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BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260525
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260526
DTSTAMP:20260404T054449
CREATED:20260310T201455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201455Z
UID:224999-1779667200-1779753599@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Towel Day
DESCRIPTION:Towel Day (http://towelday.org/) is the annual celebration of the life and writings of Douglas Adams (1952-2001)\, humorist\, humanist\, conservationist\, science fiction writer\, and social critic. On that day\, fans around the universe proudly carry a towel in his honor. Why a towel? Don’t panic\, go to the website to see – or better yet\, read The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Hitchhiker%27s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy_(novel)). It’s a great book.  
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/towel-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260526
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260527
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201455Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201455Z
UID:224998-1779753600-1779839999@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Opposite Day
DESCRIPTION:Some say the proper date is May 26\, some say April 30\, some say March 27th — can you ever be sure? When someone says “Today is Opposite Day\,” he might be lying!  Opposite Day is a day to say the reverse of what you mean\, with a wink\, with a nod; a day when “no” means “yes” and “shut up” means “keep talking;” a day to be nice to your boss\, teacher or enemy\, and a complete jerk to your best friend; a day to turn words on their head; a day to tie knots in logic. Celebrate with care. It might get you in trouble!
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/opposite-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260528
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260529
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201456Z
UID:225000-1779926400-1780012799@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Birthday of Science
DESCRIPTION:The Birthday of Science marks the day Thales of Miletus (in 585 BCE) correctly predicted a solar eclipse. A better choice might be the discovery of fire or the wheel\, but we don’t know exactly when that happened\, or who did it. We do know about Thales. His prediction was significant because the idea of cause and effect (causality) applies to all science. Given any phenomenon\, with the exception of purely random quantum events\, in principle we can trace its cause or causes\, and the cause of those causes\, back through time — until all cause-tracks merge at the “Big Bang\,” beyond which\, presumably\, no tracks remain. The seeds of our life and future were sewn then. The Large Hadron Collider (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Large_Hadron_Collider) is an effort to re-create those first moments. Science desires a beginning that applies to the big picture\, and a sense of order and predictability.  That is where causality leads us.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/birthday-of-science/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260601
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260602
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201456Z
UID:225001-1780272000-1780358399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Hug an Atheist Day
DESCRIPTION:In 2009\, freethinker William Bermudez started Hug an Atheist Day (http://www.weirdholiday.com/hug-an-atheist-day/) (June 1st) to poke fun at other groups popping up at the time to encouraged hugging. He called for people to run up and hug atheists or any nonbeliever in general\, whether agnostic\, skeptic\, secular humanist\, or with other heretical views. In the words of one blogger: It doesn’t matter what your worldview is\, practice a little tolerance. Find your nearest Atheist\, Absurdist\, Agnostic\, Anti-Religionist\, Antitheist\, Apatheist\, Deist\, Dystheist\, Existentialist\, Freethinker\, Gropaga\, Ignostic\, Mahayana\, Marxist\, Misotheist\, Naturalistic Pantheist\, Nihilist\, Nontheist\, Pastafarian\, Secular Humanist\, Skeptic\, Spagnostic\, Structuralist\, Buddhist\, Zenbuddhist\, or anyone else who doubts the existence of a god\, and  & give him/her the biggest hug ever! But use common sense\, because not everyone appreciates uninvited hugs.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/hug-an-atheist-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260605
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260606
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201456Z
UID:225002-1780617600-1780703999@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:World Environment Day
DESCRIPTION:The goal of World Environment Day is to stimulate worldwide awareness of environmental issues\, and to generate action for conservation. The United Nations General Assembly established World Environment Day (http://worldenvironmentday.global/) in 1972 to mark the opening of the Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment. Each year World Environment Day celebrations occur at a different location around the globe. To find a location for this year\, see: World Environment Day Events (https://www.unenvironment.org/events). World Environment Day gives environmental issues a human face\, one with which we can identify. The philosophy of the Day has changed little over the last three decades; it still strives to associate faces with environmental issues and empower people to be advocates of sustainable and equitable development. By promoting an understanding that communities are pivotal to changing the attitudes towards environmental issues\, and advocating partnerships\, World Environment Day strives to ensure all nations and peoples enjoy a safe\, clean\, healthy\, and more prosperous future. In the words of the United Nations Environment Programme\, “On this World Environment Day\, let us not despair\, but instead examine the state of our environment. Let us consider carefully the actions which each of us must take\, and then address ourselves to our common task of preserving all life on earth in a mood of sober resolution and quiet confidence.” Groups around the world hold activities to acknowledge and celebrate this day. Find an activity near you\, and join the fun!
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/world-environment-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260619
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260620
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201456Z
UID:225003-1781827200-1781913599@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Juneteenth
DESCRIPTION:Juneteenth (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Juneteenth)\, an unofficial American secular holiday but official in Texas\, commemorates a major milestone: slavery’s end in the United States. On June 19\, 1865\, Union soldiers led by Major General Gordon Granger landed at Galveston\, Texas\, with news that the war was over and the enslaved were now free. This was two and a half years after the Emancipation Proclamation (official on Jan 1\, 1863). The Proclamation had had little impact in Texas due to a lack of federal troops to enforce it – but with General Granger’s arrival\, Union forces were finally strong enough to overcome resistance. Why a two and a half year delay in the recognition of Emanicipation? Variant stories try to explain this. One concerns a messenger murdered on his way to Texas with the news. Another is that enslavers deliberately supressed the news to maintain the labor force on their plantations. Another\, that federal troops actually waited for slave owners to reap the benefits of one last cotton harvest before going to Texas. For some\, very likely\, President Lincoln’s authority over the rebel states was still in question. Whatever the truth of it\, conditions in Texas sadly remained status quo well beyond what was statutory. On arrival\, General Granger’s first order of business was to proclaim General Order Number 3 (http://www.juneteenth.com/general_order_no_3.htm)\, which began as follows: “The people of Texas are informed that in accordance with a Proclamation from the Executive of the United States\, all slaves are free. This involves an absolute equality of rights and rights of property between former masters and slaves\, and the connection heretofore existing between them becomes that between employer and hired laborer.” Reactions ranged from shock to jubilation. While many lingered to learn of the new employer-to-employee relationship\, others left before offers were completely off the lips of their former ‘masters’ – attesting to the varying conditions on the plantations and the realization of freedom. Even with nowhere to go\, they felt that leaving the plantation would be their first breath of freedom. Moving North was logical; for many it represented true freedom\, while the desire to reach family members in neighboring states drove some into Louisiana\, Arkansas and Oklahoma. Settling into these new areas as free men and women brought on new realities and the challenges of establishing a heretofore non-existent status for black people in America. Recounting the memories of that great day in June of 1865 and its festivities would serve as motivation as well as a release from the growing pressures encountered in their new territories. The celebration of June 19th\, coined “Juneteenth” but also called “Freedom Day\,” “Liberation Day” and “Jubilee Day\,” began the next year and grew yearly with participation from abolitionists and family of former slaves. The Juneteenth celebration became a time to reassure each other\, to gather with family\, and to hear speakers recount the abuses of the past. Decades after Emancipation\, Juneteenth continued to be revered in Texas with many former slaves and descendants making an annual pilgrimage back to Galveston on the date. Modern American secularists can mark this day by educating themselves about this stain on our history. A good starting point is The Middle Passage by Dr. John Henrick Clarke (https://www.juneteenth.com/middlep.htm).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/juneteenth/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260620
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260624
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201457Z
UID:225005-1781913600-1782259199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Solstice (June)
DESCRIPTION:Called Summer Solstice in the northern hemisphere\, Winter Solstice in the southern\, people have marked the June Solstice in some way or another for thousands of years. Many religions have seasonal holy days linked to this day. It is the day when the Northern Hemisphere has more daylight than at any other time of the year. In the Southern Hemisphere\, the least daylight occurs this day in June. The precise date of the June Solstice varies from year to year\, but usually it is between the 20th and 23rd of June. “Solstice” comes from two Latin words: “sol” (meaning sun) and “sistere\,” (to cause to stand still). At noon in either hemisphere the sun will be high in the sky during summer\, low during winter. On the day with the greatest number of daylight hours\, the sun reaches its maximum elevation; we call this the Summer Solstice. Likewise\, the day with the least daylight is the Winter Solstice. In the Northern Hemisphere\, the June Solstice is officially the first day of summer\, also called Midsummer because it comes roughly during the midst of the growing season in Europe.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/solstice-june/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260621
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260622
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201456Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201456Z
UID:225004-1782000000-1782086399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:World Humanist Day
DESCRIPTION:(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Humanist_Day)World Humanist Day is a day to spread information and combat misinformation about humanism as a life-philosophy and a means to affect change in the world. This secular holiday dates back to the 1980s\, when several local state chapters of the American Humanist Association (http://www.humanist.net/) (AHA) began celebrating World Humanist Day. Different chapters had different ideas as to when that day should be\, however. In the late 1980s and early 1990s\, the AHA and then the International Humanist Ethical Union passed resolutions declaring the Summer Solstice to be World Humanist Day. The American Humanist Association (http://www.humanist.net/)\, the International Humanist and Ethical Union (http://www.iheu.org/)\, the Council for Secular Humanism (http://www.secularhumanism.org/)\, the Campus Freethought Alliance (http://www.campusfreethought.org/) and the Secular Student Alliance (http://www.secularstudents.org/) currently celebrate World Humanist Day. Use this secular holiday to educate the public in your area about humanism\, and to gather and celebrate as a humanist community that continues to contribute to the progress and education of the world. A picnic\, is a particularly good way to celebrate World Humanist Day. Read your favorite humanist texts aloud; spend time socializing with your fellow humanists in a relaxed\, natural environment.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/world-humanist-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260626
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260627
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201457Z
UID:225006-1782432000-1782518399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Torture Victims' Day
DESCRIPTION:In 1997\, the United Nations General Assembly passed resolution 52/149\, establishing June 26 as the United Nations International Day in Support of Victims of Torture (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Day_in_Support_of_Victims_of_Torture). The goal is the eradication of torture and the effective functioning of the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel\, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment (resolution 39/46\, annex\, 26 June 1987). This day gives us all an opportunity to stand united against cruelty\, and remind the world that torture is a violation of basic human rights. Clearly the abolition of torture is a key issue to freethinkers and humanists\, and too often the worst perpetrators of this atrocity are highly religious societies. But secular societies have been far from innocent of it.  This is a cause where we can often join hands with our religious brothers and sisters. Take a moment on this day to visit the United Nations webpage (https://www.un.org/en/observances/torture-victims-day) for this secular holiday. “At a time when the legitimate aspirations of people in many regions of the world for greater freedom\, dignity and a better life are too often met with violence and repression\, I urge States to respect the fundamental rights of all people. Torture and other forms of cruel\, degrading and inhuman treatment and punishment\, wherever they occur and whatever the circumstances\, can never be justified.” Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon Message for the International Day in Support of Victims of Torture\, 2011  
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/torture-victims-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260628T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260628T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201457Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201457Z
UID:225008-1782655200-1782662400@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:SMUD
DESCRIPTION:A presentation from the Sacramento Municipal Utility District (https://www.smud.org/)\, undoubtedly about SMUD-ish issues.  Details TBA.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/smud/
LOCATION:Reason Center\, 1300 Ethan Way\, Ste 675\, Sac.\, map (https://goo.gl/maps/S5MR1e8ZodBzb4TG8).
CATEGORIES:Feature Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260701
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260702
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201458Z
UID:225009-1782864000-1782950399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Chevalier de la Barre Day
DESCRIPTION:Mainly a French observance\, Chevalier de la Barre Day is for all who opposes religious oppression\, marking the execution of the Chevalier de la Barre for impiety. On July 1\, 1766\, church authorities tortured and killed young Jean-Francois de la Barre (the “Chevalier de la Barre” because he held the title of Chevalier or “knight”) for impiety. His reputed “crimes” included not doffing his hat at a religious procession\, singing bawdy songs\, and the possession of banned books by Voltaire\, a famed writer of his day and a leading critic of the Catholic Church. An outraged Voltaire made the execution a cause célèbre\, haunted by “this sentence so execrable\, and at the same time so absurd\, which is an eternal disgrace to France\,” because a key piece of evidence used against La Barre was La Barre’s possession of Voltaire’s Philosophical Dictionary. The Chevalier and two young friends had been accused of defacing a crucifix in the French town of Abbeville. None saw this happen\, but local clergy harassed and harrangued the villagers until a few\, fearing excommunication\, vaguely recalled three youths who had not removed their hats at a recent Catholic procession. They pointed out La Barre and his friends. Once charged\, one of the youths fled to Holland\, and one (only 15 years old) was simply fined. Only the 19 year old La Barre remained. A search of his home turned up three forbidden books. The courts and the church decided they had their ideal suspect. Mercilessly they tortured him\, cut out his tongue\, then decapitated him. Eventually they burned his body on a pyre along with his copy of Voltaire’s book. In 1905\, a statue of Jean-Francois\, Chevalier de la Barre was built in Montmartre\, on the outskirts of Paris. In 1941\, Nazi collaborationists removed it and melted down for munitions for the war effort – while leaving statues of saints and kings intact. In France\, Chevalier de la Barre Day often features demonstrations in his memory. Today\, freethinkers in France and the West experience great freedom in their lives\, but in other cultures still torture and kill freethinkers and disidents for their beliefs. Chevalier de la Barre Day is therefore a day to remember all those men and women persecuted by religion\, and to campaign for the rights of those persecuted today. For more information\, see: Chevalier de la Barre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fran%C3%A7ois_de_la_Barre).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/chevalier-de-la-barre-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260704
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260705
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201458Z
UID:225010-1783123200-1783209599@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Indivisible Day
DESCRIPTION:In the state of Minnesota\, former Governor Jess Ventura declared Independence Day to be Indivisible Day\, a day in recognition of the separation of Church and State\, and the vital role it has played in keeping our nation free and whole. For more information\, see https://secularseasons.org/july/indivisible_day.html (https://secularseasons.org/july/indivisible_day.html).  
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/indivisible-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260711
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260712
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201459Z
UID:225011-1783728000-1783814399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:World Population Day
DESCRIPTION:The Governing Council of the United Nations Development Programme established World Population Day (https://www.unfpa.org/swop-2014) in 1989\, seeking to raise awareness of global population issues. The inspiration for this annual event was public interest in Five Billion Day\, July 11\, 1987\, when the world’s population reached approximately five billion people.  Visit the World Population Clock at https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/ (https://www.worldometers.info/world-population/).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/world-population-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260726T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260726T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201459Z
UID:225012-1785074400-1785081600@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Sean O'Brien: a Musical
DESCRIPTION:A musical presentation by Sean O’Brien\, our noted Robert Ingersoll impersonater.  Details TBA.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/sean-obrien-a-musical/
LOCATION:Reason Center\, 1300 Ethan Way\, Ste 675\, Sac.\, map (https://goo.gl/maps/S5MR1e8ZodBzb4TG8).
CATEGORIES:Feature Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260801
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260808
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201459Z
UID:225013-1785542400-1786147199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:World Friendship Day
DESCRIPTION:World Friendship Day (http://www.friendshipday.org/) (or International Friendship Day) is the first Sunday of August\, which of course floats\, like the friendship in our lives\, and can be any day from Aug 1 through Aug 7. We humans are social creatures. We recognize the value of friendship\, the invisible thread connecting our hearts. In 1935 the US Congress proclaimed World Friendship Day as a time to celebrate this humanist sentiment. Since then other nations across the world have adopted the noble idea of Friendship Day\, honoring it on the first Sunday of August every year\, making it a true international celebration. How can you acknowledge Friendship Day? Call on your friends\, invite them for food\, embrace them\, exchange cards and flowers\, gift them with a friendship band or bracelet (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_bracelet)\, or mark the day with programs celebrating human camaraderie. Note\, some groups and nations celebrate Friendship at other times of the year\, with different customs and different emphasis. For instance:   – National Friendship Day is the first Sunday in August  – Women’s Friendship Day\, the third Sunday in August  – International Friendship Month is February  – Old Friends / New Friends Week is the third week of MayWhat is remarkably constant amid this diversity is idea of the celebration of our connections. Everywhere\, people express love for their friends and cherish their presence in life. For more information on this secular holiday\, click here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friendship_day).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/world-friendship-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260811
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260812
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201459Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201459Z
UID:225014-1786406400-1786492799@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Ingersoll Day
DESCRIPTION:Ingersoll Day marks the birthday of Robert Green Ingersoll (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G._Ingersoll)\, honoring the life and work of one of the most noted freethinkers in US history. Ingersoll was also the most successful orator in nineteenth century America\, heard by more Americans than any human before the advent of motion pictures and radio. A leading political figure\, he campaigned against slavery and for the rights of women and minorities. They called him the “Great Agnostic.” He attracted huge crowds to lectures that criticized religion and promoted freethought. Walt Whitman and Mark Twain greatly admired him. Celebrate Ingersoll Day with a visit to the Robert Green Ingersoll Birthplace Museum (http://www.secularhumanism.org/index.php?section=ingersoll&page=museum)\, or by reading excerpts from the Complete Works of Ingersoll (http://www.infidels.org/library/historical/robert_ingersoll/).  (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_G._Ingersoll) “When I became convinced that the universe is natural\, that all the ghosts and gods are myths\, there entered into my brain\, into my soul\, into every drop of my blood the sense\, the feeling\, the joy of freedom. The walls of my prison crumbled and fell. The dungeon was flooded with light and all the bolts and bars and manacles became dust. I was no longer a servant\, a serf\, or a slave. There was for me no master in all the wide world\, not even in infinite space. I was free — free to think\, to express my thoughts — free to live my own ideal\, free to live for myself and those I loved\, free to use all my faculties\, all my senses\, free to spread imagination’s wings\, free to investigate\, to guess and dream and hope\, free to judge and determine for myself . . . I was free! I stood erect and fearlessly\, joyously faced all worlds.” — Robert Green Ingersoll\, “Why I Am An Agnostic”  
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/ingersoll-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260823T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260823T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201500Z
UID:225016-1787493600-1787500800@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Liam McDaid: The Hubble Constant Controversy
DESCRIPTION:The Hubble Constant Controversy The Hubble constant\, one of the most important numbers in cosmology\, it tells us how fast the universe is expanding\, which can be used to determine the age of the universe and its history. It gets its name from UChicago alum Edwin Hubble\, who was first to calculate the constant from his measurements of stars in 1929. But despite nearly a hundred years of astronomical measurements and calculations\, scientists still can’t agree on the exact value of the Hubble constant. The true number could reveal missing pieces in our understanding of physics\, like new particles or a new form of dark energy. Our speaker is Liam McDaid\, professor of Physics\, Astronomy & Geology at the Sac City College campus\, Bachelor of Science in Astronomy (Penn State)\, Master of Science in Astronomy (New Mexico State)\, Master of Arts in History (Sam Houston State)\, Master of Science in Physics (New Mexico State)\, and a total brainbox. Since growing up in Philadelphia\, he always had a passion for astronomy. At New Mexico State\, he was fortunate enough to share an office with Clyde Tombaugh\, the discoverer of the planet Pluto! In graduate school he moonlighted part-time as a stand-up comic — “until I had a bottle thrown at me and decided to stop\,” he says. Now Liam will guide you through peaks and precipices of the starry wisdom. Don’t miss this exciting presentation.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/liam-mcdaid-the-hubble-constant-controversy/
LOCATION:Reason Center\, 1300 Ethan Way\, Suite 675\, see map (https://goo.gl/maps/RwiUgEJ5ESHRhrPu8)
CATEGORIES:Feature Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260915
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260922
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201500Z
UID:225018-1789430400-1790035199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Ask An Atheist Day
DESCRIPTION:National Ask an Atheist Day (https://www.wheniscalendars.com/national-ask-an-atheist-day/) is a movible secular holiday that occurs twice each year — first on the 3rd Thursday of April (which can be anywhere from April 15 to April 21)\, then on the 3rd Thursday of September (from Sept 15 to Sep 21). As if atheists don’t have enough to do already. “NAaA Day” is an opportunity for secular groups across the country to dispell stereotypes about atheism and to encourage constructive\, courteous dialogue between believers and nonbelievers. And it is an opportunity for the general public—particularly people of faith—to approach non-theists and ask questions about secular life. Please don’t be afraid to spark up a discussion with us\, we won’t bite. Most don’t\, anyway. The first event was in February of 2011\, when members of the Secular Student Alliance (https://secularstudents.org/) (SSA) at the University of Illinois set up a table with a sign that said “Ask an Atheist.” The next month an article appeared in the Friendly Atheist website (https://friendlyatheist.patheos.com/)\, written by a “Guest Contributor” (probably an SSA member)\, saying the event was a smashing success and the Illinois group hoped to take the day nationally. “The SSA is ready to help\,” it added. Since then NAaA Day has occured across the nation each April since\, and soon in September as well. For those interested\, it helps to know a bit about atheism. Of course the point is to ask atheists questions\, but here is some background. Generally\, atheists have no belief in deities\, which is not quite the same as a positive belief that no deity exists. The prefix “a” just means “without.” Atheism has no set ideology—atheists may be humanists\, rationalists\, unitarian universalists\, postmodernists\, secularists\, among other things. Historically\, Greek and Roman philosophers and writers such as Epicurus\, Democritus\, and Lucretius had an influence on what would become atheism. The term didn’t appear until the sixteenth century\, a time when freethought and skepticism began to flourish. Some that lived during the Age of Enlightenment were the first to identify themselves as atheists. The supremacy of human reason was an facit of the French Revolution\, and it was at this time that atheism first became used politically. Science also began to lock horns with orthodox religion during the second half of the nineteenth century. Today it is challenging to estimate how many atheists are in the world. A 2015 poll claimed about 11% of the world’s population are atheists\, and a 2012 poll claimed the number to be 13% (both WIN/Gallup International polls). A BBC poll from 2004 put the number at 8%. Europe and Asia seem to have the largest number of atheists. In 2015\, 61% of Chinese citizens identified as atheists. How to observe the day. If you call yourself an atheist\, you can celebrate the day in a variety of ways. For example\, set up a table where believers and others can come up to you and ask you questions about atheism\, secular living\, and your beliefs (or nonbeliefs). You can email (mailto:organizers@secularstudents.org) the SSA for supplies for your table\, such as brochures\, stickers (https://secularstudents.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/AAAD-stickers-768×632.jpg)\, posters\, and flyers. You could also wear the stickers and put flyers up on campus (flyers could be put up before the day as well). You could organize an “ask an atheist” panel event\, or go on a radio station and have an “ask an atheist” segment where listeners are able to call in and ask you questions about atheism. When posting on social media\, use the hashtag #askanatheist. For more about the day and how to participate\, take a look at the Ask An Atheist Day Activity Guide (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1XJObSWsJnmFY29WDsCGmMeJzCGax0QfQ/view). But what if you aren’t an atheist? Celebrate NAaA Day by asking an atheist about atheism! The day is meant to be filled with respectful dialogue\, so make sure to participate in such a way\, no matter if you are an atheist or the person asking questions.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/ask-an-atheist-day-2/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260915
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260922
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201501Z
UID:225020-1789430400-1790035199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:World Cleanup Day
DESCRIPTION:In the United States\, World Cleanup Day (https://www.worldcleanupday.us/) (WCD) is the third Saturday of September\, which due to calendar vageries can drift from Sept 15 to Sept 21. But eco-groups urge us to think of all of September as World Cleanup Month. And that’s a great idea. The idea of WCD began in the small country of Estonia in 2008\, when 50\,000 people united to clean up the entire country in just five hours. On that day\, a bottom-up civic movement was born. It spread virally around the globe\, capturing the hearts off people worldwide\, who followed suit with the same ambitious ‘one country\, one-day’ formula. By 2018 it had united 18 million people across 157 countries and territories. Today the simple idea is a global movement with millions of volunteers and charismatic leaders. The simple act of cleaning has bound together people and groups that would otherwise never unite to work towards the same goal. Civil society\, governments and global corporations\, women in Saudi Arabia\, people defying war in Yemen and Syria\, Muslims\, Jews\, Hindus and Christians\, men and women\, children. Why? Because every human has a place they call Home\, be it a mansion\, a street\, a hut or a cardboard box. Then there are the cities\, countries\, and regions we call home; the planet we call home. When the Estonians successfully cleaned their home in 5 hours\, the world took notice. The simplicity of the idea and the ‘let’s do it’ attitude took off and the rest\, as they say\, is history. After all\, anyone can pick up trash. But World Cleanup Day has become much more than that. Daycares\, schools\, companies\, government officials – the old\, the young\, the rich\, the poor\, the able and less able – everyone has contributed. Because they can. Because they wanted to be involved in making their home a better place. Because they were given an opportunity to help. Because they belong to a community\, and the community belongs to us. How can you help? Go to https://www.worldcleanupday.us (https://www.worldcleanupday.us/) or https://www.worldcleanupday.org/ (https://www.worldcleanupday.org/)\, find your local contacts\, register for a Cleanup\, and rise early that day to help to beautify your parks\, trails\, beaches\, mountains\, and open spaces. The world will be better for it\, and you will be a better person.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/world-cleanup-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260919
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260920
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201501Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201501Z
UID:225019-1789776000-1789862399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Talk Like A Pirate Day
DESCRIPTION:Avast ye lubbers. International Talk Like a Pirate Day (http://talklikeapirate.com) is a day to show your Piratude. Created in 1995 by John Baur and Mark Summers\, promulgated to worldwide popularity by humorist Dave Barry in a syndicated column\, this is a secular holiday we can celebrate in many ways: garb like pirates\, talk like pirates\, swill grog like pirates\, stagger and fall down like pirates. What’s grog? Never mind\, just find some and knock it back. Then haul your keel\, shiver your timbers\, and do wha’ ever else seem right and proper\, ’cause this be a day to celebrate. More info ahoy\, here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Talk_Like_a_Pirate_Day).  (http://www.talklikeapirate.com/) Other Piratey links: How to Talk like a Pirate\, instructions here (http://www.yarr.org.uk/talk/). Translate text into Pirate Talk here (http://funtranslations.com/pirate). Google’s Pirate Search engine is here (http://www.google.com/webhp?hl=xx-pirate).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/talk-like-a-pirate-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260922
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20260924
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201500Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201500Z
UID:225017-1790035200-1790207999@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Equinox (September)
DESCRIPTION:The September Equinox is one of two days in the calendar year when day almost equal the night hours. In the northern hemisphere it is also the first day of Autumn or Fall (Gregorian calendar)\, called the Autumnal Equinox. (In the southern hemisphere it is the first day of Spring.) The Autumnal Equinox marks when green things begin to shed\, when growth which was young in the spring has reached maturity. Animals prepare for winter\, tree leaves turn colors\, and the air takes a chill. In most cultures this a time for harvest and taking stock of life’s fragility. It is a time when people begin noticing the waning hours of daylight in anticipation of the winter. Since this time of year is one of the most temperate\, it is also a good time to reflect on the meaning of life. In every culture the Autumnal Equinox signals the return of weather that favors slowing down\, introspection\, and conservation. Many cultures celebrate the harvest as a means to defeat the starvation brought on by winter. It is also a time closely associated with the dead. Though the dead do not return to life nor walk the earth this time of the year\, it is well to remember or memorialize those who are no longer with us. For freethinkers the Autumnal Equinox is a great time to celebrate the lives of those who contributed to the freethought movement. It is also a perfect day to contemplate your own thoughts on the meaning you invest in life\, and share those thoughts with others.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/equinox-september/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260923
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261001
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201502Z
UID:225024-1790121600-1790812799@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Banned Book Week
DESCRIPTION:(http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/) September’s end marks Banned Books Week\, a celebration of the Freedom to Read\, established by the American Library Association in 1981 in response to growing attempts to ban books in public libraries across the country. First observed in 1982\, we celebrate it each year during the last week starting in September\, to remind our fellow citizens not to take for granted their freedom to read the written word. Every year bookstores and libraries across the United States celebrate Banned Books Week with displays of and readings from books that have been banned or threatened throughout history. Such works range from the Bible and Thomas Paine’s The Age of Reason to Shakespeare’s Hamlet\, Mark Twain’s The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn and J.K Rowling’s Harry Potter series\, and has included books on atheism\, science\, tolerance\, social issues\, love and sex\, and philosophy. Jean-Jacques Rousseau\, Thomas Paine\, Voltaire\, Aristophanes\, Margaret Sanger\, Mary Shelley\, Ambrose Bierce\, Charles Darwin\, George Eliot\, Mark Twain and John Locke were all victims of censorship during their lifetimes and still face censorship in some sections of the world today. Banned Books Week stands as a reminder that freedom is precious\, that without constant diligence and defiance we can loose it\, even in the United States. If anything this should motivate freethinkers everywhere to read banned books\, discuss them\, and protect the rights of all Americans to read what they want\, when they want\, in libraries across the country. Banned Books Week sponsors include the …    American Booksellers Association (http://www.bookweb.org/)\,    American Booksellers Foundation of Free Expression (http://www.abffe.org/)\,    American Library Association (http://www.ala.org/) (ALA)\,     Association of American Publishers (http://www.publishers.org/)\,    American Society of Journalists and Authors (http://www.asja.org/index9.php)\, and    National Association of College Stores (http://www.csref.org/).  It is endorsed by the Library of Congress Center for the Book (http://www.loc.gov/loc/cfbook/). 
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/banned-book-week/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Los_Angeles:20260927T160000
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201502Z
UID:225022-1790517600-1790524800@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Freethinker Potluck Picnic in the Park
DESCRIPTION:Hobnob wih us at AOF’s sixth annual potluck picnic. We keep going back because it is always a blast. Just bring a picnicky dish to serve 6-8 people (picnicish\, picnic-esque? someone help us here). And your own non-alcoholic beverages (because alcohol is a no-no in this park). BYO cushion too if you like — picnic benches can be hard\, and splinters lurk. AOF will provide plates\, cups\, utensils\, napkins\, and cool clear water. The picnic tables are in the sweet sweet shade under a gazebo\, and the restrooms are clean (we checked). We will enjoy the beautiful afternoon\, chat about things freethoughty or otherwise\, and solve all the world’s problems. Feel free to invite family and friends\, we’re all chill about that. General Directions: From I-80 take exit 100 for Antelope Road. Go west on Antelope Road for 0.3 miles. Turn right onto Lichen Drive. At the second stop sign continue straight onto Butternut Drive. To find the picnic area\, then turn right onto Treeleaf Way. See the gazebo on the right — the one with crepe paper? Yet\, that’s it.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/freethinker-potluck-picnic-in-the-park/
LOCATION:Westwood Park\, 8100 Butternut Drive\, Citrus Hts\, map (https://maps.app.goo.gl/fsTTxKCyphgnAtHo6).
CATEGORIES:Feature Event
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20260930
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261001
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201502Z
UID:225023-1790726400-1790812799@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Blasphemy Day
DESCRIPTION:Secularists and freethinkers worldwide celebrate International Blasphemy Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blasphemy_Day) or “Blasphemy Rights Day” to mark the anniversary of when images of Muhammad appeared in the Denmark newspaper Jyllands-Posten in 2005. Conservative Muslims reacted to the drawings with worldwide protests\, riots\, embassy burnings and death threats. Formally founded in 2009 by Ronald Lindsay\, Directory of the Center of Inquiry in Ahmherst\, New York\, and promoted by the Campaign for Free Expression (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/campaign_for_free_expression)\, this secular holiday now stands as a platform for individuals freely to express criticisms of religion and religious establishments. As Ronald Lindsay said in a television interview: “… religious beliefs should be subject to examination and criticism just as political beliefs are\, but we have a taboo on religion.” “… we’re against restrictions on speech based purely on the possibility that some people might be offended\,” he also said; “Because if you go down that path there’s no end to it.” Participants have celebrated Blasphemy Day in various ways: with speeches\, art exhibitions\, feasts\, poetry\, music and song\, and by taking the Blasphemy Challenge (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rational_Response_Squad#The_Blasphemy_Challenge). Use your imagination. Unlike most holidays\, this one even has its own Facebook page. Visit it here (http://www.facebook.com/blasphemyday).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/blasphemy-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261012
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261013
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201503Z
UID:225026-1791763200-1791849599@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Freethought Day
DESCRIPTION:Freethought Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freethought_Day)\, or “Freethought Coming-Out Day\,” is a day to give closeted freethinkers a platform from which to declare themselves. The formal calendar holiday is October 12\, but many groups plan celebrations for the closest weekend. Some recognize the week as Freethought Week\, or the entire month of October as Freethought Month. In this time\, newly declared freethinkers can garner strength and support from fellow “declared” freethinkers. Why October 12? Because on the day in 1692\, Colonial Massachusetts Governor William Phips wrote to the Privy Council of the British monarchs to take a stand against the legal use of “spectral evidence\,” that is\, evidence of a non-objective nature\, such as “feelings” and visions. His decision that evidence should be objective and verifiable essentially brought an end to the Salem Witch Trials\, saving scores of lives. (Click here (http://salem.lib.virginia.edu/n163.html) to read Phips’s two letters.) In the modern United States\, discrimination\, hatred and bias against freethinkers continues. The freethought community\, unlike the gay and lesbian community\, lacks a powerful voice and activist population for ending such treatment. Reactions often stem from a misunderstanding of what it is to be a freethinker\, or that freethought is a mindset often set in motion in childhood\, like sexual preference\, not something to change on a whim or with the right “religion.” Others should not to try to change it with bullying\, ridicule or intimidation. Freethinkers must be allowed to declare themselves openly. The intent of Freethought Day is to change this situation for the better of all freethinkers\, especially the young. Today’s world sees the emergence of younger and younger freethinkers who are often alone and isolated in their communities. The Secular Student Alliance (http://www.secularstudents.org/) and the Campus Freethought Alliance (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/oncampus/) attempt through their projects to give voice to college and university freethinkers in the US and across the globe\, while programs such as Camp Quest (http://www.edwinkagin.com/campquest/)\, the country’s first secular humanist summer camp\, and the SSA’s High School Program (https://www.secularstudents.org/node/171) provide young freethinkers with a place to gain a sense of community and understand that there is a proud and illustrious history to their philosophy. However these programs are few\, and without a united voice and a united commitment to change this situation\, they may not be enough. Every freethinker in every community should feel comfortable with his or her ideals\, and part of that is a connection to like-minded individuals. Freethought Day gives our friends a chance to understand who we freethinkers are\, what we believe\, that freethought exists in every community\, and that they should not view freethought with fear\, but with respect as a positive\, compassionate way to live life.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/freethought-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261013
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261014
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201502Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201502Z
UID:225025-1791849600-1791935999@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:International Skeptics Day
DESCRIPTION:International Skeptics Day is like a party for your brain\, where doubt is the guest of honor! This special day lands on October 13th each year\, inviting everyone to question the usual and embrace some healthy skepticism. But there’s a twist. This day also gets celebrated on January 13th and sometimes even on the first Friday-the-13th of the year\, making it a triple treat for those who love to question everything. The day’s roots stretch way back\, touching on historical figures like Pyrrho of Elis and William of Ockham\, who taught us the importance of questioning our beliefs and the knowledge we take for granted. The essence of International Skeptics Day is not just about doubting for the sake of it but encouraging a spirit of inquiry and critical thinking. Imagine a world where everyone accepted things at face value. There’s not much room for progress\, right? That’s where this day steps in\, urging us to question the established\, seek evidence\, and maybe even play devil’s advocate at the next group hangout. Remember that the essence of skepticism is not about being negative\, but about keeping an open mind\, and not just accepting things on someone’s word. It’s about looking for evidence\, asking questions\, and not taking “because I said so” for an answer.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/international-skeptics-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261109
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261110
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201503Z
UID:225027-1794182400-1794268799@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Carl Sagan Day
DESCRIPTION:Carl Sagan Day (http://www.carlsaganday.com/) marks the birthday of the great Carl Sagan\, and is a celebration to honor his memory. Carl Sagan was Professor of Astronomy and Space Science and Director of the Laboratory for Planetary Studies at Cornell University\, an outspoken skeptic\, humanist and freethinker\, and a Pulitzer Prize winning science author. But for the most part the public remembers him as the creator of the Cosmos (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cosmos:_A_Personal_Voyage) television series. This Emmy and Peabody award-winning PBS series transformed educational television when it first aired in 1980. Thirty years later it still seems fresh\, and has gone on to affect the hearts and minds of over a billion people in sixty countries. His magnum opus was his final book\, The Demon-Haunted World (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Demon-Haunted_World)\, published in 1995\, the year before his untimely death. Few other science writers (perhaps only Isaac Asimov) were able to reach and teach so many nonscientists in such a meaningful way. So in 2009\, the Center for Inquiry (http://www.centerforinquiry.net/carlsaganday) inaugurated Carl Sagan Day as a secular holiday. Each year we will continue to celebrate Dr. Sagan\, remember him and his work\, and revel in the wondrous cosmos he helped us understand.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/carl-sagan-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261124
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261129
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201503Z
UID:225028-1795478400-1795910399@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Church/State Separation Week
DESCRIPTION:Many freethinkers have adopted the week of Thanksgiving (~November 24) as Church/State Separation Week\, to offer concerned and active citizens an opportunity to educate others about the importance of a clear division between Church and State. The hope is that this secular holiday will rally us and provide a platform to celebrate one of this nation’s finest contributions to civilization. Secularist societies such asAmericans United for the Separation of Church and State (http://www.au.org/)\, the Institute for First Amendment Studies (http://www.ifas.org/)\, the Freedom From Religion Foundation (http://www.ffrf.org/)\, the American Atheists (http://www.atheists.org/) and the Institute for the Secularization of Islamic Society (http://www.secularislam.org/)\, as well as others united for a secular government\, have supported this celebration. In humanist circles\, some also celebrate November 24 as Evolution Day (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evolution_Day)\, marking as it does the anniversary of the first publication of The Origin of Species (Nov 24\, 1859). For the most\, however\, the focus is on church/state separation this week. Carles Darwin has his own secular holiday (see: February 12).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/church-state-separation-week/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261210
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261211
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201503Z
UID:225029-1796860800-1796947199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:International Human Rights Day
DESCRIPTION:“IHUD (https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day)” is a way to promote\, defend\, and remember the basic human rights every person in every country has as a result of being born into this world. The basic document that outlines these rights is known as the Universal Declaration of Human Rights\, as adopted by the United Nations in 1948. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights came about as a result of the atrocities of World War II. As the United Nations came into being its charter gave human rights a new international legal status\, and the need to codify human rights as a means to prevent similar atrocities took shape. It created a Commission on Human Rights\, which spent three years drafting the declaration with the help of such members as Eleanor Roosevelt\, John P. Humphrey\, Charles Malik and Rene Cassin. The declaration was adopted without dissent on December 10\, 1948\, and has grown in stature and respect over the years since its adoption as it continues to assert the human dignity and worth of every human being on the planet. Since its adoption countries around the world have celebrated the anniversary\, but it has only been since the 50th anniversary celebrations in 1998 that the holiday has gained in popularity. Eleanor Roosevelt once said that the fate of human rights lies in the hands of everyone in every community. Freethinkers know the importance of this statement. It can often be a challenge for many of them to be given the same rights and opportunities as others in their own communities\, much less in the world. They\, of all people\, understand the importance of keeping human rights the center of focus and attention in the world at large. Celebrating International Human Rights Day is a way to show how everyone\, religious or not\, is connected in ways that run deeper than the nature of belief.    International Human Rights Day Press Kit & Resources (https://www.un.org/en/observances/human-rights-day/resources).
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/international-human-rights-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20261215
DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20261216
DTSTAMP:20260404T054450
CREATED:20260310T201503Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260310T201503Z
UID:225030-1797292800-1797379199@wp.aofonline.org
SUMMARY:Bill of Rights Day
DESCRIPTION:Bill of Rights Day (https://constitutioncenter.org/learn/civic-calendar/bill-of-rights-day) (by Presidential Proclamation): Now\, Therefore\, I\, Franklin D. Roosevelt\, President of the United States of America\, do hereby designate December 15\, 1941\, as Bill of Rights Day.  And I call upon the officials of the Government\, and upon the people of the United States\, to observe the day by displaying the flag of the United States on public buildings and by meeting together for such prayers and such ceremonies as may seem to them appropriate. To view the official proclamation\, see: https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-2524-bill-rights-day (https://www.presidency.ucsb.edu/documents/proclamation-2524-bill-rights-day)  The first 10 amendments to the United States Constitution make up the Bill of Rights. Passed by Congress on September 25\, 1789\, these rights place limits on government power. Did you know …?   – The bill was introduced by James Madison. He later became the 4th President of the United States.  – The Bill of Rights initially had 12 proposed amendments. One concerned the number of constituents for each Representative. The other addressed compensation of Congressman. Neither were ratified.  – In 1992\, compensation of Congressman was ratified 203 years later and is now the 27th amendment.  – The Bill of Rights is displayed in The Rotunda of the National Archives Building in Washington\, DC.  – There were 14 copies of the Bill of Rights\, one for each of the 13 states to sign and one for the federal archives. Only 12 copies survive today.HOW TO OBSERVE: Display the flag of the United States at home and on public buildings. Read the Bill of Rights. See if you can pass a quiz (https://ncc.polldaddy.com/s/can-you-pass-a-basic-10-question-quiz-on-bill-of-rights) about the Bill of Rights. Use #BillOfRightsDay to post on social media.
URL:https://wp.aofonline.org/event/bill-of-rights-day/
CATEGORIES:Secular Holiday
END:VEVENT
END:VCALENDAR