THE   FOCUS

July 3, 2009
Volume 5, Issue 27
Published by the Center For Atheism (CFA)
Editor: David Birnkrant
 
The Focus provides links to articles collected from major newspapers and magazines, and is emailed weekly.

This Week in Atheism is a cable show that discusses the articles featured below, every Wednesday at 6:30 PM (EST), Manhattan Cable station 57. 
Live streaming is available at: 
http://www.mnn.org.

Comments, suggestions and subscription:
info@centerforatheism.org.

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FEATURED ARTICLES

Richard Dawkins launches children's summer camp for atheists
Telegraph.co.uk - United Kingdom
Prof Richard Dawkins, the prominent atheist, has helped set up an atheist summer camp where children will be taught rational scepticism and sing John ...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/religion/5674934/Richard-Dawkins-launches-childrens-summer-camp-for-atheists.html

Group BoostsAtheist Pride With NYC Bus Ads wcbstvcom
An atheist group is running ads on two dozen New York City buses to raise "atheist pride" among nonbelievers. The 12-foot-long ads have a blue background ..
http://wcbstv.com/local/atheistbus.ad.2.1061819.html

Richard Dawkins launches children's summer camp for atheists
Daily Mail - UK
And instead of finishing up the day with a toasted marshmallow and round of Kim-bi-ya budding atheists will belt out 'Imagine there's no heaven...and no ...
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1196063/Richard-Dawkins-launches-childrens-summer-camp-atheists.html

NYC Atheists group launches series of ads on buses in Manhattan
New York Daily News - New York,NY,USA
"We chose a statement that we thought was positive," said Ken Bronstein, president of NYC Atheists. "It's important to get the message out that there's some ...
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2009/06/28/2009-06-28_atheists_puttin_faith_in_bus_ads.html

There'll be no tent for God at Camp Dawkins
Times Online - UK
Atheism, however, is not accounted for in this induction oath. Christian organisations that run summer camps include the Church Pastoral Aid Society, ...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6591231.ece

ATHEISM

NYC Buses Boost "Atheist Pride"
New York's PIX11 / WPIX-TV - New York City,New York,USA
(NEW YORK CITY ATHIESTS / June 27, 2009) NEW YORK, NY (WPIX) - Two-dozen New York City buses will run ads aimed at boosting "atheist pride" among ...
http://www.wpix.com/news/local/wpix-atheist-bus,0,716344.story

Dawkins sets up kids camp to groom atheists
Times Online
GIVE Richard Dawkins a child for a week's summer camp and he will try to give you an atheist for life...
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/faith/article6591236.ece

New atheist summer camp launched
BBC News - UK
An atheist summer camp for children set up in Somerset is to offer a "godless alternative" to religious camps. The 24 places on Camp Quest UK, which will be ...
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/somerset/8123263.stm

Atheist Bus Campaign Draws Official Complaint
YLE News - Helsinki,Uusimaa,Finland
A complaint has been filed with the Council of Ethics in Advertising over the atheist bus campaign, which has plastered buses with atheist slogans in the ...
http://www.yle.fi/uutiset/news/2009/06/atheist_bus_campaign_draws_official_complaintnbsp_832596.html

Atheists oppose more religion in new Capitol Visitors Center
American Chronicle - Beverly Hills,CA,USA
An Atheist public policy group today urged Congress to reject a House Resolution that would use more tax money to display religious mottos in the new ...
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/view/107989

New atheist billboard in Moscow
Northwest Cable News - Portland,OR,USA
It's the second billboard put up by the American Humanist Association. It faces North at Highway 95 and Sweet Avenue, and reads, "Want a better world? ...
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/idaho/stories/NW_070109IDN-atheist-billboard-LJ.2619e28a.html

BOOKS, FILM, THEATRE, TV, YOU TUBE

The Non-evolution of God
New York Times Blogs - New York,NY,USA
By Nicholas Wade Robert Wright's new book, “The Evolution of God,” has a provocative title. But it's a disappointment from the Darwinian perspective. ...
http://tierneylab.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/the-non-evolution-of-god/

Atheist Film Festival to be Held June 28, at the Roxie Theater in ...
Bay Area Indymedia - San Francisco,CA,USA
On Sunday June 28th, the first ever Atheist Film Festival will be held at the Roxie Theater in San Francisco's Mission District from Noon - Midnight. ...
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/26/18604079.php

EVOLUTION, CREATIONISM, I.D.

God or Darwin? The world in evolution beliefs
guardian.co.uk - UK
But they also show that there are significant minorities of people who either want nothing to do with evolution - and think it should either not be taught ... 
http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2009/jul/01/evolution

Paleontologists Insulted By Creation Museum
RedOrbit - Dallas,TX,USA
After having a few laughs and taking some pictures, most were surprised and offended to see the way in which evolution was being ridiculed by the museum, ...
http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/1714200/paleontologists_insulted_by_creation_museum/

July 2009 Archives
Origins - Washington,DC,USA
The latest survey to take the pulse of the public debate on evolution suggests that a majority of people see nothing wrong with believing in a god and ..
http://blogs.sciencemag.org/origins/2009/07/

Myanmar fossil may shed light on evolution
guardian.co.uk - UK
AP foreign, Friday July 3 2009 AP Environmental Writer= BANGKOK, Thailand (AP) — Fossils recently discovered in Myanmar could prove that the common ...
http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/feedarticle/8590088

Opinions on evolution from ten countries
National Center for Science Education - Oakland,CA,USA
A recent international survey conducted by the British Council investigated awareness of Darwin, acceptance of evolution, and attitudes toward evolution and ...
http://ncseweb.org/news/2009/07/opinions-evolution-from-ten-countries-004885

1941 science test shows how things have changed
USA Today - USA
The test is a relic of a simpler time that tells us a lot about the evolution of studying evolution. "I just found the exam in one of my wife's old ...
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/2009-06-24-evolution-exam_N.htm

SCIENCE

Ulysses Hears The Siren's Song: End Of Mission To Chart Unexplored Regions Of Space
ScienceDaily (June 28, 2009) — After 18.6 years in space and defying several earlier expectations of its demise, the joint ESA/NASA solar orbiter Ulysses will achieve 'end of mission' on 30 June 2009...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090626140124.htm

Rating Attractiveness: Consensus Among Men, Not Women, Study Finds
ScienceDaily (June 27, 2009) — Hot or not? Men agree on the answer. Women don't
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090626153511.htm

'Neurologger' Reads Bird Brains In Flight
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — Using a "neurologger" specially designed to record the brain activity of pigeons in flight, researchers reporting online on June 25th in Current Biology, a Cell Press publication...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625133057.htm

Carbon Footprint Calculator Enables First-ever Country By Country Comparison
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — A first-ever analysis and comparison of the carbon footprints of different countries using a single, trade-linked model has been created by researchers at the Norwegian University of...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090622064809.htm

Milky Way's Particle Accelerators: Cosmic Rays Accelerated In Remnants Of Exploding Stars
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — Thanks to a unique "ballistic study" that combines data from ESO's Very Large Telescope and NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory, astronomers have now solved a long-standing mystery of the Milky Way’s particle accelerators...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625141454.htm

In 'Reading' A Gaze, What We Believe Changes What We See
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — In primates including ourselves, the ability to register where others are looking is key in social circles. And, according to a new report published online on June 25th in Current Biology...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625133049.htm

New Fossil Tells How Piranhas Got Their Teeth
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — How did piranhas — the legendary freshwater fish with the razor bite — get their telltale teeth? Researchers from Argentina, the United States and Venezuela have uncovered the jawbone of a...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625201822.htm

Cognitive Therapy Is Of No Value In Schizophrenia, Analysis Of Studies Suggests
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — Research co-led by an academic at the University of Hertfordshire, concludes that cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is of no value in schizophrenia and has limited effect on depression...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625074512.htm

Climate Change: Some Winds Decreasing Across United States
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — Declining wind speeds in parts of the United States could impact more than the wind power industry, say Iowa State University climate researchers...
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2009/06/090625202010.htm

New Nanoparticles Could Revolutionize Therapeutic Drug Discovery
ScienceDaily (June 26, 2009) — A revolutionary new protein stabilisation technique has been developed by scientists funded by the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) which could lead to 30 per cent more...
http://www.sciencedailycom/releases/2009/06/090625074635.htm

SEPARATION CHURCH / STATE

Newtown Square mom may take case to Supreme Court
Philadelphia Inquirer - Philadelphia,PA,USA
She is considering whether to continue with a case that tackles issues of free speech and separation of church and state. If she goes forward, Busch says, ...
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/local/pa/20090629_Newtown_Square_mom_may_take_case_to_Supreme_Court.html

Church, State Sharing A Roof At West Hartford's Conard High School
Hartford Courant - United States
At the Freedom from Religion Foundation, a Wisconsin-based group that advocates separation of church and state, the most frequent complaint received from ...
http://www.courant.com/community/hc-west-hartford-church-conard-.artjun30,0,4469516.story

High court won't hear Kent schools Bible-club case
Seattle Times - United States
When the federal appeals court ruled that religion-based student groups do not violate laws governing the separation of church and state, Truth submitted a ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009400011_bibleclub30m0.html

Ethics Agency Drops Probe Into Bridgeport Diocese Over Lobbying
Hartford Courant - United States
... asking for financial information, would likely be seen by a court as illegally intrusive and in violation of the separation of church and state. ...
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-web-ethics-diocese-0701jul02,0,1773144.story

Faith has played a larger role in Obama's White House so far than ..
U.S. News & World Report - Washington,DC,USA
"Bush's office completely disregarded the separation of church and state, and nobody sees any change from that yet." Resolving the issue is an early test of ...
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/religion/2009/07/01/a-new-role-for-religion-in-obamas-white-house.html

Scoop Urge for separation of church and state in Denmark
Hindus and Jews have urged for separation of church and state in Denmark, where currently The Danish National Church is a state church...
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/WO0907/S00012.htm

Video: Morality rally draws protesters
Tulsa World - Tulsa,OK,USA
Protesters repeatedly interrupted Kern, R-Oklahoma City, and her supporters, chanting for the separation of church and state and calling Kern and her ...
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?subjectid=11&articleid=20090703_16_A13_Oklaho901804&allcom=1

Nampa charter school to use Bible as textbook
Product Design & Development - Rockaway,NJ,USA
"I think it is a historical text, so obviously schools can look at using it in different ways that don't violate separation of church and state. ..
http://www.pddnet.com/news-ap-nampa-charter-school-to-use-bible-as-textbook-062709/

MISCELLANEOUS

Quiet moments with the 'real' Neil Rogers
Sun-Sentinel.com - Fort Lauderdale,FL,USA
Born Jewish and working in a heavily populated Jewish market, he renounced his religion and declared himself an atheist. Madelyn Murray O'Hare, ..
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/features/sfl-neil-rogers-jicha-l062809sbjun28,0,5752411.story
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        CFA Program
 
The Center for Atheism (CFA) was established by the New York City Atheists as a separate and independent national organization to propose, develop, and be a catalyst for new national activities supporting the objectives of atheists, agnostics, humanists, freethinkers, skeptics, secularists and separation-of-church-and-state advocates. 

CFA will accept and review suggestions from individuals and other secular organizations that will foster our goals.
 
 
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