RSA Daily

For atheists, rationalists and secular humanists in Australia

Tuesday, July 4, 2023

Good morning ,

Wow, that cricket furore at Lord's! Veteren reporter Chip Le Grand writes, "It took the Independent Commission for Equity in Cricket two years of exhaustive research to conclude there is an elitist and exclusionary culture at the heart of the game in England." And that goes for their whole aristocratic and monarchical system as well. A plague on all their houses! 

Lead stories

RSA Fellow Peter Ellerton comments: "Today many countries in the world, predominantly Islamic ones, do not teach evolution, as it is said to contradict religious teachings. .. recently, India also removed evolution from the formal education of students up to Year 10 .. these examples do not represent simple oversight. They are serious attempts to restrict people thinking about evolution and, ultimately, to delegitimise science for ideological gain." We must resist.

The Religion in Australian politics and society report, published this month by a team of researchers at Macquarie University, found that 82 per cent of Australians agreed that “religion should be separate from politics”, with 47 per cent saying they strongly agreed with the statement. Hope yet that commonsense will prevail.

Despite Victoria being the first state to legalise VAD, barriers to access exist: 

• finding a doctor who's done the training
• the sheer length of time to get through the application process
• some facilities (hospices, aged care homes) won't honour your choice
• the ban on doctors fully informing you of your choices at end-of-life
• the ban on doctors using the phone to support you through the process.

As we head into the 5 year review of the legislation, you can help address these barriers by telling Dying With Dignity Victoria your story:

Other stories of interest

Religious leaders 'out of step with flocks' on assisted dying, says UK rabbi

Same as in Australia. Research by RSA Fellow Neil Francis has shown Australian religionists are overwhelmingly in favour of access to VAD. "The fear-mongering of a vocal minority will ultimately be exposed as just that. Common sense and compassion will win out."

The remarkable story of maneki-neko, the Japanese beckoning cat

Reminds me of my favourite short story of all time - The Cat Who Went to Heaven. Send me your favourite (president@rationalist.com.au) and I'll publish them next week.

Australia's ratings in the OECD's Government at a Glance 2023 report

"More than two-thirds of Australians are happy with the health care system and the education system and a majority satisfied with the judiciary system"

Australia's national anti-corruption commission receives 44 referrals on first day of operation

But they're not going to waste their time on matters already being investigated elsewhere or pet projects by the disgruntled. Quite right.

Got a comment on any of these stories? 

Write to me at president@rationalist.com.au

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