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Inequality: The Enemy Between Us

10/3/2012 6:37 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
The British Humanist Association presents an evening with Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, authors of The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better
On Tuesday 16 October in Manchester Kate Pickett and Richard Wilkinson, authors of The Spirit Level: Why More Equal Societies Almost Always Do Better, will present the 2012 Holyoake Lecture on Inequality: The Enemy Between Us.

With the...

Tony Nicklinson loses right-to-die court case

8/16/2012 9:59 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Tony Nicklinson has lost his High Court case to allow doctors to end his life without risk of prosecution.  Mr Nicklinson, who is 58, suffered a catastrophic stroke in 2005 which left him with locked-in syndrome, which means that he is paralysed from the neck down.  He communicates by blinking, and has described his life since the stroke as a ‘living nightmare’.  He says that he is ‘devastated’ by the court’s...

The National Trust to review Giant’s Causeway exhibition

7/18/2012 9:28 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
The National Trust have announced that they are to review the content of their exhibition at the new Giant’s Causeway visitor centre.  The exhibition generated controversy by appearing to suggest that creationism can provide an alternative explanation of the site’s formation.  The Giant’s Causeway, located on the County Antrim coast in Northern Ireland, includes spectacular basalt columns which were formed by...

MPs speak out against bishops in parliament

7/11/2012 10:27 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
The proposals to retain reserves places for Church of England Bishops in a reformed House of Lords was widely criticised by MPs in a House of Commons debate yesterday (Tuesday 10 July), however, due to widespread disagreements with the proposals, they are unlikely to return for further discussion before Parliament’s summer recess.
A range of MPs objected to the continued presence of the bishops. Karl Turner MP...

‘Deeply disappointing’ Bishops retain reserved seats in Lords Reform Bill

6/27/2012 9:00 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Heavily criticised proposals to strengthen the unjust influence of the Church of England in Parliament have been today revealed in the form of the House of Lords Reform Bill. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has condemned the Bill, which if implemented without modification would embed special privilege at the heart of our political system.
The Government’s House of Lords Reform Bill proposes to continue...

Michael Gove concludes Catholic schools did not break the law in promoting anti-...

6/21/2012 11:06 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
An investigation by the Department for Education (DfE) ordered by Michael Gove, Secretary of State, has concluded that St Philomena’s Catholic High School for Girls in Carshalton did not break any law in promoting a petition against same-sex marriage. The British Humanist Association (BHA) has expressed bafflement at the conclusion, which appears to be at odds with the Welsh Government’s separate...

Schools minister declares support for teaching humanism in RE

6/15/2012 9:37 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Minister of State for Schools Nick Gibb MP has stated his support for teaching non-religious beliefs such as humanism as part of Religious Education (RE). The British Humanist Association (BHA) has welcomed the minister’s comments.
The BHA has a long history of involvement in RE, having been a founder member of the Religious Education Council for England and Wales (REC) in 1973. The BHA was involved in the...

BHA welcomes plans to add evolution to primary curriculum

6/11/2012 9:14 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Evolution is to be included in the primary curriculum, it has today been announced. The Department for Education (DfE) has published its draft primary National Curriculum for science,...
Currently, evolution is first taught from year ten (age 14-15), but biologists and educational experts have argued that the topic is so central to biology that it should be taught from an earlier age. As a result, the BHA has...

Richard Dawkins awarded for services to Humanism

6/11/2012 6:34 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Professor Richard Dawkins this weekend received an award in recognition of his services to Humanism at the annual conference of the British Humanist Association (BHA), held at the National Museum of Wales in Cardiff. The two day conference is entitled ‘Beyond Tomorrow’ explored visions of the future, from the apocalyptic to the utopian.
Professor Richard Dawkins was the Charles Simonyi Professor of the Public...

Religious Education is important – But it must be relevant and comprehensive

6/11/2012 3:33 AM EST  -   British Humanist Association Press Room
Good quality 'Religious Education' (RE) in schools is seen as important and valued by the public, research commissioned by the Religious Education Council (REC) has indicated. The research has been welcomed by the British Humanist Association (BHA), which restated the importance of all major beliefs – both religious and non-religious—being objectively explored.
According to the research, 53% of adults in...