Author Archives: eastlon

Last month we lost a national treasure. Bill Oddie was loved by many and enhanced countless lives. He was a comedian, TV presenter and naturalist. He raised awareness of mental health issues and campaigned on the environment and animal welfare. … Continue reading →

Romford Recorder Opinion Piece published 14 August 2026. Words are important. Havering Council’s decision to rescind the Climate Emergency declaration made by the previous Council in 2023 sends an extraordinary message. The motion was passed this July, a time of … Continue reading →

Opinion piece published Ilford Recorder, Romford Recorder and Docklands and East London Advertiser April 2026 John Lennon wrote ‘Imagine,’ his iconic peace song, around this time 45 years ago. It was his humanistic response to the war the US was … Continue reading →

Humans are the ultimate invasive species. What we do puts Japanese knotweed in the shade. Our footprint has wiped out entire species, from mammoths to dodos. The tricky relationship between humans and evolution could be a metaphor for the abyss … Continue reading →

East London Humanists will be staging an ‘Environmental Election Hustings’ at Wanstead Library in the run up to the Council elections due to be held on Thursday 7 May. Careful consideration has been given to ensuring fairness in accordance with … Continue reading →

Understanding how unelected elites, including the CofE establishment, are blocking reform. Opinion piece Ilford Recorder Feb 2026 Two different news stories recently caught my eye: Research showing the steady decline of Christianity, and the democratic travesty that is our House … Continue reading →

Celebrating the appointment of writer, broadcaster and former Blue Peter presenter Jane Ellis as Humanists UK president. Ilford Recorder and Barking and Dagenham Post January 2026 A recent announcement came as a tonic, to me at least, amidst much gloomy … Continue reading →

Seasonal opinion piece Barking and Dagenham Post 10 December 2025 A recent remark about hope by author Salman Rushdie came to mind as I sat down to write this piece for the festive season. Rushdie, a Patron of Humanists UK, … Continue reading →

East London Humanist op piece looks at the prospect of education reform in the light of two major developments. Op piece Newham, Romford and Ilford Recorder newspapers Nov 2025 Important reforms are on the cards for teaching about religion and … Continue reading →