Lightnews — Scholar-powered news

Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 12h

Every one of these lives mattered but to see this includes eleven children is heartbreaking. The amount of national resource required to solve this problem is so relatively small that Government should just spend it immediately (as it has before!)

www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

UK deaths of 1,611 homeless people in 2024 is record high

Most are linked to suicide or drugs, with spice and nitazines increasingly deadly.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Andrew Copson

Mark Faulkner @markfaulkner24.bsky.social · 3d

Recommended viewing: Storyville: The Librarians, BBC4, Tuesday, 7 October. Explores how librarians across the US are risking their safety to defend free speech as book bans and censorship threaten democracy from within. www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

BBC Four - Storyville, The Librarians

Documentary about the US librarians who are risking their safety to defend free speech.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Andrew Copson

Conrad Hackett @conradhackett.bsky.social · 5d

Religion is declining worldwide in a predictable sequence - across generations, participation drops, then importance of religion, and later belonging.

This is a broad model for understanding religious change around the world.
www.nature.com/articles/s41...

Religion is declining worldwide in a predictable sequence, study argues

(RNS) — The study maps secularization and religious change across more than 100 countries and major religious traditions.

religionnews.com

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 3d

Disgraceful. All thoughts with those affected. Prejudice, hatred, and violence against anyone - or their property or places of worship - because of their identity is abhorrent and everyone in our country should be safe to practice their religion in peace. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Peacehaven: Fire at East Sussex mosque probed as 'hate crime'

Video appears to show two people in balaclavas at the mosque before a large blaze spreads.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Sunder Katwala (sundersays) @sundersays.bsky.social · 4d

What an admirably clear statement from the Jewish Leadership Council, especially when all of those involved must surely have been dealing with so many other urgent challenges in safety, security and grief + shock today before having this further divisive and distracting intervention to address too.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 4d

The Convention on Human Rights is one of the greatest achievements of European civilisation following one of its greatest tragedies. To join Russia in leaving it would be one of the biggest acts of national self-sabotage in history and have zero positive consequences www.bbc.com/news/article...

UK will leave ECHR if Tories win election, Badenoch says

The European Convention on Human Rights has become a focal point in debates around changing immigration policy.

www.bbc.com

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 5d

19th century humanist William Morris died #onthisday in 1896. A visionary artist, designer, writer, & poet who challenged the oppressive industrial society of his time. Let us celebrate his legacy & work to create a fairer, more equitable world for all!

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 7d

The start of #BlackHistoryMonth is the perfect moment to recognise & celebrate key black humanists, past & present, who’ve inspired & shaped the modern international humanist movement. From the powerful social critique of James Baldwin to the literary genius of Zadie Smith.

10 BLACK HUMANISTS WHO HAVE SHAPED THE HUMANIST MOVEMENT

To mark Black History Month, let’s celebrate 10 black humanists who've inspired and shaped the modern international humanist movement!

andrewcopson.com

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

The commitment to legally recognise our humanist weddings as marriages is great news, but putting it in a full marriage law reform process with another (the fourth in 12 years!) consultation means more years of delay. Is there a word for joy and disappointment at once? humanists.uk/2025/10/02/c...

Celebrations as UK Government announces legal humanist marriages, but law change some way away'

The UK Government has announced that it will finally legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales, but only as part of wider marriage reform on which it has announced further consultation...

humanists.uk

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 5d

How could I forget!

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Sarah Edwards MP @sarahedwardsmp.bsky.social · 6d

Dearly beloved, we are gathered here today to celebrate the recognition of Humanist marriage in England and Wales!

In June, I secured a debate on this very issue, alongside my colleagues Lizzi Collinge MP and Freddie van Mierlo MP, and I’m pleased that following that debate the law is changing.

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Humanists UK @humanists.uk · 6d

We are horrified by the dreadful attack in Manchester today, which has claimed lives and left others in a serious condition. Our deepest thoughts are with the victims, their families, and the wider community — especially on this day of Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish calendar.

Violence, prejudice, and hatred directed at people because of their identity is abhorrent. No one should ever face fear or violence for their identity or beliefs. Everyone in our country must be safe to practise their religion or live in accordance with their worldview in peace.

Find the full statement on: https://humanists.uk/2025/10/02/humanists-uk-statement-on-manchester-synagogue-attack/

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Secular Coalition for America @secularcoalition.bsky.social · 6d

Reps. Ansari, Huffman, and Raskin of the CFC are honoring the fundamental American principle of the separation of church and state

They've introduced a resolution that rejects Christian nationalist attempts to undermine our government and protects the Constitutional right to true religious freedom

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Katherine Stewart @katherinestewart.bsky.social · 6d

My latest for @newrepublic.com

Katherine Stewart @katherinestewart.bsky.social · 6d

newrepublic.com/article/2010...

Trump Is Steadily Pushing the Republic Toward the Edge of Oblivion

The administration has entered its most anti-Constitutional phase yet. We must call a regime that’s a danger to our way of life what it is.

newrepublic.com

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Ian Dunt @iandunt.bsky.social · 6d

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Stella Creasy MP @stellacreasy.bsky.social · 6d

As the sun comes down and Yom Kippur ends, please help show our Jewish friends and neighbours that we share in their grief and will not let terrorists divide us.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

To everyone in Britain's Jewish Community:
You are not alone.
We will not let hate or those who spread it win.
We stand with you.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

Dreadful news. All thoughts with those affected, especially given the high importance of today for Jews. Prejudice, hatred, and violence against anyone for their identity is abhorrent and everyone in our country should be safe to practice their religion in peace. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Manchester synagogue: Four people injured in car and stabbing attack

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says it's believed the suspect is dead, and that the immediate danger appears to be over.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Reposted by Andrew Copson

Human Rights Watch @hrw.org · 6d

Today marks the seventh anniversary of the Saudi state-sponsored murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

As comedians perform at the Riyadh Comedy Festival, we urge them to publicly call for Saudi authorities to free unjustly detained Saudi dissidents, journalists, and activists.

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

The commitment to legally recognise our humanist weddings as marriages is great news, but putting it in a full marriage law reform process with another (the fourth in 12 years!) consultation means more years of delay. Is there a word for joy and disappointment at once? humanists.uk/2025/10/02/c...

Celebrations as UK Government announces legal humanist marriages, but law change some way away'

The UK Government has announced that it will finally legally recognise humanist marriages in England and Wales, but only as part of wider marriage reform on which it has announced further consultation...

humanists.uk

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

Dreadful news. All thoughts with those affected, especially given the high importance of today for Jews. Prejudice, hatred, and violence against anyone for their identity is abhorrent and everyone in our country should be safe to practice their religion in peace. www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/cx...

Manchester synagogue: Four people injured in car and stabbing attack

Greater Manchester Mayor Andy Burnham says it's believed the suspect is dead, and that the immediate danger appears to be over.

www.bbc.co.uk

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

Welcome!

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

Lovely to have you there

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

@samcarling.bsky.social and he was great!

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Andrew Copson @andrewcopson.bsky.social · 6d

Reformation X

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