These are developed through Organisations (The Community for Human Development, the Humanist Party, the Centre of Cultures) and Fronts of Action: the Human Support Federation, Education for non-violence, Humanist Clubs, Humanist Community Forum, etc)  which cover many areas of human activity such as: health, education, infrastructure, community action, personal development, politics, art, anti-discrimination, etc. 

 

Today

The world is undergoing a process of globalisation. However, instead of a convergence of cultures, ethnic groups and ideas we see the imposition of one culture and one economic model upon all. Powerful international financial corporations lead a process of concentration of wealth and power never seen before in the history of humanity.

The traditional models of social organisation have failed. Communism did not deliver the equality, well being and freedom it claimed as its objective. Free Market Capitalism is widening the gap between rich and poor, increasing poverty and shortening the life expectancy of people at one end of the social hierarchy and deepening the isolation and existential vacuum of those living in cut throat competition and unbridled consumerism at the other. Changes in labour practices and laws create uncertainty about the future even for those who see themselves as reasonably affluent.

Today's technology, if applied to making the best use of natural resources, would be capable of swiftly resolving problems of nutrition, health, employment, education and housing over vast regions of the Earth. If this is not done it is because the monstrous financial speculation in casino-like world markets is preventing it.

Wars respond more and more to the interests of the Arms Trade and control of resources, such as oil. The massive migrations they precipitate increase the discrimination of those forced to live in unwelcoming countries.

Many people, sensitive to this growing crisis, find an outlet to their anger in the pursuit of single issues, unable to even conceive the possibility of a profound transformation in society as a whole.

New Humanism

This is a current of thought in which not only a change in the political and economic system is proposed in the direction of social justice but also a change in the whole conception of the human being. In the words of Mario Rodriguez Cobos (pen name Silo), the Argentinean thinker who founded this movement in the 60's as a non-violent response to growing social unrest and increasing military interference with civil life:

"Human Beings are historical beings whose form of social action changes their own nature".

Thus, we are not just the product of our genetic make-up but also of historical and social forces we have not chosen. We can, however, modify our social future and personal existence through the way we choose to act in the world within our reach. From this awareness stem both our responsibility and our freedom.

Although in this century for many the word humanism has become synonymous with secular thinking its history shows a much wider intention, a commitment to searching for responses to every existential question and every social need.

New Humanism promotes: non-violence as a method of action, non-discrimination on any grounds, international co-operation, equal opportunities and equal rights for all.

The Humanist Movement is a human structure dedicated to the creation of grassroots projects in community organisation, health, education, economy, peace, antiracism, etc., with the participation of all, without any form of discrimination, in order to generate coherent proposals for personal growth and a social organisation based on solidarity. It has set itself to make the Universal Declaration of Human Rights a concrete reality for all the peoples in the world rather than a declamatory expression of wishful thinking.

Towards the Universal Human Nation

New humanism opposes the dehumanising sense of uniformity created by the dictatorship of money. It seeks to create true international co-operation, based on a convergence of diversity: of races, ethnic groups, beliefs and lifestyles as well as diversity of ideas and aspirations.

If the human being, rather than money, is to be the central value we must search for economic forms where human labour rather than speculative capital guides the future of trade, industry and services. We must also work to make real rather than purely formal democracy a tool of empowerment for all people. A meaningful existence should be available to all, away from fatalism and defeatism. Anything that creates pain and suffering in human beings whether in the name of ideologies, institutions or profit, is anti-humanist.

New humanism opposes violence whether physical, racial, religious, economic, sexual, ecological, ideological or psychological and denounces discrimination wherever it may arise.

Organisation

The Humanist Movement is active in about 120 countries around the world. It develops a network of interconnected groups, the structure of the HM, which grows organically like the branches of a tree. This ensures rapid circulation of information: every three months, on the change of season, all groups make a report to be collected and re-distributed throughout the world. It also promotes actions based on team work. Each group develops its own projects either by launching a new initiative or by implementing actions derived from the vast experience available in the network. Every six months members from different parts of the world meet to agree on general strategies. This promotes global thinking and local implementation.

Participants attend regular weekly meetings of planning and personal work (such as relaxation, self-knowledge, etc) to strengthen themselves internally and counteract the effects of the violent system in which we live. They also get involved in social projects that help promote positive change in their own environment. Some members start new working groups locally or internationally balancing personal interests and social needs to allow the maximum expression of each individual's creativity. All groups work on the agreement of maintaining a humanist attitude based on the principle: "when you treat others as you would have them treat you, you liberate yourself".

Funding

Members finance all activities by carrying out a twice yearly fund raising. Although other funds may be accepted to finance specific projects such as newspapers, campaigns, etc., no other contributions are accepted to co-ordinate the humanist network in order to ensure its continuing ideological independence.