Andrew Copson
@andrewcopson
Humanist. Midlander. Liberal. Xennial. Quondam Classicist. Chief Executive @humanists.uk | Ambassador @humanists.bsky.social
Not the best photo but wonderful to see our @lizzicollinge.bsky.social on a panel of humanist legislators at the congress in Ottawa together with her fellow humanist parliamentarians from Canada, Iceland, and Norway. Common theme is the role of politicians in holding the line of liberal democracy!
Exhilarating as ever to be with over 500 humanists from 50 countries for the World Humanist Congress here in Ottawa, but especially to catch up with my old Vice President Ros, who has a great T-shirt for the “Humanism is Resistance” theme of the congress, and a new well-branded Canadian friend!
Off to Ottawa! And for the first time in a decade I am not presiding so can simply admire the work of @humanists.bsky.social from afar. And very great work it is too! Looking forward to seeing the first General Assembly of my successor, the sublime @maggieardiente.bsky.social, and all old friends.
The curators of Niagara Parks trolling the US for Trump’s talk of Canada being a state?
Good to see a strong @humanists.uk showing at the international conference on humanist military chaplaincy in Ottawa. Our Director of Community Services, Royal Navy humanist volunteer, and our Head of Pastoral Care all present and correct! Vital support for nonreligious people who serve.
No one would ever claim that Toronto’s museums are a global must-see but they have a magnificent head of Thucydides, a cute little diorama of Perikles inspecting the chryselephantine statue of Athena with Phidias, and a head of Zeus that looks like Stephen Fry.
I know this is meant to be a fresh and healthy selling point of this shower gel but this morning I read it and it just seemed a reckless and excessive use of mint which I now feel ashamed of using for washing with rather than eating.
Productive time in the garden. But a lot of this will have to be brined or frozen as I’m off tomorrow to Canada for the World Humanist Congress! Are there other ways to preserve vegetables?!?
Re-reading EM Forster's 'The Life to Come': stories of love and desire mostly unpublished in his lifetime, released only after his death. They have an honesty his novels could only gesture towards. Essential for anyone who admires Forster: great writer, great humanist.
Always life affirming to be with our wonderful trainee @humanists.uk celebrants - today our latest cohort of funeral celebrants, putting humanist values into practice by being with nonreligious people to give meaning and significance at the hardest times.
A modernist venue for today’s marrying of friends but just as lovely!
Don’t see the Odyssey. Save up and go to London to see this wonderful Oresteia instead. I saw it last night and it is a stunning production, as loosely based on its original as the Odyssey film is, but actually being inspired by the source material.
Reader, the cocktail was indeed a tragedy. But sadly with no katharsis. The taste of cough medicine has remained with me unresolved.
Combining curiosity, ingenuity, and collective effort, humanity achieved what once seemed impossible #onthisday in 1969. Apollo 11 landed on the moon, and Neil Armstrong became the first human to set foot on its surface. One of history’s greatest reminders of human potential!
What makes the difference for young people leaving care? People who stay in their corner for life. Wonderful to be at launch of Lifelong Guardianship Ceremonies last week to give support of @humanists.uk and proud that a humanist celebrant has created a humanist version. Truly brilliant innovation!
And this para 😍 because you know he means that you and only you know whether your life has quality, that you should receive the utmost support of society and society's laws to help give it the quality that you need, and that you should receive the same assistance if, towards the end, it doesn't.
A privilege always to marry friends and especially in such beautiful places!
Peacock butterfly in the garden today. Makes up for the humidity to see so many beautiful insects these least few days. (Fun fact: peacock butterflies can live for up to nine months!)
Finally getting boxes out of storage having moved over six years ago (even though renovations not yet finished…) and found a box from a certain party just over a decade ago 🇪🇺☹️
Sitting in the Midlands with @lgbthumanists.bsky.social #Pride envy. Have a great day everyone! 🏳️🌈🏳️⚧️
Good to attend the meeting of equality and human rights chief executives today and give the support of @humanists.uk to the defence of the Equality Act - a cornerstone of a free and fair society and a commitment to the highest principles of ethics. It needs to be defended and it should be defended.