Atheist Bus Campaign in Liverpool

The buses have now arrived in major cities across the UK, including Liverpool. More info. to follow. You can donate to help the BHA to achieve that at http://www.justgiving.com/thenextstop.

ASA rules that atheist bus ads can stay
The Advertising Standards Agency ruled on Wednesday that the Atheist Bus Campaign did not contravene advertising codes. The body investigated the adverts after receiving a number of complaints, including from Stephen Green of the evangelical organisation Christian Voice, that they were offensive to believers or that the claim ‘probably no god’ could not be substantiated.
The ASA concluded that the ad was expressing the opinion of the advertisers, and also the claims in it were “not capable of objective substantiation.” Although the ASA acknowledged that the content of the ad would be at odds with the beliefs of many, it concluded that it was “unlikely to mislead or to cause serious or widespread offence."

One Law for All Campaign against Sharia Law in Britain
Spokesperson Maryam Namazie

One Law for All Campaign launched at the House of Lords on December 10, 2008 - International Human Rights Day. In less than a month, the campaign has mobilised the support of many well known personalities and organisations and gathered over 5,000 signatures.

In commemoration of International Women’s Day join the One Law for All organised rally, public meeting and art competition award ceremony on Saturday, March 7, 2009 in London.

This is your chance to voice your opposition to Sharia law and all religious-based tribunals in Britain and elsewhere, demand one secular law and full citizenship rights, demand an end to cultural relativism and racism, and defend universal rights.

On the 7th, meet at North Terrace, Trafalgar Square, 3:30-4:30pm for a symbolic demonstration followed by a march towards Conway Hall from 4:30-5:30pm.

Then join a public meeting entitled Sharia Law, Sexual Apartheid and Women's Rights from 6:00-8:00pm at Conway Hall, 25 Red Lion Square, London WC1R 4RL.
Speakers include: Yasmin Alibhai-Brown (Journalist and British Muslims for Secular Democracy Chair), Naser Khader (Democratic Muslims Founder), Gina Khan (One Law for All Spokesperson), Kenan Malik (Writer and Broadcaster), Maryam Namazie (One Law for All Spokesperson), Fariborz Pooya (Iranian Secular Society and Council of Ex-Muslims of Britain Chair), and Carla Revere (Lawyers’ Secular Society Chair).

More information www.onelawforall.org.uk, or call Maryam at 07719166731 or email onelawforall@gmail.com. You can also download the booking form (http://www.onelawforall.org/events.html) or ask for one via email.

Waterstones bookshop cancelled the launch of a poetry collection due to protests from Stephen Green and Christian Voice.  Poems in ‘Darkness is Where the Stars Are’, by Patrick Jones, who is gay, deal with a range of serious issues, including his views on religion.

You can add your protest against this action by Waterstones in a number of ways:
1. Visit the dedicated website supporting the book and campaigning for free speech in the arts: http://www.darknessiswherethestarsare.co.uk

2. Send protest emails to the MD of Waterstones (who stepped in to cancel the launch) at gerry.johnson@waterstones.com

3. Join the YouTube campaign <http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=YDp0lNDZukM> which includes a Cinnamon Press competition for the best satirical poem on a religious issue in the time-honoured style of Jonathan Swift.

Help the BHA get the Bishops out the Lords!

The Government has now published their new proposals for House of Lords reform, proposing to retain Bishops. You can read the White Paper at http://tinyurl.com/5tudqb.

It proposes to retain the right of Bishops to sit in Parliament and even to give the Church new powers to decide precisely which Bishops will represent them. Read more here Campaigns Page.

Pervez Kambakhsh, 23, was convicted of downloading and distributing an article insulting Islam. He has denied the charge. The Afghan senate has retracted it's ratification of the death sentence, he is still imprisioned, but there is a bit of optimism that he might walk free after a 2nd court appearance.

Update in the Independent 26/05/08

Also RAWA [Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan] have had a truly inspirational PR/Appeal.

Assisted Dying
The Humanist and Secular Liberal Democrat one-day conference, “Setting the Agenda for 2008”, on 8/12/07 heard an inspiring keynote address from Dick Taverne, Lib Dem peer and distinguished supporter of the BHA . He reminded the audience of the unscrupulous scare-mongering employed by the religious lobbies to defeat Lord Joffe's 2006 bill to legalise assisted dying for the terminally ill.

Faith Schools: The government has published a 'joint vision statement' with religious leaders on faith schools in Britain, 10/09/07. Go to our Humanism for Schools page for more info.

Response here to the 2 Gov. Petitions on Faith schools: click 1 here,and 2 here.

The Guardian: Crisis of faith in first secular school - Headteacher is told establishing non-religious education would be 'politically impossible'

Plus LHG Press Officers letter to the Guardian: Faith school scandal

Rise of the funerals that leave out God

One in 20 families now rejects a church service in favour of a celebration of life, according to the National Association of Funeral Directors (NAFD), which represents 85 per cent of the industry.

The rise is being attributed to people's growing willingness to admit that they are non-believers, and to their desire to avoid "hypocrisy".
See Telegraph article here.

liverpool humanist group
for a good life, without religion

LHG charity -Mustard Seed School in Uganda

Click here for more information on our Fundraising activities.

The Liverpool Humanist Group started in October 2005, and is affiliated to the British Humanist Association & National Secular Society. For more information on us click here.

Writing
	The Dragon in My Garage, Written by Carl Sagan Click here for Word Doc.
	How to Create your Own Religion - In 10 Easy Steps. All Hail The Great God Lardicus. Click here to go to web page.