2nd February
Bertrand Russell (b.1872) died on 2 February in 1970.
He was a committed humanist and as well as being one of the
most distinguished twentieth century philosophers. He put
his principles into action as a peace campaigner during the
First World War, as a campaigner for equality for gays and
lesbians, and as a campaigner for nuclear disarmament.
12th February
Charles Darwin (d.1882) was born on 12 February in
1809. Through his scientific research into the different species
of animals and plants, he came to realise that all life on
earth evolved from a single source. His discovery of the evolution
of species by natural selection removed what for many people
in his time was the last reason for believing that there must
be a God and accelerated the decline of religious belief in
Britain and elsewhere.
10th December
Human Rights Day is celebrated annually across the
world on 10 December. The date was chosen to honour the United
Nations General Assembly's adoption and proclamation, on 10
December 1948, of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights,
the first global enunciation of human rights. The commemoration
was established in 1950, when the General Assembly invited
all states and interested organisations to celebrate the day
as they saw fit.
|
