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DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250522T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250522T113000
DTSTAMP:20260515T163244Z
CREATED:20250420T094436Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T163244Z
UID:9030-1747909800-1747913400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Mental Health Crisis
DESCRIPTION:Here in the UK\, this week has been officially designated as ‘Mental Health Awareness Week’. And if that’s news to you\, you’re not alone\, because domestic and global events seem to be unfolding at an ever faster pace\, with which it’s increasingly difficult to keep up. That\, and the unrelenting pressure\, especially on young people\, to manage their hectic lives\, strained finances\, and societal expectations\, has led inevitably to a burgeoning mental health crisis across the developed world (see link [Guardian\, Mar’25]. So\, at this month’s meeting\, we’ll explore the problem\, and ask what needs to be done to save this so-called ‘lost generation’ from lives of misery and despair. \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/next-current-affairs-group-meeting-thurs-15th-may/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250417T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250417T113000
DTSTAMP:20260515T163412Z
CREATED:20250325T115220Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T163412Z
UID:8857-1744885800-1744889400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Antidisestablishmentarianism: Has it had its day?
DESCRIPTION:In the wake of former Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby’s ignominious resignation over the John Smyth cover-up\, followed last week by his ill-judged public forgiveness of this prolific abuser\, is it now time to end the automatic right of C of E bishops/archbishops to sit in the House of Lords (an archaic privilege not extended to leaders of other faiths)? If so\, then why not go even further by severing for good the age-old constitutional link between Church and State? In short\, has antidisestablishmentarianism had its day? \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/next-current-affairs-group-meeting-thurs-17th-april/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250320T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250320T113000
DTSTAMP:20260515T163534Z
CREATED:20250304T122248Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T163534Z
UID:8613-1742466600-1742470200@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Trump's New World Order: Strongmen Make the Rules
DESCRIPTION:Following last month’s jaw-dropping Oval Office ambush of Volodymyr Zelenskyy\, and the subsequent freezing of military aid to his country\, the full horror of Donald Trump’s determination to completely rewrite the rule-book on diplomacy and international relations has been laid bare for all to see. Add to that his reckless and punitive trade-wars with friends and foes alike\, and it’s becoming increasingly clear that\, in this US President’s new ‘world order’\, the rules will now be made not by consensus\, but by the most powerful. So\, at this week’s meeting\, we’ll consider whether there’s any way back from the brink\, not just for the beleaguered Ukrainians\, but for the rest of Europe\, and the wider world too? \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/trumps-new-world-order-strongmen-make-the-rules/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250220T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250220T113000
DTSTAMP:20260515T163704Z
CREATED:20250202T110322Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260515T163704Z
UID:8369-1740047400-1740051000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Preparing for the AI Revolution
DESCRIPTION:Hardly a day goes by without news of yet another amazing breakthrough in AI and/or robotics\, which\, we are told\, will transform our lives in ever more dramatic and profound ways. It’s both exciting and unsettling\, but\, because its sheer complexity goes way over the heads of most ordinary people like us\, we are left wondering whether – in the end – mankind will be liberated\, enslaved\, or even superseded by it. In other words\, are we – both individually and as a society – prepared for what the AI revolution could ultimately mean for all of us? \nIn this meeting\, we’ll discuss specific areas where its impact – for better or worse – is likely to be the greatest. For example\, as AI-driven automation replaces more and more of us in the workplace\, how will those put out of work fill their time\, and who will pay the taxes to fund public services? Or how about a robotic carer to look after you in a permanently over-stretched health service – it’s already happening in Japan! I’m sure you can think of many other questions like this\, so why not come along and share your hopes and fears. \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/preparing-for-the-ai-revolution/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20250116T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20250116T113000
DTSTAMP:20260513T111836Z
CREATED:20250104T143837Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T111836Z
UID:8201-1737023400-1737027000@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Starmer's First Six Months: Can Things Get Any Worse!?
DESCRIPTION:Back in July\, after 14 years in the political wilderness\, Labour swept back into power with a huge majority\, and a commitment to change our country for the better. But today\, six months on\, public confidence in the party – and the Prime Minister in particular – have slumped to near all-time lows\, as the realities and responsibilities of governing in difficult times have taken their toll. And as if all that wasn’t bad enough\, the barrage of criticism – albeit ill-informed – he’s now facing from ‘across the pond’ could hardly have come at a worse time\, with President Trump’s inauguration just days away. So\, for our topic this month\, we’ll take a look at some of the big challenges facing the government as they seek to steady the ship\, and start to deliver on their promises to the electorate. Can they do it? Why not join us for an hour of lively conversation about those pressing issues. \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/labours-first-six-months-starmers-baptism-of-fire/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241219T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241219T113000
DTSTAMP:20260513T111647Z
CREATED:20241202T111152Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T111647Z
UID:7937-1734604200-1734607800@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Good News Stories from 2024
DESCRIPTION:As another year draws to a close\, and the nights draw in\, it can sometimes feel like the most significant events of the last twelve months were all doom and gloom. So instead\, as the festive season beckons\, let’s raise our spirits by taking a look back at some of the good news stories of 2024. Whether they’re of global\, national\, or even just local interest where you live\, this is your opportunity to share them with the rest of us\, so why not join us for an hour of uplifting conversation! \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/good-news-stories-from-2024/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241121T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241121T113000
DTSTAMP:20260513T111501Z
CREATED:20241102T104025Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T111501Z
UID:7267-1732185000-1732188600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:The Middle East Crisis: Stepping Back from the Brink
DESCRIPTION:A year on from the brutal Hamas incursion into southern Israel\, the bloody chain of events it triggered has left tens of thousands dead across the region\, and has brought Israel and its arch-enemy Iran to the brink of war. Diplomacy has failed\, peace talks have stalled\, and now the impending return of Donald Trump to the White House has added even more uncertainty to this seemingly intractable crisis. So is there any hope of avoiding what some are already calling a new Armageddon. What do you think? Why not join us for an hour of lively discussion about this most divisive of issues. \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/next-current-affairs-group-meeting-thursday-21st-november/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20241017T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20241017T113000
DTSTAMP:20260513T111255Z
CREATED:20240926T111800Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260513T111255Z
UID:6311-1729161000-1729164600@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:Assisted Dying: The End of Unnecessary Suffering\, or a Slippery Slope Towards Execution of the Unwanted?
DESCRIPTION:Our subject for this month’s meeting could hardly be more topical\, coinciding as it does with the introduction\, in the House of Commons\, of Labour MP Kim Leadbeater’s Private Member’s Bill to legalise assisted dying for the terminally-ill in England & Wales. While all previous attempts\, most recently in 2015\, have always been decisively voted down\, public opinion in favour of a change in the law has only hardened\, and especially so since Esther Rantzen joined the campaign. So the outcome this time is expected to be much closer. But what do you think? Why not join us for an hour of lively debate on this most contentious of issues! \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: Subscribe to the Current Affairs group
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/next-current-affairs-group-meeting-thursday-17th-october/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=Europe/London:20240919T103000
DTEND;TZID=Europe/London:20240919T113000
DTSTAMP:20260510T140425Z
CREATED:20240810T154003Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260510T140425Z
UID:5731-1726741800-1726745400@u3acommunities.org
SUMMARY:America at the Crossroads: The Battle for the White House\, and Why it Matters so Much More This Time Around
DESCRIPTION:By popular demand\, the Current Affairs Discussion Group is up and running again\, so we’re looking forward to welcoming back some of our old friends\, and hopefully many new ones as well. And for this\, our first meeting\, the topic could hardly be more momentous. In barely two months time\, Americans will cast their votes for one of two candidates whose sharply divergent opinions on how the country should be run\, and its role in the wider world\, are dividing the electorate perhaps more than at any other time in modern US history. Who will win is anybody’s guess\, but of one thing we can be certain – whichever way it goes\, the consequences for America\, and the rest us\, will be far-reaching. So why not join us as we look ahead – nervously! – to the outcome. \nIf you haven’t yet done so\, there’s still time to join our mailing list\, which will ensure that you receive those all-important Zoom log-in details… just click here: “Subscribe to the Current Affairs group” \n  \n 
URL:https://u3acommunities.org/event/current-affairs-discussion-group-grand-re-launch-meeting/
CATEGORIES:Current Affairs Meeting,Frontpage
ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://u3acommunities.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/CA-group-Meetings-archive-image.jpg
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