDwrite celebration launch
Sunday 20 April, 6pm @ The New Vibe Lounge, 91-95 Brick Lane, London E1
WORLDwrite are launching two new short documentaries, entitled The More the Merrier based on the Battle of Ideas 2007 debate on immigration, and Cash Back, which examines remittances. These will be screened along with guest speakers including Philippe Legrain (author of Immigrants Your Country Needs Them) and Claire Fox. Everyone is welcome to attend this celebration launch at: The New Vibe Lounge, 91-95 Brick Lane, London, E1 on Sunday 20th April 2008 at 6pm.
View the trailer for The More the Merrier now by clicking here.
It promises to be a great night and to put freedom of movement on the map, so do book your places now via WORLDwrite’s JustGiving page. The minimum donation for a ticket is £5. Canapés and wine will be served free of charge.
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Battle of Ideas - web news
We have continued to make improvements to the Battle of Ideas website. As well as the RSS update of news and events (click here to subscribe), the archive of Battles in Print from 2007 has been reorganized to be easily searched by theme. All of the readings that accompanied individual sessions last year have been structured in the same way and now provide a valuable resource for each of the themes. New readings are being added for this year’s festival and suggestions are most welcome.
Next month we will be adding an events calendar to the site and starting to promote our satellite events.
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INTERN AT THE INSTITUTE OF IDEAS
The IoI is looking for interns. If you have an interest in politics, the arts or science, or want to help out organising the Battle of Ideas, contact geoffkidder@instituteofideas.com. |
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IoI
FORUMS |
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IoI SALONS |
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MEDIA |
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APPEARANCES |
Claire Fox will speak on 'Standing up for free speech' at Dillington House, Somerset, on 13 April
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VIDEO / AUDIO |
Dolan Cummings debated free speech on Muslim Café in March
Watch last month’s Secularism 2008 Series debate, ‘Still the opium of the masses?’ on FORA.tv:
Rashad Ali, a panellist on ‘Still the opium of the masses?’, was interviewed after the debate, TimesOnline, 20 March
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IN
THE PRESS
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Foxing Clever, Claire Fox interviewed by Richard Nye, The Richmond Magazine, March 2008
Taboo or not taboo, that is the question, Claire Fox, The Free Society, 28 March
Wrap up about the risks, Claire Fox, MJ, 11 March
Piano rage, Dolan Cummings, Culture Wars, 19 March
Why we need a Humanist Reformation, Dolan Cummings, spiked, 5 March
Cynical capitalism, cynical anti-capitalism, Dolan Cummings, Culture Wars, 4 March
The King of Climate Porn, Tony Gilland, spiked, 7 March
The Enchantress of Florence reviewed, Shirley Dent, New Humanist, March/April 2008
Liam Byrne: Enoch Powell with a Ford Escort, Shirley Dent, spiked, 17 March
Police duties for festival organisers?, Shirley Dent, Guardian Arts blog, 7 March
The rest of Shirley’s blogs are archived here
Chinese workers? Let them pick up litter, Angus Kennedy, spiked, 10 March
Academic freedom means free speech and no ‘buts’, Dennis Hayes, The Free Society, 4 March
Government should persuade us to support the Lisbon treaty - not tell us it is none of our business, Suzy Dean (Battle of Ideas committee member), OurKingdom @ openDemocracy, 4 March
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Highlights this month:
In fiction, we review of a selection of novels featured at Jewish Book Week in London last month, and consider what is meant by Jewish or any other ‘ethnic’ literature. In poetry, Philip Larkin on tape and a contemporary take on 'The Waste Land', and in film, Ion Martea takes a sceptical look at the Romanian New Wave.
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DEBATING
MATTERS |
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The Regional Finals of the Institute of Ideas and Pfizer Debating Matters Competition are now in full throttle. With three of the eight finals complete, winning teams from London, Wigan and Glasgow are gearing up for the National Final in early July. School and college libraries across the land are also considerably better stocked, with the competition’s prize sponsor, Hodder Murray, having donated £1000 of book and resource vouchers to winning teams and £500 to the runners-up.
Beginning with the London and South Regional Final - held at the Design Museum on 4 March - Graveney School from Wandsworth, South London, were the overall winners of the day, defeating Camden School for Girls at the final hurdle. The winner of the best individual prize was Fabio Antonini from Cardinal Newman School in Brighton. Judge Lawson Muncaster, Managing Director of London newspaper City AM said of the day: “The intensity and intelligence of the speakers was a real delight. The enthusiasm and passion that they demonstrated shows that we can all benefit from grown-up debate.”
At the North West and North Wales Regional Final - held at the Museum of Science and Industry in Manchester - Winstanley College from Wigan were the victors, closely followed by Prestatyn High School from Buckley. The winner of the Best Individual prize was Gowan Montgomerie from Prestatyn. Commenting on the impact of Debating Matters afterwards, Winstanley student Alyssa Parr said: “Taking part in Debating Matters makes you realise that politics isn’t just about Westminster, it’s about really arguing issues out and seeking to change peoples’ minds.”
Finally, at the Scotland Regional Final - held at the Glasgow Science Centre - longstanding competitors St Columba’s School made it through to the National Final, following a nail-biting final with runners-up Notre Dame School. The winner of the Best Individual prize was debater Rebecca Meredith from St Columba’s. Judge Susan Flockhart, editor of the Sunday Herald Magazine said of her experience of judging: “It is very heartening indeed to see such an intelligent and thoughtful group of young people. I saw real original thought at work here today and was very impressed.”
The team would like to wish good luck to all teams in the remaining rounds!
If you are interested in attending any of the remaining finals, (dates and venues listed below) please email Justine Brian or phone 020 7269 9232.
East Regional Final - Wednesday 9 April, hosted by Magdalene College, University of Cambridge
Central Regional Final - Thursday 17 April, hosted by the University of Birmingham
South East Regional Final - Monday 21 April, hosted by Canterbury Christ Church University
West & South Wales Regional Final - Wednesday 23 April, hosted by the University of Bristol
North East Regional Final - Monday 28 April, hosted by the University of Newcastle
Debating Matters is supported by a Wellcome Trust Engaging Science Society Award and sponsored by: Pfizer, Hodder Education, the Medical Research Council, the Economic and Social Research Council, Canterbury Christ Church University, the Natural Environment Research Council and the University of Newcastle.
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JOIN
THE INSTITUTE OF IDEAS |
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