Martin S Pearson

ECHR at 75: ‘One of our greatest achievements, following one of our greatest tragedies’ | Andrew Copson Today marks 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), a creation born from the highest aspirations of human civilisation: that every person, regardless of circumstance, deserves equa...

'One of our greatest achievements, following one of our greatest tragedies’: my new blog post on the anniversary of the European Convention on Human Rights #ECHR humanists.uk/2025/11/04/e...

Celebrating 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights Today, we celebrate 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR). Brought into being after the horrors of the Second World War and the Holocaust, and following in the footsteps of the Un...

Today, we celebrate 75 years of the European Convention on Human Rights. From the right to a fair trial and freedom of expression to freedom of thought, conscience, and belief, the #ECHR has been instrumental in advancing human dignity and liberty. 🧵

humanists.uk/2025/11/04/c...

A celebration of life How a eulogy about nudism brought laughter and light to a room of mourners

A celebration of life www.planetnude.co/p/a-celebrat...

Imagine acting like Andrew having to move to another mansion is 'punishment'. #AbolishTheMonarchy #Epstein

Unlike Buckingham Palace or the government, we're actually trying to hold Andrew to account. We're pursuing a prosecution of Andrew. Donate to our legal fund today - link in bio.

CofE marriages and funerals in decline, Church data shows NSS renews calls for disestablishment as less than 2% of English population attend church at least once a month Read More »

We've renewed our calls for separation of Church and state, after new figures from the Church of England revealed the continued decline of church attendance 👇

www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Does nudity harm children? What nearly a century of scientific inquiry reveals about children, parents, and the myth of harm

Does nudity harm children? www.planetnude.co/p/does-nudit...

#OnThisDay 80 years ago, the United Nations Charter came into effect. The ideals that led to the UN's foundation – a human yearning for peace and unity – remain as critical as ever. And as humanists on #UnitedNationsDay, it is these ideals we uphold.

I'd rather see 1000 #naked people every day than 1 person with a #gun in my whole life. #naturism

🚨🚨 BREAKING NEWS: Campaigners have unveiled an 'Investigate the Royals' banner at Andrew's house in Windsor. #AbolishTheMonarchy #Epstein

This month’s strip is now free for all to read on @planetnude.co! Halloween special! Invasion of the clothes snatchers!

Read here:
www.planetnude.co/p/diary-of-t...

Success! Court upholds right to free speech in Quran burning appeal National Secular Society welcomes decision as "important victory for freedom of speech" Read More »

SUCCESS! Hamit Coskun's conviction has been overturned.

Today's judgment is an important victory, reaffirming the vital principle that free speech protects the right to offend, shock, or disturb – even when it challenges deeply held religious beliefs.
www.secularism.org.uk/news/2025/10...

Why should the monarchy be able to opt-out of laws when they want to? #NotMyKing #AbolishTheMonarchy

The humanist meaning of life with A C Grayling 🔍

We were deeply saddened to hear of the recent death of renowned primatologist Jane Goodall, but grateful when we heard that, before she died, she had recorded her last words to share with humanity, in collaboration with Netflix. Her final message is one that deeply resonates with humanist beliefs

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.

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...

MW correctly reading the room

I'll add details of the Call Change compositions I rang today in due course.

I don't currently have my website set up for #CallChanges (without making a mess of things, and I like to keep things tidy); and with future #bellringing plans also in mind, I might end up making some heavy revisions...!

#OnThisDay in 2000, Paul J Pascoe became the first person ever to conduct the extent of 5040 Triples #CallChanges. This incredible #bellringing feat took him and his band over 5½ hours, and he called most changes at every other handstroke.

I've celebrated this today:
lyndenlea.uk/bellringing/...

Blasphemy laws can NEVER be justified. Blasphemy laws are used to ban words or symbols that are 'offensive' to religion. They're used to violently suppress and attack religious and non-religious minorities worldwide. Laws against blasphemy are incompatible with freedom of expression, freedom of thought, and the right to protest.

Today is International Blasphemy Rights Day. Blasphemy laws can never be justified. These laws are always in opposition to freedom of expression, and are incompatible with our most fundamental human rights.

We must stop religious misogynists exploiting our charity sector The NSS has launched a new report exposing how some religious charities promote misogyny with impunity. Megan Manson explains why the report was written, and what needs to happen next. Read More »

"Religion can never be an excuse to undermine the equality or safety of women, and misogyny should have no place in charities."

Our head of campaigns Megan Manson's latest op-ed explains why she authored our latest report 'Mission and Misogyny'👇

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

One extremism won’t save you from another In the face of concerns about rising Christian Nationalism in the UK, the retort from some quarters has been to suggest that it is at least a better option than Islamic fundamentalism. This implies a…

The far right presents Islamist extremism and Christian Nationalism as a binary choice. Reject that lie. These movements mirror & feed each other. The answer is for people of goodwill, religious or not, to unite around shared values in defence of a society where everyone's human rights are protected

The first Winter Village set I'll build is the Train Station (naturally), which will sit behind the end coach. I need a couple more baseplates, and no doubt plenty of pieces for landscaping which is something I haven't attempted before!

It'll be done in time for Christmas... but *which* Christmas?!

LEGO set 21344 The Orient Express Train stands on a length of railway track upon white baseplates, all on top of a mid-century radiogram. A vintage mantel clock and turned wooden desk lamp stand behind the train.

Continuing my #Railway200 celebrations, I'd hoped to complete my build of the #LEGO #OrientExpress train yesterday, but overdoing things on Thursday meant Friday was a bust (chronic fatigue sucks) so it slipped to today.

Here it is ready for my Winter Village display, on which I'll start this week.

My repertoire of Surprise Major #bellringing methods was never that broad, and I only recall a few, so Yorkshire proved a bit of a challenge. I followed the touch with a plain course, which was also tricky; but the course of Cambridge I finished on went quite well.

I'll attempt Bristol another day.

Today's the day #Railway200 has been building to all year: the anniversary of the opening of the world's first steam-operated public railway, the Stockton & Darlington in Co. Durham!

For my celebratory #bellringing I hopped the border and rang #Yorkshire Surprise Major.
lyndenlea.uk/bellringing/...

Councillors keep winning with less than a third of the vote – what can England and Wales learn from Scotland? Each week, usually on a Thursday, a number of local council by-elections take place around Britain. As with UK parliamentary by-elections, these take place when a representative either r

When councillors can win their seats on less than a third of the vote, their party can seize the town hall on a similar share. It's about time England and Wales followed Scotland and adopted a fair, proportional voting system.

Delighted to have a simple way to support @planetnude.co🪐 that's separate from Substack. Thanks, Evan @nudernix.bsky.social!

And I'll get a cool freebie in the post every month, too. 😁

Christian nationalism threatens democracy. Secularism protects it. With Christian nationalism apparently gaining ground in the UK, Stephen Evans argues that secularism is needed to safeguard liberal democracy. Read More »

"The claim that only religion can safeguard our freedoms doesn't just distort history; it threatens democracy by undermining the secular principles that protect everyone's rights and freedoms"

Our CEO's new op-ed on the fallacy of Christian nationalism👇

www.secularism.org.uk/opinion/2025...

On 15 September Humanists UK celebrates International Day of Democracy. Humanists UK logo.

Democracy. Freedom. Peace. These are the values we live by as humanists — inseparable, interdependent, and essential. They rest on the freedom to think and believe for ourselves, the right to shape society together, and the commitment to human rights across all frontiers #InternationalDayofDemocracy