Central London Humanists

Our socials are now bi-monthly on Zoom. Getting together, chatting, sharing and laughing is important for our mental health and well-being. It is also a great opportunity for members who have been unable to go to our pub socials or other events to meet and be part of our community. We will be meeting from 6.30pm till around 9.30pm so please join us anytime using the Zoom link (active from 6.30). We recommend you download the phone or desktop app prior to the event and have a look at the Zoom guide for your device/computer. You do not need a Zoom account to join this event but you can register for a free account if you wish. The host will meet you as you arrive and assign you a 'room' with others. You can leave the room at any time and ask the host to assign you to another 'room'. Please feel free to ask to move rooms, go for a break, leave and come back, have dinner, etc. We would like these to be as casual and welcoming events as possible. If you have any ideas on how we can improve things, please let us know in the comments. (One suggestion is a sing-a-long room). For some, this will be the first time they have tried Zoom so please be patient with everyone on the night. If you have any technical difficulties prior to the event, leave a comment below. and we will try to help out. During the event leave the 'room' you have been assigned and talk to the host. Whether you're non-religious, questioning your previously-held beliefs, or just an open-minded person looking to mingle, these socials could be just right for you. You can expect to meet like-minded people, make friends, network with community activists, and have a lively discussion on the issues of the day. We usually met in a pub so feel free to recreate that experience the best you can from home - bring along your favorite tipple! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information at our events but ask people to keep their interactions cordial. Any views expressed are those of the individual sharing them and may not reflect those of the CLH.

July's Book Group meeting will be held virtually using Zoom. We read and discuss William Dalrymple's The Anarchy a tale of the excesses of the East India Company where, according to the Guardian's review, "patriotic myths are exploded in a vivid pageturner which considers the Company as a forerunner of modern multinationals 'too big to fail'" Please follow the link (in the venue box) to join the meeting. We will start the meeting at 7:30 pm. From Goodreads: The story of how the East India Company took over large swaths of Asia, and the devastating results of the corporation running a country. In August 1765, the East India Company defeated the young Mughal emperor and set up, in his place, a government run by English traders who collected taxes through means of a private army. The creation of this new government marked the moment that the East India Company ceased to be a conventional company and became something much more unusual: an international corporation transformed into an aggressive colonial power. Over the course of the next 47 years, the company's reach grew until almost all of India south of Delhi was effectively ruled from a boardroom in the city of London At 7:35 pm we will break up into small groups. Those familiar with CLH Book Group meeting know how this works: in each group we take turns introducing ourselves and giving our 1 minute thoughts on the book. It's important not to go over a minute and not to interrupt other people's minute so that everyone gets a chance to participate. After this first round, each group discusses for another 25 minutes or so. Then we momentarily all go back to the main meeting before being allocated to the next small group where we repeat our introductions and 1 minute thoughts. We'll do this a couple of times before coming all together at the end in one last big group. For those of you not familiar with Zoom, we'll answer technical questions on the day, you can also leave comments or questions in the comments space below. For more from the excellent Guardian review : follow this link https://www.theguardian.com/books/2019/sep/11/anarchy-relentless-rise-east-india-company-william-darymple-review If you can please support your local booksellers or check out Hive: https://www.hive.co.uk While we are very social and welcoming, the book group's primary focus is on discussing books. Feel free to turn up if you haven't managed to finish this month's book but note that the group works best when we have all read at least some of the book and are prepared to share our opinions. --------------------------------------------------------------------------- We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information on our site but ask people to keep their comments cordial. Any views expressed here are those of the individual posting them and may not reflect those of the CLHG.

This will be our first physical as opposed to Zoom meeting since March and we are looking forward to seeing many of you there. We are going to meet to have a packed lunch, before a walk around Hyde Park. This walk will take in Animals in War memorial Italian Gardens The Serpentine Wellington Arch Police Station The walk is wheelchair accessible Depending upon whether social distancing rules have been relaxed by then, we may enjoy the delights of speakers corner.

Our socials are now bi-monthly on Zoom. Getting together, chatting, sharing and laughing is important for our mental health and well-being. It is also a great opportunity for members who have been unable to go to our pub socials or other events to meet and be part of our community. We will be meeting from 6.30pm till around 9.30pm so please join us anytime using the Zoom link (active from 6.30). We recommend you download the phone or desktop app prior to the event and have a look at the Zoom guide for your device/computer. You do not need a Zoom account to join this event but you can register for a free account if you wish. The host will meet you as you arrive and assign you a 'room' with others. You can leave the room at any time and ask the host to assign you to another 'room'. Please feel free to ask to move rooms, go for a break, leave and come back, have dinner, etc. We would like these to be as casual and welcoming events as possible. If you have any ideas on how we can improve things, please let us know in the comments. (One suggestion is a sing-a-long room). For some, this will be the first time they have tried Zoom so please be patient with everyone on the night. If you have any technical difficulties prior to the event, leave a comment below. and we will try to help out. During the event leave the 'room' you have been assigned and talk to the host. Whether you're non-religious, questioning your previously-held beliefs, or just an open-minded person looking to mingle, these socials could be just right for you. You can expect to meet like-minded people, make friends, network with community activists, and have a lively discussion on the issues of the day. We usually met in a pub so feel free to recreate that experience the best you can from home - bring along your favorite tipple! --------------------------------------------------------------------------- We encourage dialogue, debate and sharing of information at our events but ask people to keep their interactions cordial. Any views expressed are those of the individual sharing them and may not reflect those of the CLH.