Category: Living on the Hill

The Case of Monogamy

October 27, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
42% of marriages end in divorce in the United Kingdom. This is, admittedly, a concerning statistic. Grown adults who gave vows, and promises, to each other and committed to emotionally love only their significant other find that they cannot bear such a relationship. The childhood dream that they would ‘live happily ever after with one […] Read more

Interview with Tara Abhasakun on the Baha’i Faith

October 26, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Tara Abhasakun is a journalist based in the USA and occasional Blogger.  Tara talks about her community, the Baha’i faith and feminism. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: As noted in correspondence, you are not a Baha’i scholar. You are a recent undergraduate graduate and a woman Baha’i member. What is your background in Baha’i? Both of my parents […] Read more

Interview with ​Kate Smurthwaite

October 25, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Kate Smurthwaite is a British stand-up comedian, a human-rights activist, political activist.and a feminist. She regularly appears on British television and radio as a pundit, offering opinion and comment on subjects ranging from politics to religion. Scott Douglas Jacobsen: How did you become an activist, comedian, and feminist? Well I became a comedian by doing a number of courses on writing and […] Read more

Extended Interview with Maryam Namazie

October 24, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Maryam Namazie is an Iranian-born secularist and human rights activist, commentator and broadcaster. She is spokesperson for Iran Solidarity, One Law for All and the Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain. How did you get involved in activism? I became an activist as a result of my own life experiences after an Islamic regime took power in Iran. We fled the country. […] Read more

Interview with James Underdown – Executive Director of Center for Inquiry-Los Angeles & Founder & Chairman of the Independent Investigations Group

October 21, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
James Underdown has been the executive director of The Center for Inquiry (CFI) Los Angeles since 1999. The Center for Inquiry is a non-profit educational organisation with headquarters in Amherst, NY, whose primary mission is to foster a secular society based on science, reason, freedom of inquiry, and humanist values. CFI Los Angeles is the largest branch in the organisation outside […] Read more

The Hidden Complexities of the Iran Chess Tournament Boycott

October 17, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
[Co-authored with Scott Jacobsen] Swedish chess players and the US Champion, Nazi Paikidze, have been outspoken about their refusal to wear the hijab in Tehran, Iran for the Women’s World Chess Championship. At the moment, many of the more pertinent arguments are centered around what benefits Iranian women. This makes sense, considering the restrictive dress […] Read more

Interview with Eric Adriaans – Ex-National Executive Director of Center for Inquiry Canada

October 14, 2016 | by | 0 Comments
Eric Adriaans is the former National Executive Director of the Center for Inquiry Canada (CFI Canada). Eric is also a charitable sector leader, student in Athabasca University’s post-baccalaureate diploma program in Legislative Drafting and Fanshawe College’s Logistics and Supply Chain management program, and writer. Adriaans is extremely interested in Parliamentary e-petition 382, which is opposition […] Read more