BHA news BHA news www.humanism.org.uk Issue 1 2014

‘The only possible basis for a sound morality is mutual tolerance and respect: tolerance of one another’s customs and opinions; respect for one another’s rights and feelings; awareness of one another’s needs.’ — A J Ayer, Humanist Coronation Street takes on assisted dying as right-to-die cases reach Supreme Court Coronation Street has broadcast one of its most memorable episodes, in which the character Hayley Cropper, played by BHA Distinguished Supporter Julie Hesmondhalgh, decides to commit suicide after becoming terminally ill with inoperable cancer. The episode in question was watched by over ten million viewers. Coronation Street’s brave tackling of this important ethical issue takes place as we await the Supreme Court’s judgement on the legal case to establish the right to an assisted death. During the hearings in December, we presented our Kate Rutter, portraying Suzie the humanist evidence in support of Jane Nicklinson, celebrant, at Hayley Cropper's funeral the widow of Tony Nicklinson, who sought and was denied an assisted death, and Humanist Funerals showcased on Paul Lamb, who is seeking the right to an Coronation Street assisted death after being paralysed in a road accident. We have been a party to We were very pleased that ITV producers same time as acknowledging the case throughout as an intervener. of Coronation Street chose to bid and celebrating all that the person The judgement will be announced later farewell to the much loved character of has achieved. this year. Hayley Cropper with a humanist funeral. ITV consulted with our Head of By giving Hayley a humanist funeral, Ceremonies, Isabel Russo, checking on Coronation Street reflected the technicalities of the funeral process as increasing need among non-religious well as on script content and delivery. people to say goodbye in a way that is We are delighted that Hayley’s authentic to them. A humanist funeral funeral will have helped to make so many provides the opportunity to gather more people aware that there is together as a community to say a an alternative — and that it’s a really Tony and Jane Nicklinson and family personal and profound farewell, at the good one!

World Humanist Congress sneak preview As we draw closer to the World Humanist Here in the UK, the Racial and others, we will negotiate the difficult Congress in Oxford we are putting Religious Hatred Act of 2006 created boundaries of freedom of expression and final details to the programme. We are an offence of inciting hatred against a incitement to hatred. pleased to give you a special sneak person on the grounds of their religion. preview of just one of the sessions you The wording is careful to ensure that can expect over the action-packed it excludes criticism and ridicule and three days. made it clear that the law is intended to protect people, not belief. But the The difficult case of incitement debate still continues about where the to hatred: limits lie. Featuring human rights lawyer and Hate speech, the advocacy of hatred lecturer in International Human Rights based on nationality, race or religion, at the University of Jacob occupies an exceptional position in Mchangama; UK’s leading authority on international law, and many argue that community cohesion and intercultural the ban on hate speech is directly in relations Ted Cantle; Australian conflict with the right to freedom philosopher Russell Blackford; our Head of expression. Human rights lawyer Jacob Mchangama of Public Affairs Pavan Dhaliwal and

Many thanks to all those who donated to our cash appeal at the end of last year Your ongoing support means a lot to all our staff and volunteers From the Chief Executive Andrew Copson

Just as this BHA News went to press posters depicting discarded religious Tickets are almost completely sold out we heard that posters put up by our symbols banned, our Reading affiliate for the World Humanist Congress so if you affiliated society in Southbank University was harassed at Freshers’ Fair over a are intending to come you should hurry had been banned and ordered to be pineapple labeled ‘Mohammed’ and to whc2014.org.uk today! Just this week, removed. They depicted a famous scene our affiliate at the LSE made national with the release on license of Alexander from the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel headlines when they were intimidated by Aan from an Indonesian jail, imprisoned but with the original character of god University authorities for wearing T-shirts for setting up an atheist page, replaced by the satirical online god, depicting the popular web comic ‘Jesus and with the arrest of a British Muslim in the ‘Flying Spaghetti Monster’. That and Mo’. for , we’re reminded such mild and inoffensive visual humour The National Federation of Atheist, how important the theme of Freedom should be banned by a British university Humanist and Secularist Student Societies of Thought and Expression is. I hope you is appalling – but, unfortunately, not as (AHS), which is a network of societies will join us in Oxford and meet humanists unusual or surprising to us as it should be. facilitated by the BHA, has grown fast from over forty countries. It is as much Case after case has come to us in the in the last couple of years, and it’s not by building strong personal relationships past couple of years of our affiliates on surprising in light of all this. We need to and networks with our fellow humanists campuses being censored, intimidated support freethinking in universities just across the world as through our advocacy or otherwise disrupted as they try to go as much if not more as in our schools and at the UN and elsewhere that we can about their perfectly legitimate social we’re actively looking for ways that we create a better world. and political activities. At Warwick can do that in the coming years. University, our affiliated society had *********

Bentham Lecture: Humanism and the Posthuman Challenge One of the leading figures in feminist modification of the human body will reflected on what rights trans-humans political theory, Professor Anne Phillips affect how we relate to one another; if it would possess in comparison to ordinary FBA, Graham Walls Professor of will be possible to use digital technology humans, and Jürgen Habermas, who Political Science at the London School to enhance human intelligence way argued that the creation of trans-humans of Economics, presented our annual beyond what humans are currently would place restrictions on human Bentham Lecture at University capable of; and what kind of relationship autonomy by subjecting individuals to College London (UCL) on the topic these enhanced, or ‘posthumans’ will specifications imposed by someone else. Humanism and the Posthuman Challenge have with non-enhanced humans. The Bentham Lecture is organised by in November. Professor Phillips expressed a the Humanist Philosophers’ Group, Professor Phillips discussed the sceptical attitude towards post- and with support from us and the UCL technological and moral questions posed trans-humanism, expressing concerns Philosophy Department. by recent developments in cybernetics over equality and highlighting and biotechnology, exploring how the philosophers Francis Fukuyama, who

Professor Anne Phillips delivering the 2013 Bentham Lecture Dying Matters Week launch Free School has links to News in brief private creationist school Humanist Ceremonies’ funeral celebrants are busy organising events to support We were alarmed to discover that one of Trainee teachers receive Dying Matters Awareness week taking the Free Schools opened last September, sessions on Humanism place from 12 — 18 May. Tyndale Community School in Oxford, From talks and displays, stands and is co-sponsored by an organisation that Our Board member, David Pollock, death cafes, celebrants will be supporting also runs a private school that is part of delivered training sessions at universities this year's theme of ‘you only die once’ the Christian Schools’ Trust network of in Sheffield, Liverpool, and London in (#yodo), and in particular encouraging creationist schools. The other sponsor, December for students undertaking a members of the public to think about and Chapel St, runs two Free Schools, with postgraduate certificate in education. record their funeral wishes. three more on the way. Students received a thorough background We are a member of the Dying Matters in the rich history of Humanism, as coalition that aims to change public Afghan Atheist granted well as engaging with some of the big knowledge, attitudes, and behaviours asylum by Home Office questions about morality, meaning, towards dying, death, and bereavement. and purpose. The training ended with a For more information see The Home Office has granted asylum to session on how Humanism can contribute www.dyingmatters.org an Afghan atheist who is at risk of being young people’s education within Religious persecuted or executed if he returns to Education. his home country. This is one of the few Dying Matters: times that the UK has granted asylum to CFI UK conference on Be ready an atheist on the grounds of protection science and pseudoscience from persecution for reasons of religion for it or belief. Dying Matters Awareness Week 2013 The Centre for Inquiry UK, the section of 13th – 19th May 2013 the BHA that aims to apply science and BHA condemns gender reason to questions regarding religion and things you can do to segregation at university the supernatural, contemporary ethical dilemmas, and social/political problems, live well and die well events held a day-conference on science and Make a will pseudoscience in December. Record your funeral wishes Together with the National Federation of

Speakers included Professor Chris French Plan your future care and support Atheist, Humanist and Secular Student from Goldsmiths University Department Register as an organ donor Societies (AHS) we have condemned a of Anomalistic Psychology speaking on Tell your loved ones your wishes report which endorsed gender segregation How many of these parapsychology and science; Andy Lewis have you done? at university events. The report, from Quackometer speaking on the rise of published in November by Universities Our local Dying Matters event is... pseudoscience in UK Free Schools; James UK, the umbrella organisation for UK Ladyman, former editor of the British academic institutions, outlined guidance Journal for the Philosophy of Science, for managing controversial visiting www.dyingmatters.org speaking on pseudo-science, lies and The Dying Matters Coalition is led by the National Council for Palliative Care, Registered Charity Number 1005671 speakers on university campuses. science fraud; and Stephen Law, senior The report stated that the segregation lecturer at Heythrop College, speaking on AHS Convention announced of the sexes at university events is not young earth creationism. discriminatory as long as ‘both men and Featuring AC Grayling, Simon Singh, women are being treated equally, as they Kenan Malik, Mary Honeyball MEP and are both being segregated in the same more, the National Convention of the way.’ Universities UK later withdrew National Federation of Atheist, Humanist this guidance after it generated and Secular Student Societies (AHS) is not widespread criticism. to be missed. The conference’s Speakers Professor Chris French Day on 8 March in London's Conway World Humanist Congress Hall, hosts some of the biggest names Promotional Video Extremist religious groups in Humanism. block report on sexual All are welcome to attend to catch We have sold over 75% of the places at and reproductive rights in the great speakers and for a chance the World Humanist Congress taking place to reflect on a hectic year for student in August, and last month we launched European Parliament activism, from defending censored the promotional video showing what the The Estrela Report on Sexual and T-shirts at LSE to opposing gender Congress is all about. Reproductive Health and Rights was segregation across the country. Details Narrated by our president Jim blocked in the European Parliament in can be found here: Al-Khalili, the short film gives you a December as a result of frantic lobbying www.humanism.org.uk/AHSconvention taster of some of the incredible venues by extremist religious groups. MEPs in Oxford we will have access to, and the received more than 80,000 e-mails Ten more religious inspiring speakers and sessions we requesting them to reject the report, Academies announced have planned. sometimes with personal threats. The The video can be viewed at report, authored by Portuguese MEP Edite In December the Government announced www.humanism.org.uk/whc2014video Estrela, recommends that people have ten new religious Academies, being set up access to sex education, contraception, in order to meet ‘basic need’ for places. Find out more and register your and safe abortion. It also takes gender- These included four established by the place at www.whc2014.org.uk based violence (mostly against women) Church of England, five by the Christian and the prevention and treatment of STIs academy chain Oasis, and one other with into account. a Christian ethos. TAKE ACTION: Help get our message out We are making it as easy as possible for What you can do: whole section of videos to help increase people to find out more about Humanism, 1. Help raise our online profile: If public understanding of Humanism. but we need your help. you use Facebook then why not ‘Like’ We have been building a community our page and share our posts with your 3. Join your local group: You can find of like-minded people who support friends and family www.facebook.com/ your local humanist group on our website our aims — There are active humanist humanism. For those of you who use and find out what they are up to. Not groups across the UK organising events, , you can follow us at www.twitter. one near you? Then why not start one lectures, discussions, and social events. com/bhahumanists and get the latest yourself? Check out www.humanism.org. Members have been volunteering in the news and information about issues that uk/setupalocalgroup to find out what is community, providing pastoral support concern you. Let your friends, family, involved, or give us a call on in hospices and hospitals, joining local and followers know what we are doing 020 7324 3060. networks and forums, and volunteering by getting active in our growing online in schools. network, and if they are not members, 4. Book your ticket for the World Our public events have had some of encouraging them to join. Humanist Congress: This event only the world’s leading academics, scientists, happens every three years, and this and philosophers presenting to sell-out 2. Watch and share our videos on year we are the host. This is a once in a audiences, and we have over 30,000 YouTube: We have over 100 videos on our lifetime opportunity to meet humanists followers on Twitter, and 30,000 likes YouTube channel organised into different from around the world, and show them on Facebook. playlists. Missed a lecture? You might find what we have been up to. Don’t miss out! We want to build our community, and a video of it here. Want a short video Book at www.whc2014.org.uk that is where you can help. explaining what Humanism is? We have a

BHA responds to education consultations New supplementary Richy, our Faith Schools Campaigner, has subject content, welcoming a new guidance on sex and been very busy since last issue responding module on evolution and genetics, relationships education to education consultations. but calling for more on how and why We made a submission to the House of science works. Commons Education Select Committee’s Finally, the Fair Admissions Campaign inquiry into Academies and Free Schools, made submissions to both A Better Future outlining our concerns about the lack of for Our Schools, a joint document by transparency in the Free Schools approval CASE, Forum, the Socialist Education process and the Churches’ attempts to Association, ISCG and Comprehensive take control of a lot more schools. We Future; and to Compass and the National made a similar submission to the Labour Union of Teachers’ Education Inquiry. Party’s review of the middle tier and Richy also spoke in Parliament about other matters. the Campaign at Comprehensive Recent months have seen growing We also responded to the Department Future’s AGM. calls from us and many others for for Education’s consultation on A Level new statutory guidance on sex and relationships education — amazingly it hasn’t been updated since 2000. The current guidance pre-dates the repeal of section 28, the legalisation of civil partnerships, and soon, of same-sex marriage. It also fails to deal with contemporary issues such as cyber- bullying, sexting, and the widespread availability of internet porn. Richmond Inclusive Schools Campaign challenged Richmond Council’s plan to prioritise a First Nick Clegg, and then even David new Voluntary Aided Catholic secondary school with an exclusive admissions policy. Cameron, called for an update to the guidance, and finally the Sex Education Forum (SEF), PSHE Association and Brook Inconsequential technicality means decided to team up and produce their London Oratory decision to be quashed own ‘supplement’ to it to deal with areas that need revising (we are a member of Last August we were celebrating after However, after the school threatened SEF). The Department for Education has our complaint led to a comprehensive to judicially review the decision, the now decided to back this document and decision by the Office of the Schools Government decided that there is an we’re hopeful that this will mean that Adjudicator against London Oratory ‘arguable error in law’ in the decision there will now, finally, be progress in the School meaning it had to completely as relates to one of those three. In advice given to schools on this hugely rewrite its admissions policy. Ten spite of the fact that the mistake is important topic. separate areas were found to be in inconsequential, this, they said, means breach of the Code, including the that the whole decision must be quashed so-called ‘Catholic service criterion’, and redone. The school were only too which required parents to take part in happy to agree. activities such as flower arranging. That Back to the start we go then — we will bit was found to breach the Code for be pushing for an even stronger ruling three separate reasons. next time… Donate

Faith Schools Fair Admissions Campaign map feedback Campaigner Appeal The Fair Admissions Campaign’s map of schools. The Church of England called every state funded English secondary the map a ‘wilful misrepresentation… We Every year launched in December, showing how do not recognise the picture of church we fundraise religiously and socio-economically schools the survey paints’ — but failed to to ensure we selective they are. address the statistics showing how socio- can employ The map achieved large amounts economically selective their schools are, our dedicated of coverage, and provoked strong and how this is almost entirely down to Faith Schools reactions from the Church of England, religious selection. Campaigner, the Catholic Church, and individual Richy Thompson, for another year and to fund his campaigning activities, and we are close to our target for 2014.

So please donate today at www.justgiving.com/ nofaithschools

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New research was published showing the when you realise that nationally church BHAN1401 extent to which some parents ‘game the attendance figures are also 6%. system’ in order to get their children Other new figures showed that the into ‘faith’ schools, where they perform average age of baptisms and Christenings well academically. Six percent of parents is getting later, with the Telegraph admitted to attending church regularly speculating that parents are increasingly [ ] I confirm I have paid or will pay an specifically to obtain places at schools only bothering to do so when they find amount of Income Tax and/or Capital for their children, which is staggering they need to for school admissions. Gains Tax for each tax year (6 April to 5 April) that is at least equal to the amount of tax that all the charities or Community Three other high profile schools found to break Amateur Sports Clubs (CASCs) that I Admissions Code donate to will reclaim on my gifts for that tax year. I understand that other taxes In better news, three other extremely most extreme admissions policy we’ve such as VAT and Council Tax do not qualify. I understand the charity will reclaim 25p selective Church of England secondary seen. They had prioritised pupils on the of tax on every £1 that I give on or after 6 schools were also found to have basis of parents’ activities such as ‘bell April 2008. admissions policies that comprehensively ringing’, ‘flower arranging at church’, break the School Admissions Code, each ‘assisting with collection/counting Using Gift Aid means that for every £1 being ordered to make major rewrites. money’, ‘tea & coffee rota’, ‘church of your donation, we can claim an extra 25p from the HMRC. All you need to do All three are amongst the one percent cleaning’, ‘church maintenance’, ‘parish is complete this form — we do the rest most socio-economically selective in the magazine editor’ and ‘technical support’. and it costs you nothing! country. One of them, Twyford Church of But now they’ve been forced to remove England High School in Ealing, had the all of this. BHA v Government at Information Tribunal over Steiner schools Once again we are set to take on that they do not get funding, but this the Department for Education at the was overruled. We are hoping to confirm Information Tribunal, over an aspect of whether this was indeed the case. its Free Schools programme. This time Our concerns about Steiner schools the case centres on Steiner schools, in range from the widespread pseudoscience particular the decision taken in 2010/11 in the curriculum (including scepticism to offer them state funding as part of the of evolution), to the schools employing programme. We have reason to believe ‘anthroposophical doctors’ to give that the Free Schools team recommended homeopathy to children. New Distinguished Supporter – Peter Tatchell BHA People A regular feature introducing some of our staff, volunteers, and Distinguished Supporters.

Helen Palmer Chair of Central London Humanists

How did you come to identify as a humanist? I never identified with the religion we were taught at school and my parents did not send me to church, instead they said I would make my own mind up on such issues when I was older. Listening to Jonathan Miller and Richard Dawkins talking about atheism led me research Humanism, Peter Tatchell speaking at Nottingham Pride. Image: Matt Buck when I did I felt at home as the principles of Humanism seemed to Peter Tatchell is best known for his In 2010 he won Total Politics Top 50 fit my own outlook on life perfectly. work with lesbian, gay, bisexual and Political Influencers. In 2012, he won the I was also delighted to discover that transgender social movements, but over Irwin Prize in recognition of his lifelong many people I respected, past and his long career his political campaigning commitment to the defence of human present, were also humanists. has focused heavily on promoting equal rights against religious fundamentalism. rights and secularism, and against racism, In 2012, he was awarded a Lifetime What does Humanism mean and the both the Vietnam and Iraq wars. Achievement award at the UK's first to you? In 2006, New Statesman readers National Diversity Awards voted him sixth on their list of "Heroes We are delighted to welcome Peter I have never been fond of 'ists' and of our time", in 2009 he was named Tatchell to our list of Distinguished 'isms' and in an ideal world I would Campaigner of the Year in The Observer Supporters. simply identity myself as human, but Ethical Awards, was listed in the Peter will be at the World Humanist until then Humanism defines mostly Evening Standard’s 1000 Most Influential Congress, speaking with journalist, clearly what I believe in. People can Londoners, and received the London television presenter and Labour Party often assume you hold similar beliefs Citizen of Sanctuary Award, and the Peer Joan Bakewell, Baroness Bakewell, to them and defining myself as a Shaheed Nawab Akbar Khan Bugti Award DBE about his life dedicated to human humanist makes it clear to religious (for reporting the Balochistan national rights. Book at whc2014.org.uk people that I have some different liberation struggle). beliefs from theirs which often gives us something to talk about and something for each to consider. Obituary: Hetty Bower, political activist and humanist What is the best thing about being Chair of Central London In November, political campaigner and numerous anti-war events, including the Humanists? humanist Hetty Bower, died at the Hiroshima Day ceremony at Tavistock age of 108. Square in 2011 where she described her It is being thanked by members of One of the longest standing supporters experience of World War One and the the group for giving them a place to of the British Humanist Association, effect this was to have on the rest of her come to be themselves and to meet Hetty spent decades supporting anti- life: ‘War was a word to me. It seemed like minded people, also being asked war causes in particular. Her legacy an idea that they should stop.’ to speak as a representative of the includes working with refugees during the Hetty once summed up her group to promote Humanism. Second World War, campaigning on issues philosophy: ‘We may not win by that affect women, marching against protesting, but if we don’t protest we Find out more: hospital closures and cuts in services will lose. If we stand up to them, there is www.centrallondonhumanists.org.uk for the disabled and others, speaking at always a chance we will win.’ From the Chair

by particular interest groups. Faith schools; local control of religious education; blocking compulsory Sex and Relationship Education in state schools; examples that we must continue to Pete Seeger’s death made me think work on. about how a few good people can As I said last time, 2013 was a really make a difference. As a student difficult year in which a great deal Local Groups in the late1960’s, Seeger’s messages was achieved. As M. Scott Peck wrote, were part of my daily diet of strong ‘Life is difficult’. Life is difficult for review ideas from popular musicians about a an organisation like the BHA, with better future. How do we keep alive the types of challenges that it takes hope and belief in the possibility of a on. But that difficulty doesn’t mean Local Groups round up better future? Last year the world said that it’s not hugely worthwhile and goodbye to Nelson Mandela, a single that we are not effective. We are example of what one good committed growing in strength, year on year, Lancashire Humanists person can do, and how it empowers both organisationally and in our the rest of us. effectiveness. We are using volunteers Lancashire Humanists hosted a Recently I read the seminal 1968 much better, and attracting committed meeting on the religious dimension paper by Garrett Harding The Tragedy and very able people to our causes and of the conflict between Palestine of the Commons. It is a stunningly well campaigns. We are also making our and Israel. Presented by Gina constructed logical argument for the assets work harder in delivering the Dowding, Lancaster Central's Green proposal that we must accept that, services and campaigns that we care Party county councillor, the event because of its effects on those things about for the community. focussed on her visits to the West that we hold in common in the world, Part of the difficulty is that there Bank and experience of the religious the rational position on population are always some areas where we and secular tensions of the national was that we had to find a way to stop haven’t been able to achieve as much identities and intentions of the its growth, and that educating future as we would have liked — needing respective governments. generations in the rational analysis of decisions about what we need to do Find out more at: such questions is the only solution. with our resources in pursuit of the www.lancshumanism.org.uk Good education is the way to long term aims. The support for local develop rational humans capable groups has not been as strong as we Hull and East Riding of the necessary personal and would have liked and we will need to Humanists communal decisions for the planet work more on that in the next couple and all its creatures. But it is in the of years. There is always a long list of Lynn Peterson spoke to Hull and East area of education that there has more things that can and should be Riding Humanists about her work been a steady stream of moves by done by the BHA, so your support is the with LifeLines, an organisation that the government that challenge the thing that will need to be continuous supports and befriends prisoners on humanist principles upon which we and steadfast to keep us on track, Death Row throughout the United believe the state should organise the delivering the changes that together States through letter writing. administration and syllabus of schools. we seek in society and our own LifeLines is the first established The objectives of good secular learning movement. organisation of its kind, and are being undermined and subverted — Robert Ashby has spread both nationally and internationally, with members all over the world. Humanist Volunteers for Schools Find out more at: www.hull-and-east- In partnership with local humanist The first training has taken place riding.humanist.org.uk groups we’re delivering training courses in Swindon, and we are in discussion for our School Volunteer Programme with groups from across England and in Shropshire Humanists to support humanists to work with Wales to set more up over the coming teachers in schools. year. Shropshire has the Darwin Festival in The course aims to increase Find out more at: February coordinated by Shropshire volunteer knowledge of how schools humanism.org.uk/schoolvolunteers Wildlife Trust, and members of the work and their confidence in working at Shropshire Humanists attended the planning stages with teachers. a number of the events over the Have you ever: week. The main event, however, • Wished that you could make a was the Darwin Memorial Lecture difference to someone’s life? titled Masterpieces are not single • Considered the importance of births: Darwin and his predecessors making sure young people understand presented by Dr Rebecca Stott. The the world they live in more fully and Darwin Memorial Lecture is sponsored the range of belief and value systems by the Friends of Shrewsbury Museum that enable us to live together in and Art Gallery, and focussed on harmony? the influences on Darwin and the • Thought about how you could evolution of his ideas. use your knowledge and your life Find out more at: experience to help young people learn www.shropshire.humanist.org.uk about Humanism? School volunteer training day BHA news This issue edited and designed by Sara Passmore and staff editorial team. Please send contributions for the next issue — news, views, quotes, and cuttings of interest to other humanists — marked ‘For publication’— to [email protected] or ‘The Editor, BHA’ by 17 March 2014. ISSN 0953 1327 Printed on recycled paper by Rap Spiderweb Ltd, 0161 947 3700

STAFF Andrew Copson (Chief Executive) 020 7324 3066 [email protected] Jessica Layfield (Assistant to the Chief Executive) 020 7324 3066 [email protected] Pavan Dhaliwal (Head of Public Affairs) 020 7324 3065 [email protected] Richy Thompson (Faith Schools Campaigns) 020 7324 3072 [email protected] Isabel Russo (Head of Ceremonies) 020 7324 3064 [email protected] Win! Win! Win! Ceremonies Training We have a signed copy of Stephen Law's book The War 020 7324 3063 [email protected] Sara Passmore for Children's Minds to give away to the first person (Head of Education & Promotion) drawn out of a hat who can: 020 7324 3070 [email protected] Catriona McLellan (Head of Operations) Name one other book written by Stephen Law? 020 7324 3068 [email protected] Andrew West Email your answer to [email protected] or post (ICT, Web and Database Manager) to ‘Editor, BHA News’, 39 Moreland Street, London 020 7324 3073 [email protected] EC1V 8BB by 17 March 2014. Tamsin Van Dyken, Blakeley Nixon & Iyabo Ojo (General enquiries and orders) 020 7324 3060 [email protected]

PRESIDENT Jim Al-Khalili VICE PRESIDENTS Professor Simon Blackburn, Baroness Blackstone, Mary Honeyball MEP, Professor Richard Dawkins FRS, Professor AC Grayling, Dr Evan Harris, Lord Hughes of Woodside, Professor Richard Norman, Dr Harry Stopes-Roe, Baroness Turner of Camden, Baroness Whitaker, Jane Wynne Willson, Professor Lewis Wolpert CBE FRS BOARD OF TRUSTEES Robert Ashby (Chair), Patricia Rogers (Vice Chair), John Adams (Treasurer), Paul Blanchard, Tom Copley, Blaise Egan, Guy Otten, Alan Palmer, David Pollock, Mary Porter, Martin Rowson, Alom Shaha, David Savage

The British Humanist Association is the national charity working on behalf of non-religious people who seek to live ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity.

British Humanist Association 39 Moreland Street, London EC1V 8BB Telephone: 020 7324 3060 Fax: 020 7324 3061 www.humanism.org.uk Registered Charity No 285987

DISCLAIMER: Humanists do not agree about everything and some readers will disagree with some views expressed in this newsletter. The opinions of individual humanists are always interesting but are not, of course, necessarily BHA policy. On occasion we include inserts with BHA News. Many of these are part of reciprocal arrangements that allow us to send our leaflets to other organisations’ subscribers. We only accept inserts we think may be of interest to some of our readers, and will not include material promoting causes we oppose. Please do not assume that inserts imply BHA involvement with the cause or campaign, unless otherwise stated.