Our friends over at Project Reason hosted a video contest to create videos promoting critical thinking. They’ve narrowed the field down to six finalists and now it is up to everyone to pick the winner. The stakes are high, because the winner will receive $10,000.00!

There were a lot of amazing videos submitted and of course the mumblings have already started about how they chose one video over another when clearly “A” was better than “B.” Similar to the rumblings at the end of America’s Funniest Home Videos, “What?!? How is that video funnier than the other ones they showed?” I know… I’ve been there too: trying to wrap my head around the judge’s decision as to which three videos made the finals for the audience to choose the winner. But I digress…

Bickering over the finalists aside… it’s time to choose a winner and put $10,000 in the hands of a fellow critical thinker, skeptic, and atheist! The voting page is up at Reason Project.

Not to play favorites, but….

Science is a vaccine

ThInk

Thanks to our friend Staks Rosch for letting us know about this! He suggested two videos that didn’t make the cut (you know that grumbling I mentioned above) that I have to admit I thought would have made great finalists as well. Here is one of them…

The Future Is Ours

PICKET AT TEXAS CAPITOL DEMANDS CHURCH TAX TO SUPPORT PUBLIC EDUCATION

They’re going to be out there every weekday in front of the Texas Capitol Building in Austin, Texas: and they’re demanding that lawmakers begin levying a small tax on the wealthy churches of the Lone Star State in order to rescue public education.

The project is the brainchild of American Atheists State Director Joe Zamecki. Joe and a coterie of fellow activists hope to draw attention to the “war on public schools” that is taking place throughout the state. Indeed, every time the legislature huddles in Austin, there is a flurry of bills that would further erode the public education system, and undermine the quality of education in the classrooms.

Mr. Zamecki explains in the following announcement…

Public education in Texas is in a financial crisis. This year’s state legislature is about to slash spending on education, to include the laying off of possibly hundreds of teachers, and the closing of public schools all over the state. Apparently the state budget is short this year, by billions of dollars.

Right now, parents, students, teachers and others are rallying around their schools, and speaking out about the very real need to keep the teachers and schools we have now, as one of our state’s top priorities.

Meanwhile mega-churches and televangelists in Texas are doing very well. So the recurring theme of church taxation is in the air again, although it’s still a somewhat shocking idea to most people. Not so shocking as in the past.

Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church alone is doing famously well, operating in the physically largest church building in the USA, tax free. Like so many Texas mega-churches, Joel and his church have the ease of marketing that some corporations have, so we feel that they and other successful mega-churches could help with public education too. We’ve proposed just a 1% tax on profits taken in by just the top 1% of the most profitable mega-churches and televangelists in Texas. They can easily afford it.

Not the small, poor churches we hear about so much. This is not an idea to harm or hinder any churches in their operations. We feel that giving churches blanket tax-exempt status is giving them a special privilege. The overwhelming financial success of some of those churches has some economists standing in awe. The idea isn’t new, and it isn’t going away, as long as Texas’ children have a grossly inferior system of education, a financial balance like this is needed.

Studies show that our state is lagging behind in education very badly, and knowing that the current legislature with the Texas governor are working hard together, it’s clear that spending cuts will happen before any tax increases or new taxes are implemented. So without that normal financial balance, Texans are considering alternatives. This is one idea for an alternative that could solve the issue of insufficient tax funds.

As unusual and unpopular as this type of idea is, it just needs to be said again, loudly. And for those who feel that a church tax would invite churches and religious activists into the public schools, the legislature, and other areas of secular government existence: too late. They’re already well established in those institutions, which is one reason why we have a state/church separation movement. They just need to pay their admission fee, finally. It would really help the people of Texas.

Atheists and other state/church separationists will be picketing the2011 Texas State Legislature each weekday at 1 p.m. CST for the next few weeks, while the legislature works out a state budget. Our short and sweet message is: “Don’t close a SINGLE school! TAX THE CHURCHES!”

Who: Joe Zamecki, Texas State Director for American Atheists

What: An ongoing picket project, of the 2011 Texas State Legislature

When: Every weekday at 1 p.m., until further notice

Where: The front gate of the Texas State Capitol building, at 11th Street and Congress Ave., in Austin

Why: To vocally offer up the idea to replenish tax revenue for education in Texas by creating a small tax on the most profitable mega-churches and televangelists in Texas.

MORE INFO: Contact Joe Zamecki at jzamecki@atheists.org or (512) 758-0060

Did you take action on this Action Alert? If so, please share your letter with everyone in the comments section!

AMERICAN ATHEISTS ACTION ALERT
http://www.atheists.org
February 10, 2011

TELL CONGRESS NOW — APPROVE DARWIN DAY RESOLUTION!

U.S. Representative Pete Stark (D-CA, in collaboration with the AHA) has introduced legislation that would designate February 12, 2011 as “Darwin Day,” a celebration and recognition of “the importance of science in the betterment of humanity.”

The measure explicitly cites “the validity of Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection,” and calls for “a global celebration of science and humanity intended to promote a common bond among all of Earth’s peoples.”

The measure is designated as H. Res.81, and be found here.

LET CONGRESS HEAR FROM YOU NOW!

We urge you to contact your Congressional Representative immediately and express your support for Rep. Peter Stark’s timely and courageous resolution.

* Visit the House of Representatives web site and click on the “Write Your Representative” icon on the top left-hand side or you can go to WriteRep and fill out all of the information.

* Make your comments pithy and polite; be sure to ask for a response.

* Thank Rep. Pete Stark for introducing this measure! We anticipate the religious right organizations will be doing all they can to defeat this resolution. So, let Congressman Stark know that you support his efforts to declare an official day of recognition on behalf of Charles Darwin, evolution and good science! You can also visit his web site.

American Atheists President David Silverman was a guest on the David Pakman show via Skype. David discussed why he did not address Bill’O directly about the tides or the number of atheists and how he realized during the on-screen interview that he was talking to a fictional character.

You can watch the interview on YouTube!

The SERAM took place from January 28th to January 30th in Huntsville, Alabama at the Holiday Inn Downtown. January 28th was pre-registration and a night in the bar for “meet & greet.” January 29th & 30th were full days of speeches, workshops, panels, and entertainment.

The SERAM would not have gone as smoothly as it did without a bunch of volunteers in the background helping man tables, registration, and running errands. It is with enormous gratitude and appreciate that I personally thank (in alphabetical order) Allison Bohlman, Nicole Boquette, Justin Edwards, Nikeela Fields, Rion Gregory, Nick Haines, Tom Hand, Cathy Miller, Chuck Miller, Steve Moore, Venkat Raghavan, Scott Savage, Yvonne Scott, Brandon Stiefel, Christie Swords, Stepher Walker and Steve Walker. I hope I did not miss anybody!

This event would also not have been possible without the great speakers that agreed to do this event without speaking fees: Sean Faircloth, Richard Haynes, Edwin Kagin, Paul Provenza, Darrel Ray and David Silverman.

I would also like to thank our amazing panelists who participated in the Attendee’s Choice, College Groups, and 501(c)3 panels. Our panelists were Stuart Bechman, Matthew Blendermann, Amye Broyles, Ed Buckner, Enrique Delgado, Rebecca Godwin, Heath Holden, Derek Johnson, Lyz Liddell, Gordon Maples, Meredith Milewicz, Steve Moore, Mary Posey, Venkat Raghavan, Jonathan Smith and Christie Swords.

Attendees line up for the Paul Provenza book signing. Blair Scott helps by selling books.

I would also like to thank the vendors that came out and offered products and services to the SERAM attendees: American Atheists, Atlanta Freethought Society, Bob Collins, Dr. Darrel Ray, Florida Atheists & Secular Humanists (FLASH), Gary Whittenberger, North Alabama Freethought Association (NAFA) and the Secular Student Alliance.

But most of all I want to thank the attendees for coming out and making the SERAM happen: for inspiring yourselves and others to become more involved and come out of the closet. Without you the movement and cause would be going nowhere. It is through you that the tide rises and as David Silverman said, “This tide comes in… but it doesn’t go out!”

The SERAM was an amazing success! We got tons of press coverage from the Huntsville Times, Christian Post, WAFF, WHNT, WAAY, WERC, WZDX and the billboard that kicked off the SERAM was covered on CNN, MSNBC, FOX News and became a meme after the O’Reilly Show which caused appearances or mentions on Colbert Report, Keith Olberman, and Real Time with Bill Maher!

The Speaker's Panel, where attendees were able to ask questions of all the speakers.

The North Alabama Freethought Association (NAFA), a local Affiliate of American Atheists, was boosted and promoted through the SERAM and the local group increased in membership by 38 after the SERAM billboard went up and after news coverage. NAFA has let me know that they’re excited to see how the SERAM event itself impacts their membership. NAFA also received donations at the SERAM to help increase their treasury.

Friday night we had pre-registration to allow attendees to check in early and avoid lines on Saturday morning. We hung out in the hotel bar and had the opportunity to meet new people and socialize before the main event started. This was an important part of the event because it allowed people to get to know each other without having to force that in during breaks. The relaxed atmosphere helped people network.

On Saturday the sale of tickets at the door lead to SERAM being sold out. We actually sold more tickets than seats, but since a couple of people were no-shows, we had seats for everyone.

Events on the first day, January 29th, were Blair Scott (Local Activism & You!), Edwin Kagin (Legal Philosophy: When to Sue and Not to Sue), Paul Provenza (¡Satiristas!), Sean Faircloth (Sex! Law! Morality! Women!), Dr. Darrel Ray (Leadership in the Secular Community),College Groups panel discussion and Richard Haynes (Don’t Reinvent the Wheel).

Edwin Kagin (National Legal Director) signs copies of his book Baubles of Blasphemy, printed by American Atheist Press.

Later that evening we held our 25-seat fund-raising dinner with tickets costing $100 (included meal). American Atheists raised $10,000 dollars at the fund-raising dinner, which will be matched by the Uhl-Mitzman challenge, giving American Atheists $20,000 toward our new Legal Fund!

Events on the second day, January 30th, were Attendee’s Choice panel discussion, 501(c)3 panel discussion, live recording of the Critical Eye Podcast, Sean Faircloth workshop on state level Secular Coalitions, stand-up routine by Paul Provenza with an opening act by local comedian Justin Ledlow, Dave Silverman (Future of American Atheists) and the Speakers Panel.

The SERAM was a resounding success! Attendees learned and were entertained. Attendees networked with each other and found out that they were NOT alone!

This SERAM has provided a sort of template to move forward with for additional regional conventions throughout the year. The success of the SERAM has shown the need for a roving regional convention in addition to the annual National Convention (to be held this year over Easter weekend in Des Moines, IA).