Rational Radio

A new radio programme which should be of particular interest to GALHA blog readers launched this month. The programme, Little Atoms, which airs every fortnight on Fridays from 16:30 to 17:30 on Resonance 104.4 FM began on 2nd September 2005. The programme’s presenters, Neil Denny & Richard Sanderson, describe the agenda for the show as:

Rationalist, Pro-science, Atheist, Humanist and for the progressive Left. Each week will feature one guest from the worlds of science, politics and journalism talking about subjects as diverse as conspiracy theories, cosmology, religion, the "New Age", human rights and the state of the Left.

Today’s programme: 16th September 2005 - "Harry" of Harry's Place

"Harry" is the anonymous (for employment, rather than sinister reasons) proprietor of "Harry's Place" one of the UK's most popular political blogs. It has over the years become the focal point for a growing dissatisfaction with some of the more simplistic solutions offered by the left, and a place for discussion, critique and suggestions for ways forward. Recently described by Nick Cohen as "The meeting place for the anti-fascist left" .

In a world of Left-wing activism which most commonly adheres to the Chomsky/Pilger/"Respect Coalition" school, the views of Harry and his comrades are under-represented in the mainstream press, and are undoubtedly controversial, but deserve to be heard.

For readers not acquainted with Harry’s Place, the website is fast becoming the online meeting-place-of-choice for the sensible Left – “muscular liberals” who refuse to betray defending the rights of women, lesbians and gays, secularists, socialists and other political dissidents in favour of alliances with reactionary religionists.

The Little Atoms show took its name – and its rationale - from a quote by Sir Martin Rees, Astronomer Royal:

“Even the simplest-seeming things - single atoms, for instance - are hard to understand.”

The Little Atoms website features a schedule for up-and-coming shows, which will feature guests like Jon Ronson, Polly Toynbee and Melanie Phillips, and an audio archive of past shows – so those who missed the first show dealing with science, anti-science, bad science and pseudo-science will be able to download it soon. The site also includes a growing list of links to interesting websites and of course to the websites of their guests. IF you’d like to comment on the programme or pose questions for future guests, the contact information is also on the Little Atoms website.

So, tune in today and hear what “Harry” has to say, and keep an eye on the schedule. That’s Little Atoms, every fortnight on Fridays from 16:30 to 17:30 on Resonance 104.4 FM from 2nd September 2005. If you can’t tune in on the old wireless, you can also listen online.