2010 GLOBAL ATHEIST CONVENTION HELD IN MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA
2010 Global Atheist Convention
The March 2010 Global Atheist Convention (GAC) in Melbourne, Australia from 12th to 14th of March, was a watershed event that lived up to its theme, The Rise of Atheism, in so many ways. Over 2,500 people attended this largest, priceless gathering of freethinkers to hear from more than 25 of the world’s most prominent atheists, philosophers, scientists, commentators and comedians.
The convention was jointly sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Atheist Alliance International.
The first accomplishment was holding an Atheist Alliance International convention outside the western hemisphere for the first time - and for only the second outside the United States - in its 18 year history. The fact that the 2010 convention was more than three times larger than the largest US-based AAI convention added to the luster of that accomplishment.
The GAC committee that came together after AAI and AFA agreed to co-sponsor the convention was a dream team that brought a wide variety of exceptional skills and experience that were put to the test almost immediately upon their recruitment, and survived the test with aplomb. All of those efforts were overseen by the most capable leadership team of David Nicholls and Lee Holmes.
Wider media coverage
The world press was just as much in the mix covering the gathering of all these atheists. The Convention was covered by all the Australian press - some better than others, some more impartial, as reporters are supposed to be, than others - and the international press, on national and international news programs and talk shows, and talk radio had a field day. The Internet was alive with daily postings and blogs, updates and videos, and attendees tweeted throughout the presentation for up-to-the-minute and real-time happenings on Twitter to let the world know they are there.
The 2010 Global Atheist Convention actually started Friday, 12th March afternoon with a pre-convention gathering of Australian university students from all over the country. Over 100 students representing 20 university student atheist groups were there to officially codify the Constitution and Bylaws of the new Freethought University Alliance. (FUA)
But that night was the real opening. As 1,500 atheists gathered at the base of the escalator, waiting for the 6.00 pm registration opening, it was the largest, kindest, nicest, most pleasant mob of damn atheists ever could be seen. People were milling about, talking, enjoying each other’s company, and revelling in their sheer numbers.
And it was truly a diverse atheist world. Young, old, adult, kids, teens, university students, military, hippie, goth, punk, tattooed, suits, jeans, slacks, long-hair guys, shorthair women, pink hair, blue hair, no hair, dreadlocks, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, strollers. The gender split was almost 50/50. In less than 90 minutes, all 1,500 plus media were processed and entered the opening night festivities.
The first biggest world atheist event in Australia
When David Nicholls, President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia, came on the stage and said those first few sentences with “Atheist Foundation of Australia,” the crowd erupted into loud and sustained applause. This was a crowd that had waited a long time for an atheist event of this stature, and they were showing it with glee. While Nicholls’ speech was short, it was a glorious start to a weekend of Atheism. Next spoke Stuart Bechman, President of Atheist Alliance International, the co-sponsor of the convention
The rest of the weekend was just as fantastic. From the speakers, to the parties, to the outside-the-convention gatherings, the restaurants, the conversations, the friendliness and friendships, everyone truly felt at home halfway around the world.
Speakers gave variety of ideas
The line-up of this greatest show on earth was stellar, a world-showing of international atheist talent and speakers, and all giving the audience what they came for: Camaraderie, Unity, Enthusiasm, Rationality, Vision, Hope for Future, Atheism. And something more. The audience laughed at and with the words from Sue-Ann and Catherine, and from Dan Barker, Julian Morrow, Craig Reucassel and PZ Myers. They cried with Taslima Nasrin. They pondered their words through the laughter and tears, as they pondered the more serious-oriented presentations by Taslima, A.C.Grayling, Tamas Pataki, Philip Adams, John Perkins, Max Wallace and Richard Dawkins.
Gleaming exhibition centre
The event itself was world-class. Renowned speakers from four continents converged on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - itself a gleaming, beautiful brand-new facility, open only six months - for the three-day weekend to inform and entertain the crowds.
Convention was full of
valuable programmes
Starting with Friday, 12th March evening’s opening ceremony, each day - each hour - seemed to just build on the last, until the triumphant Richard Dawkins graced the stage at Sunday’s close to put a perfect cap on the entire weekend. The comedy of Sue-Ann Post and Catherine Deveny on Friday night really set a high tone for the rest of the weekend.
The Saturday morning programme began with Phillip Adams and continued to build with Russell Blackford, Max Wallace and John Perkins each speaking on their respective topics, leading to a crescendo of the incredible presentation of Taslima Nasrin.
Indirect effects of the Convention
Besides the impressive success of the event itself, the indirect effects that the convention had was also impressive. From the start, the Australian media took an intense, if jaded, interest in the event; and in so doing, they contributed to religious communities reacting and protesting. And the louder and angrier they got the more attention the convention attracted and the higher the registration numbers climbed. All these events continued to keep the media engaged, providing unprecedented and priceless national coverage. In the week leading up and during the convention, the national media ran a series of coverage articles from pundits and religious leaders, even ‘outing’ three Australian atheist MPs on the closing day of the event.
Freethought University Alliance created
It was not just the media. At the revelation of the spurning of the government funding request, a generous benefactor donated several thousand dollars to the project to bring university youth to the convention. That led to the establishment of the Freethought University Alliance on the Friday before the convention, with no less than twenty campus freethought groups as founding members.
Throughout the convention, other freethought groups and individuals made time to connect and plan, and much more cooperation and collaboration of Australian freethought groups was most likely to come out with least a couple of new joint projects expected to be launched over the next twelve months.
Successful conduct of the Convention
For the organisers, the lead up to the 2010 Global Atheist Convention was a time of high drama as each day problem-solving became more intense with unknowns popping out of the woodwork at regular intervals. Each potential upset needed immediate and intelligent appraisal to affect a solution. The Convention Committee overcame every obstacle and always just in time.
The success of the convention depended heavily on decisions, some made in haste, as there was no other choice, by the Committee. A genuine statement is that they orchestrated a symphony of ideas into a reality enjoyed by all.
A sea of smiling faces, people experiencing a common relief at knowing they were no longer alone in their Atheism. Speakers, performers and the audience recognised the significance of this world changing event. All present felt that Atheism had indeed come of age and that they were a presence in society no longer willing to sit quietly by and let religion run their lives.
Reverbations of religionists
So powerful was this amazing event that reverberations were apparent in the media for many weeks after. Easter was a good example. Frightened by the over display of Atheism, bishops and priests lashed out at Atheism as the root of all evil. So intense was the attack it attracted news outlets to contact the AFA in droves for comment. In less than a week, the AFA had given 17 interviews about the ferocity of religious resistance to the 2010 Global Atheist Convention.
Atheists must assert themselves
There are many lessons to be learned from this magnificent gathering of like-minds. First and foremost is that we have religion on the back-foot and we must keep them there. It is very apparent that Atheists must react publicly to the infliction of non-empirically evidenced faith-driven ideas onto the wider community.
It is time to throw away religious
people from power
The 2010 Global Atheist Convention has empowered freethinkers, possibly worldwide, to take stronger role in decisions by governments that affect all citizens. Letters to editors, blogs and secular web sites are reflecting the view that Atheism has indeed come of age. Now is the time to re-evaluate voting habits of old. If you want a safer planet, a more egalitarian society, now is the time to put other matters aside and vote out of office any politician aspiring to religious ideals over those of a secular nature. Now is the time to utilise fully the impetus supplied by The Rise of Atheism convention.
( Report complied and edited by DKB from The Australian Atheist - May - June 2010)
2010 Global Atheist Convention
The March 2010 Global Atheist Convention (GAC) in Melbourne, Australia from 12th to 14th of March, was a watershed event that lived up to its theme, The Rise of Atheism, in so many ways. Over 2,500 people attended this largest, priceless gathering of freethinkers to hear from more than 25 of the world’s most prominent atheists, philosophers, scientists, commentators and comedians.
The convention was jointly sponsored by the Atheist Foundation of Australia and the Atheist Alliance International.
The first accomplishment was holding an Atheist Alliance International convention outside the western hemisphere for the first time - and for only the second outside the United States - in its 18 year history. The fact that the 2010 convention was more than three times larger than the largest US-based AAI convention added to the luster of that accomplishment.
The GAC committee that came together after AAI and AFA agreed to co-sponsor the convention was a dream team that brought a wide variety of exceptional skills and experience that were put to the test almost immediately upon their recruitment, and survived the test with aplomb. All of those efforts were overseen by the most capable leadership team of David Nicholls and Lee Holmes.
Wider media coverage
The world press was just as much in the mix covering the gathering of all these atheists. The Convention was covered by all the Australian press - some better than others, some more impartial, as reporters are supposed to be, than others - and the international press, on national and international news programs and talk shows, and talk radio had a field day. The Internet was alive with daily postings and blogs, updates and videos, and attendees tweeted throughout the presentation for up-to-the-minute and real-time happenings on Twitter to let the world know they are there.
The 2010 Global Atheist Convention actually started Friday, 12th March afternoon with a pre-convention gathering of Australian university students from all over the country. Over 100 students representing 20 university student atheist groups were there to officially codify the Constitution and Bylaws of the new Freethought University Alliance. (FUA)
But that night was the real opening. As 1,500 atheists gathered at the base of the escalator, waiting for the 6.00 pm registration opening, it was the largest, kindest, nicest, most pleasant mob of damn atheists ever could be seen. People were milling about, talking, enjoying each other’s company, and revelling in their sheer numbers.
And it was truly a diverse atheist world. Young, old, adult, kids, teens, university students, military, hippie, goth, punk, tattooed, suits, jeans, slacks, long-hair guys, shorthair women, pink hair, blue hair, no hair, dreadlocks, crutches, canes, wheelchairs, strollers. The gender split was almost 50/50. In less than 90 minutes, all 1,500 plus media were processed and entered the opening night festivities.
The first biggest world atheist event in Australia
When David Nicholls, President of the Atheist Foundation of Australia, came on the stage and said those first few sentences with “Atheist Foundation of Australia,” the crowd erupted into loud and sustained applause. This was a crowd that had waited a long time for an atheist event of this stature, and they were showing it with glee. While Nicholls’ speech was short, it was a glorious start to a weekend of Atheism. Next spoke Stuart Bechman, President of Atheist Alliance International, the co-sponsor of the convention
The rest of the weekend was just as fantastic. From the speakers, to the parties, to the outside-the-convention gatherings, the restaurants, the conversations, the friendliness and friendships, everyone truly felt at home halfway around the world.
Speakers gave variety of ideas
The line-up of this greatest show on earth was stellar, a world-showing of international atheist talent and speakers, and all giving the audience what they came for: Camaraderie, Unity, Enthusiasm, Rationality, Vision, Hope for Future, Atheism. And something more. The audience laughed at and with the words from Sue-Ann and Catherine, and from Dan Barker, Julian Morrow, Craig Reucassel and PZ Myers. They cried with Taslima Nasrin. They pondered their words through the laughter and tears, as they pondered the more serious-oriented presentations by Taslima, A.C.Grayling, Tamas Pataki, Philip Adams, John Perkins, Max Wallace and Richard Dawkins.
Gleaming exhibition centre
The event itself was world-class. Renowned speakers from four continents converged on the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre - itself a gleaming, beautiful brand-new facility, open only six months - for the three-day weekend to inform and entertain the crowds.
Convention was full of
valuable programmes
Starting with Friday, 12th March evening’s opening ceremony, each day - each hour - seemed to just build on the last, until the triumphant Richard Dawkins graced the stage at Sunday’s close to put a perfect cap on the entire weekend. The comedy of Sue-Ann Post and Catherine Deveny on Friday night really set a high tone for the rest of the weekend.
The Saturday morning programme began with Phillip Adams and continued to build with Russell Blackford, Max Wallace and John Perkins each speaking on their respective topics, leading to a crescendo of the incredible presentation of Taslima Nasrin.
Indirect effects of the Convention
Besides the impressive success of the event itself, the indirect effects that the convention had was also impressive. From the start, the Australian media took an intense, if jaded, interest in the event; and in so doing, they contributed to religious communities reacting and protesting. And the louder and angrier they got the more attention the convention attracted and the higher the registration numbers climbed. All these events continued to keep the media engaged, providing unprecedented and priceless national coverage. In the week leading up and during the convention, the national media ran a series of coverage articles from pundits and religious leaders, even ‘outing’ three Australian atheist MPs on the closing day of the event.
Freethought University Alliance created
It was not just the media. At the revelation of the spurning of the government funding request, a generous benefactor donated several thousand dollars to the project to bring university youth to the convention. That led to the establishment of the Freethought University Alliance on the Friday before the convention, with no less than twenty campus freethought groups as founding members.
Throughout the convention, other freethought groups and individuals made time to connect and plan, and much more cooperation and collaboration of Australian freethought groups was most likely to come out with least a couple of new joint projects expected to be launched over the next twelve months.
Successful conduct of the Convention
For the organisers, the lead up to the 2010 Global Atheist Convention was a time of high drama as each day problem-solving became more intense with unknowns popping out of the woodwork at regular intervals. Each potential upset needed immediate and intelligent appraisal to affect a solution. The Convention Committee overcame every obstacle and always just in time.
The success of the convention depended heavily on decisions, some made in haste, as there was no other choice, by the Committee. A genuine statement is that they orchestrated a symphony of ideas into a reality enjoyed by all.
A sea of smiling faces, people experiencing a common relief at knowing they were no longer alone in their Atheism. Speakers, performers and the audience recognised the significance of this world changing event. All present felt that Atheism had indeed come of age and that they were a presence in society no longer willing to sit quietly by and let religion run their lives.
Reverbations of religionists
So powerful was this amazing event that reverberations were apparent in the media for many weeks after. Easter was a good example. Frightened by the over display of Atheism, bishops and priests lashed out at Atheism as the root of all evil. So intense was the attack it attracted news outlets to contact the AFA in droves for comment. In less than a week, the AFA had given 17 interviews about the ferocity of religious resistance to the 2010 Global Atheist Convention.
Atheists must assert themselves
There are many lessons to be learned from this magnificent gathering of like-minds. First and foremost is that we have religion on the back-foot and we must keep them there. It is very apparent that Atheists must react publicly to the infliction of non-empirically evidenced faith-driven ideas onto the wider community.
It is time to throw away religious
people from power
The 2010 Global Atheist Convention has empowered freethinkers, possibly worldwide, to take stronger role in decisions by governments that affect all citizens. Letters to editors, blogs and secular web sites are reflecting the view that Atheism has indeed come of age. Now is the time to re-evaluate voting habits of old. If you want a safer planet, a more egalitarian society, now is the time to put other matters aside and vote out of office any politician aspiring to religious ideals over those of a secular nature. Now is the time to utilise fully the impetus supplied by The Rise of Atheism convention.
( Report complied and edited by DKB from The Australian Atheist - May - June 2010)
