THE HUMANIST
MOVEMENT
BASIC INFORMATION
THE SITUATION WE LIVE IN
The actual economic ,
politic and life’s patterns are in crisis. Analyses and answers are not enough
and are inadeguate too, according to the growth of the human being, to his
necessities and aspirations. this is why everyone feels suffocated by a social
system which reduces freedom at most. He’s ill-treated at work, cheated by the
economic system, betrayed by politicians and he doesn’t even try to communicate
with his neighbours. this is why everyone feels the necessity and the urgency
of breaking isolation away, to build together with others, to give hope again,
to open the future.
WHO WE ARE
We are people of different
age, origin, culture, religion, but all of us aim at a really and finally human
world. To give such a direction to the great changes in act, we will organize
and strengthen ourselves and take this message till the last corner on earth.
The Humanist Movement has
been founded during the end of the 60ies by the Southamerican writer and
philosopher Mario Rodriguez Cobos (better known as Silo), and it’s present in
more than 100 countries in the world
- We believe in the human
being, in his possibility and in his capability of personal and social
transformation
- We interpret History as
the contribution given by generation after generation to overcome pain and
suffering
- We state that each human
being has got the right to health, education, to a worthy life and to construct
his own future
- We state that all
peoples, races and cultures can contribute with their diversity, to the
construction of the future world; in our opinion "diversity is a
wealth"
- we refuse discrimination
and violence: our action methodology is the active non-violence
- We invite everybody to
share this moral principle which says "treat the others as you want to be
treated"
All this is possible, but
it is necessary to change this primitive system, to go out of prehistory and
start to build a real Human History.
OUR OBJECTIVES
We believe that the answer
of the New Humanism is already an historical need which cannot be postponed.
Therefore we propose:
- a social pattern in which
the human being is the central value (and not other entities or institutions as
for example State, Capital, God).
- a great social change
which necessarly involve the transformation of the actual system structures of
power, and of laws and values substaining it today.
- the transformation of the
actual system of values which, rather than favouring the individual and
collective development and evolution, it’s imposing a life-style based on
selfishness.
- the creation of those
conditions which permit the human beings to overcome suffering, to realize
their deepest aspirations and to give meaning to one’s own life.
In short we propose a
simultaneous transformation of social and personal life.
OUR ACTIVITIES
The Humanist Movement is
not an institution, but rather a structure of people who voluntarily and
without pay organize, promote, and develop activities in various fields,
through bodies and operational tools such as:
·
Neighborhood
Newspapers and Neighborhood Centers for Direct Communication. There are approximately 350
neighborhood centers in various parts of the world and more than 500 monthly
newspapers with a circulation of almost one million copies each month. Through
the newspapers and centers, the population of an area or a neighborhood
denounces situations and makes proposals; it opens conflicts to improve the
health care, educational, and socio-assistence structures; it find the desire
to "live" one’s own city by organizing meetings, get-togethers,
parties; it promotes grass-roots volunteer initiatives.
·
Centers
of Cultures.
Centers of Cultures have been established in the world’s primary cities, in
particular: New York, Moscow, Paris, Marseilles, Berlin, Munich, Barcelona,
Madrid, Buenos Aires, Rome, Milan..., and aim at promoting a dialogue between
cultures, organizing initiatives with the various communities and ethnic groups
to defend people’s rights against every form of discrimination and racism.
·
Humanist
Clubs. These are
organizations that take shape around specific points of interest to spread a
methodology of action that is coherent with the values of New Humanism. Some
examples are: the Club for Education and the Club against AIDS, etc.. The first
groups together teachers and families who are interested in a profound renewal
of teaching and the framework of educational itineraries while the second works
to defend and improve public structures. There are also other particularly
relevant initiatives promoted by the Community for Human Development or by
worldwide Campaigns such as the Year 2000 Without Wars, or the starting of a
Humanist Economic Network. The latter, in particular, which is still being
organized, is based on the promotion and exchange of activities and services
between the people who live in the same area. In other cases, it promotes
volunteer work and national and international-level projects in the development
of education and health care. (In this regard, the initiatives started this
year to increase literacy in Haiti, on health care in the Dominican Republic,
and projects for some communities in Senegal are noteworthy.) .
PERSONAL WORK
To realize theese
activities and fortify ourselves it is indispensable a personal work, a
specific instrument of the Humanist Movement. This allows everyone to get in
contact with one’s inner force, to communicate at a deepest level, to
strengthen one own’s faith in life and to give it a sense. Personal work
develops in groups weekly, in our centers, houses, working and study places.
The Principles of Valid
Action are an example of the way we choose our actions in life.
This
explains that it is useless and counterproductive to oppose the inevitable.
When the outcome of a situation is known beforehand, the most useful attitude
is to accept it as completely as possible and take advantage of even its
unfavorable aspects.
However,
it is important to be very clear regarding what is inevitable. If humanity had
believed that illnesses were inevitable, medical science would not have
advanced. Thanks to the necessity of solving problems and the possibility of
doing so, humanity progresses. If we examine moments in our life in which we
did not have knowledge of this principle, and therefore acted contrary to it,
we can understand the usefulness of applying it in the future.
This
principle explains that all things and people have their own characteristics
and tendencies, and they will either go along with or resist our projects,
depending on how we act.
When
we are upset or unbalanced and therefore motivated by irrational impulses we
pressure and force things against their own natural behavior. We then find that
even if things may yield to our demands at first, in the long run they will
turn back on us, and our results will be different or even opposite to those we
originally wanted to achieve.
In
ancient times, people spoke of "prudence" and this is similar to what
we mean. But we shouldn`t confuse prudence with weakness or fear, or small
inconveniences (little problems that we can overcome) with forces that would
overwhelm us if we confronted them. When thew balance of strength is in our
favor, and what was once a great obstacle has weakened, this is the moment to
advance decisively; otherwise the opportunity may be lost.
If
in order to achieve a particular goal we harm our health, sacrifice our loved
ones, or are unconcerned with other values, accidents may happen that will keep
us from reaching our goal. In other cases, we may reach our desired goal but we
won`t have the good health to enjoy it, or loved ones to share it with, etc.
Life is a whole that requires overall –not partial- equilibrium and
development.
This
principle deals in a figurative way with situations of apparent opposites.
However, these apparent opposites can be reconciled by changing one`s point of
regarding the situation. The heat of summer make us think about the cold of
winter and vice versa, since every difficult situation make us remember or
imagine an opposite one as a compensation.
Life
is not absurd and everything that happens can be beneficial as a lesson or tool
for self-improvement. Then, I will not simply try to evade dealing with such
problems by compensating for them in the usual way. Rather, I will accept and
face these problems and try to find some usefulness in them.
If
this principle were read by a person with a muddled mind it could be
interpreted as follows: "Enjoy yourself even if you harm others, since the
only restraint is your person health".
This
is not what it says. What this principle explains is that it is absurd to harm
your health through the pursuit of uncontrolled or detrimental pleasures. It
explains that both the harmful denial of pleasure, as well as the pursuit of
pleasure with guilt produces unjustified suffering. This principle (like all
the others) should not be taken out of context or interpreted in a way that
opposes the other principles. There is a principle that says: "When you
treat the others as you would have them treat you, you liberate yourself".
The meaning of all these principles changes when they are practiced as a whole
and not in isolation from the others.
This
does not mean one should not have goals, since the planning of any activity is
carried out on the basis of goals. What this principle explains is that all
steps towards any goal should be considered in a positive way. Otherwise, any
activity leading to the achievement of a goal produces suffering. Then even if
the goal is achieved, it loses meaning because of the suffering experienced in
the intermediary steps.
This
principle suggests avoiding improvisation because one is moved by irrational
impulses. Many people, when faced with a problem and pressured by anxiety, rush
to solve it without comprehending exactly what they are doing or recognizing
the true source of the problem. In this way the problem gets even more
complicated and this gives rise to a new unending chain of actions. What this
principle explains is that actions should be accompanied by comprehension.
If
I create problems for others, they will create problems for me . Besides that,
creating problems for others gives me a feeling of internal contradiction. On
the other hand there is no rational reason to stop doing what I want if no one
is harmed by such action.
This
principle is the most important of all. Applying this principle leads to
positive interaction with other people. It complements the previous principle,
which recommends "Do not harm others", but there is a big difference
between them. The question that comes up with this principle is "Who are
the others?". The others are the people closest to me, my family, my
couple, my work co-workers, my neighbours and my friends. It is true that all
the world is my neighbour, but this is so broad that in practice it has no
face. This is why this principle must be understood with reference to the people
closest to me. It is useless to worry about the problems of people I do not
know, if I never help or move in a positive way towards the people right around
me. If I truly take into account the people in my daily life, on the other hand
I am also sincere in my concern for those far away.
This
principle does not say that all factions should be abandoned. What it is
suggested here is to look at my own position as being the result of factors
beyond my own choice: educational factors, environmental factors, etc.
This
attitude makes fanaticism recede and also allows me to understand factions or
positions other than my own. I did not create fat people, thin people, tall or
short people; therefore, I deny the obligation to identify with any of them.
This commitment to denying false solutions is an act of freedom of conscience
and it is a courageous position because it opens one to criticism from battling
factions whose intention is to make me support their positions.
What is meant by a
contradictory act is one which leaves a person with a sensation of
"betraying oneself". A unitive act is one which gives a feeling of
"agreement with oneself". Every contradictory act not only creates
this sensation of self betrayal and betraying others, it also predisposes me
towards new actions in the same direction. On the other hand, every unitive act
equally predisposes me towards more unitive acts. A good practical formula to
surpass contradiction and build a new direction in life is to begin practicing
these twelve principles of valid actions.
OUR ORGANIZATION
The Humanist Movement
structure is actually composed by more or less 200.000 members, and it consists
of groups of different functions in it; some finalized to give an imput to
social activity and to the formation of new groups (Orientators); some
keep the members of a group connected, being sure that all materials and
information circulate properly (administratives) ; some others favour
the clearing up and the personal qualification.(supporters).
Our organization is totally
self-financed by a semestral and personal contribution which is equal to
everybody.
The tasks everyone assumes,
becoming a member of the structure, are 3:
OUR PROPOSAL
By this moment the Humanist
Movement is engaged in an expansion and growth activity. We point to involve
hundred of thousands people in social activities, in basic(punctual)
activities, in quartiers, in universities, in the working places.
Our proposal is addressed
to all those who want to partecipate in a great project of personal and social
change, to enter the new millenium in a new Human History’s era.
ECONOMY
Self-financing of these
activities is the only way to guarantee their independence. All of the
activities described above are exclusively self-financed by members of the HM,
and by the voluntary and free help of all collaborators. This allows real
freedom of expression to be maintained as well as operations that are not tied
to parties, institutions, or companies and their degrading control and power
mechanisms. From this, one may also deduce that the Movement will always be
poor: it will not have funds nor will it have substantial economic means.
Nonetheless, its strength has its roots in human potential. This is the only
potential, in the end, that is able to produce the changes aspired to.
Self-financing is done through a bi-annual contribution, that is carried out by
each group and that is always a sum lower than any social or sporting club. In
Spain it is 70$ every 6 months per member.
INVITATION
In brief: we talked about
the Humanist Movement, its general objectives, organization and activities. If
you agree, we invite you to partecipate to the Humanist Movement’s structure to
carry on this project of change together.
Participation is simple.
Anyone may make contact with any of the members of the Humanist Movement in his
or her neighborhood, or in their work or school environment, or by calling one
of the numbers given on this sheet and participate in the weekly meetings that
are held in the Humanist Neighborhood Centers, or in public places, or in
people’s homes. The weekly meeting is open to everyone, and everyone may invite
friends, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, and classmates.
You can participate as
well, if you like, by being a member of this mail list and collaborating in the
activities we are planning in your country.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/New-Humanism_Lithuania/files/
Informativa Basica del Movimiento Humanista.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/New-Humanism_Lithuania/files/
Informativa basica del Movimiento Humanista.