Every year we remind people why it’s not good to get involved with the Samaritan’s Purse scheme, Operation Christmas Child– search our website for previous posts. An article in Humanist Life explains the reasons, or some of them. Apart from the homophobia and evangelism aimed at children, it’s a huge waste of money. Those who work in aid organisations have an expression, SWEDOW, or “Stuff we don’t want”. Every time there’s a disaster,people in need can expect a deluge of stuff collected by well-meaning people.

Our Chairperson Denis Johnstonandhis son Colin talked about their attitude to faith (they don’t have any) withlocal BBC journalist Jon Wright. The resulting conversation is on the BBC’s Faith in the World Week website. Click here to hear what they said, or some of it. The full interview can be heard here. (From our home page, click on the title to access the links.)

Due to illness, we regret that our ceremonies team will be severely diminished for the foreseeable future. We may be able to help with a small number of funerals in the Ipswich or Colchester areas for families already known to us and we can advise anyone who wants to do a DIY funeral. It’s advisable to contact us by email or phone us on 01473 658828 before making any arrangements.

Our latest newsletter is ready for you to download now. The contents include:Humanists for a Better World (H4BW), the Climate March on November 29th, a pair of successful Cancer Research fund-raisers, an account of life as an inner-cityprimary school head teacher, putting faces to the names of our committee, and the usual dates for your diary. Click here to download the PDF.

For a local perspective, Martin Simmons, Communications Officer at Suffolk Refugee Support in Ipswich, will give a talk entitled, ‘Refugees: A Local Perspective on a Global Issue’ tomorrow evening. Itwill be part of the Ipswich and District branch of the United Nations Association AGM on Friday, 4 September 2015 at 7:30 pm in the Collinson Room at the Friends Meeting House, 39 Fonnereau Road, Ipswich IP1 3JH. All welcome. No charge.

Norfolk Humanists are hosting a public meeting at UEA on Thursday 20th August. Click here for more information.

Short and sweet but with all the details about upcoming meetings, the first on Tuesday 14th July. Put the dates in your diary now. Click here to download the newsletter now (PDF).

Anne O’Byrne and David Fisk will play at a free lunchtime concert in St Mary-le-Tower in Ipswich on 10th July. Dublin soprano Anne O’Byrnetrained in Ireland and England before embarking on a career in opera and concert, working with many leading conductors Sir Simon Rattle, Sir Andrew Davis, and producers Jonathan Miller, Trevor Nunn singing over twenty major roles, including Handel in Melbourne, Australia (Oriana in Amadigi), Mozart in Milan and the US (Pamina in The Magic Flute), Verdi in France (Gilda in Rigoletto), Puccini in England (Mimi in La Bohme), and Bizet in Ireland (Leila in The Pearlfishers).

Andrew Copson, CEO atthe British Humanist Association, has been electedthe International Humanist and Ethical Union’s new President, following its General Assembly in Manila. Click here to read more.

Retired Suffolk Humanist Ceremonies celebrant Margaret Nelson was on BBC Radio Suffolk on Sunday morning, talking about DIY weddings. As we no longer provide wedding celebrants, this is an option that couples might consider. Click here to listen to the programme – move the slider to 40 minutes in.