Secularism, Student Societies, Vaccinations, & etc.

[tcpip]

Attended UMSS AGM Tuesday week and spoke the following week on The Victorian Secular Lobby and Politics, which outlined the differences between us and similar groups and our priority of political lobbying. As a external-studying and increasingly mature-aged postgraduate who collects degrees, I have not really been involved in university student associations for some time, despite it being a very significant part of my life in my youth (MARS being the most notable), and it has been pleasant to associate with youthful and enthusiastic people who discerning intelligence. I must say I rather enjoyed it, and will endeavour to attend more in the future.

It certainly beats some of the recent discussions I've had, most prominently being "discussions" with anti-vaccinators (Facebook), and not for the first time. Whilst the issue of scientific literacy and illiteracy is very evident, politically there is an issue where personal freedoms conflict; the freedom of health choices vis-a-vis safe public movement. I am sorely tempted to argue that the unvaccinated should quarantined or similar which would satify both political principles. But then what about the children?, or, in a more general sense, at what point does lack of parental responsibility reach the point where public intervention is required? Just quietly in the world of real science, the Americas is now rubella-free.

In more social enjoyments, played through another session of GURPS Middle-Earth on Sunday, caught up with Keith's book launch (Facebook), played some Ingress with agent hdaze on Wednesday and helped build up the area, enjoyed dinner with Rodney B., at Burmese House on Thursday, and spent a few hours today in the company of kremmen and kbpenguin, who are staying at the classic Grand Hotel. This upcoming week however looks a lot busier, starting with the Philosophy Forum tomorrow.

Comments

[zenicurean.livejournal.com]

What do you think are the prospects of Australia getting rid of, or alternatively hollowing out, Special Religious Instruction in the medium-to-long term?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Extremely good, at least in Victoria. It's a state-by-state issue through the various departments of education. In Victoria the programme is now opt-in and parents have been leaving in droves, with school after school dropping the programme due to lack of interest. Also, I don't think that the current education minister is particularly keen on SRI. There was no promise to fund it in the last election.