Speaker – Page 22

A Discussion of “The Bonobo and the Atheist”

Werner Haag, Ph.D.

11 a.m., May 24, 2020

Because of the coronavirus situation, this Forum will be held online.

If you don’t intend to ask any questions or make any comments during this Forum, then please click the below link on Sunday around 11 a.m. in order to view the Forum as it occurs (in real time):

https://www.echoplexmedia.com/humanist

If you may want to ask a question or make a comment during this Forum, then please click the below link on Sunday around 11 a.m. in order to view, and possibly take part in, the Forum as it occurs (in real time):

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/314247393

Note: If you don’t have the Zoom app installed on your desktop computer, then joining the meeting via the above link will download and install the Zoom app on your desktop computer, and then take you to the meeting. You can also install the Zoom app on your smart phone, and then enter 314247393 as the “meeting number” that you want to “join”.

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This online Forum will a discussion of the book “The Bonobo and the Atheist”, as described below:

Werner Haag will give a review of Frans De Waal’s book “The Bonobo and the Atheist”, which discusses the biological evolution of morality extending on an evolutionary time scale as opposed to the beginning of the historical record. It gives numerous examples showing that many “lower” mammals have well-developed social codes and exhibit empathy, sympathy and fairness, which are prerequisites for moral behavior and altruism. Apes and other mammals exhibit both pro-social behavior (a proactive desire to help each other and live in harmony) and fear of group punishment for violating behavioral rules, very similar to human methods of maintaining social order. Thus, basic moral behavior predates existing religions probably by millions of years.

Werner Haag has been a member of the Atheist Community of San Jose (ACSJ) since May 2013 and is the current President. He has a Ph.D. in Environmental Chemistry, with 10 years experience in fundamental research, and 30 years in applied chemistry. He now works part time, so he has time for coaching high school wrestling, orienteering, ballroom dancing and reading about the history of science and religion. He is also a Vice President of Humanis Global Charity and visited Ugandan projects with Hank Pellisier a few years ago. He was previously on the board of directors of Science is Elementary, a volunteer organization that teaches critical thinking skills to elementary school kids using simple science experiments.

A Discussion of “The Bonobo and the Atheist” – Werner Haag, Ph.D. from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

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Immigrants are Us

Mark Tuschman

11 a.m., May 17, 2020

Because of the coronavirus situation, this Forum will be held online.

https://www.echoplexmedia.com/humanist

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/314247393

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This online Forum will be on the topic of “Immigrants are Us”, as described below:

Mark Tuschman has been a freelance photographer for nearly 40 years. He has devoted much of the past decade to documenting global health challenges and women’s human rights issues, in collaboration with UN agencies, socially conscious corporations, foundations, and NGOs.

His work has been featured at many international events, including the Women Deliver Conferences in 2013 and 2016, and the Carter Center’s Human Rights Defenders Forum in 2015. The Global Health Council named Mark Photographer of the Year in 2010, and his images won the Grand Prize in a worldwide photo competition sponsored by the Social Documentary Network and Management Sciences for Health.

He created the “Immigrants Are Us” project in the hope that it will increase dialogue and counter the damaging stereotypes of immigrants that have been propagated by certain media, and ultimately increase voter turnout.

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Immigrants are Us – Mark Tuschman from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Do your online shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6173979, and Amazon donates to the Humanist Community every time you do.

Note: If you would like to speak at a Forum, or know of someone who you think might be willing to speak at a Forum, please send an email about your idea to the HCSV Program Committee.

The Coevolution of Humans and Machines

Prof. Edward A. Lee

11 a.m., May 3, 2020

Because of the coronavirus situation, this Forum will be held online.

https://www.echoplexmedia.com/humanist

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/314247393

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This online Forum will be on the topic of “The Coevolution of Humans and Machines”, as described below:

Prof. Edward A. Lee, Professor of the Graduate School in Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UC Berkeley, will discuss his new book:

The Coevolution: The Entwined Futures of Humans and Machines

(see https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/coevolution)

Should digital technology be viewed as a new life form, sharing our ecosystem and coevolving with us? Join us this Sunday for a discussion of this fascinating topic by Prof. Edward A. Lee.

The Coevolution of Humans and Machines – Prof. Edward A. Lee from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Do your online shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6173979, and Amazon donates to the Humanist Community every time you do.

Note: If you would like to speak at a Forum, or know of someone who you think might be willing to speak at a Forum, please send an email about your idea to the HCSV Program Committee.

The Human Condition: Reality, Science and History – Prof. Gregory Loew

Prof. Gregory Loew

11 a.m., April 26, 2020

Because of the coronavirus situation, this Forum will be held online.

https://www.echoplexmedia.com/humanist

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/314247393

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This online Forum will be on the topic of “The Human Condition: Reality, Science and History”, as described below:

Professor Gregory Loew will discuss his new book, The Human Condition: Reality, Science and History, which touches on the nature of reality as we experience it, the progress and limitations of the natural and social sciences, the development of war and religion, the question of free will, the chaotic nature of history, the possible future of science and technology, the risks of tinkering with our genes and mental faculties, how we may upgrade our system of education to improve our social woes, and what improvements we might make to our economic, political, and international problems.

Professor Loew was named adjunct professor at SLAC in 1974 and professor in 1982. He became a fellow of the American Physical Society in 1993 and chaired its Committee on the International Freedom of Scientists in 1996. In 1958, he was a member of the microwave circuitry team, one of many teams tasked with designing SLAC, an accelerator distinguished by its length, high energy, and high current.

Do your online shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6173979, and Amazon donates to the Humanist Community every time you do.

Note: If you would like to speak at a Forum, or know of someone who you think might be willing to speak at a Forum, please send an email about your idea to the HCSV Program Committee.

Online Forum: Intro to the YWCA and Sexual Violence

Megan Schnabel

11 a.m., April 19, 2020

Because of the coronavirus situation, this Forum will be held online.

https://www.echoplexmedia.com/humanist

https://us04web.zoom.us/j/314247393

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This online Forum will be on the topic of “Intro to the YWCA and Sexual Violence”, as described below:

In this brief talk, we will learn about the services YWCA has to offer to survivors of sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking. We will introduce the different types of violence, how to identify warning signs, and how to support someone who may be experiencing violence. After the presentation, we will have a Q&A discussion with the YWCA.

Our speaker, Megan Schnabel (she/her), has been working with the YWCA Silicon Valley since 2018 in crisis intervention, advocacy, counseling, and prevention education. She also has experiencing working with foster youth, case management, LGBTQ+ communities, and suicide prevention. Megan grew up in San Jose, and received her BA in Psychology at UC Santa Cruz. She is currently the Community Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at the YWCA, working with communities all across Santa Clara County to provide awareness and prevention education, connect folks to services, and change the culture around gender based violence.

Intro to the YWCA and Sexual Violence – Megan Schnabel from Humanist Community-SiliconValley on Vimeo.

Do your online shopping at https://smile.amazon.com/ch/94-6173979, and Amazon donates to the Humanist Community every time you do.

Note: If you would like to speak at a Forum, or know of someone who you think might be willing to speak at a Forum, please send an email about your idea to the HCSV Program Committee.