The Humanist Vegetarian Group aims to bring an understanding to both the humanist and vegetarian communities that the underlying principles and logic which are the moral corner stones for each are, in fact, a shared philosophy between the two groups.

Humanism is an approach to life based on humanity and reason; Humanists recognise that moral values are properly founded on human nature, reason and experience. Our decisions are based on the available evidence and our assessment of the outcomes of our actions, not on any dogma or sacred text.

Some humanists as well as religious adherents believe that Homo sapiens are such a special case in nature that they have unique rights over animals which they can exploit as they wish. The Humanist Vegetarian Group refutes this.

Vegetarianism in its ethical form is an approach to life based on compassion for all animals. The Humanist Vegetarian Group understands that humans are merely animals and that the capacities which evolution has bestowed upon us for survival give rise to compassion, fairness and morality, which we apply as well as we are able to all animals.

In addition to the ethical position the Group welcomes members who are motivated to promote Vegetarianism for a variety of reasons including environmental concerns, economics, dietary preferences, aesthetics and health. We use the term Vegetarian to include Vegan.

Some vegetarians give justification for vegetarianism by wrapping it in spiritual and superstitious beliefs. The Humanist Vegetarian Group rejects these beliefs and seeks to promote a rational case for Vegetarianism.

News

The disturbing question posed by IQ tests - are chimps cleverer than us?

Could you be dumber than a chimp? That's not as daft a question as it once was. After all, science has proved that chimpanzees share 99 per cent of our DNA.

Check out this story on www.dailymail.co.uk.

My legend avatar Boris and UK creationism

Boris looks terrifying but friendly - one of those sort of 'is really happy and nice most of the time but if you spill his pint he will eat you' types. But of course he wouldn't do that, because he's a friendly creation-dinosaur and was a vegetarian and lived with humans frolicking in the Garden of Eden and just chillin generally. Until Eve ate the apple, introduced sin into the world, and made animals start eacting each other.

Check out this story on libcom.org.

Humans share lemur gaze tendency

Scientists studying the human tendency to follow the gaze of other people have found a link to the behaviour of lemurs, a distant primate relative.

Check out this story on news.bbc.co.uk.

Are prisoners embracing religion for better ‘conditions’

Meals specially prepared for religious inmates are usually better quality than standard fare, said Walter Taylor, a 32-year-old inmate in Monroe. He is a devout Muslim, but said he had to claim other faiths with the prison system in order to meet requirements in the Quran for the practice of Islam.

Check out this story on www.emgonline.co.uk.

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  • Sir Paul McCartney’s advice to the Dalai Lama

    Sir Paul McCartney reveals this week in Prospect, the political magazine, that he once wrote to the Dalai Lama to criticise him for eating meat after the religious leader stated: “As Buddhists we believe in not causing any suffering to any sentient beings.”

  • Petition to create a Bank Holiday on Charles Darwins Birthday (12th February)

    Charles Darwin is a truly remarkable scientist. His research into, and writings on, evolution deserve to be honoured in some way. Making his birthday (12th February) would be a simple way of doing this.

  • Tiny dinosaur on verge of swearing off meat

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  • All aboard the atheist bus campaign

    It's real, it's happening: you can sponsor the first atheist advert on a bus – and Richard Dawkins will match your money.