Running the Bath Half Marathon for Humanism :)

Hello! On 6th March I will be running the Bath Half Marathon for the wonderful British Humanist Association. Thank you so much for helping to reach £300, only £100 more to go! The funds go to the BHA to continue the critically important work they do in promoting human rights, equality, social cohesion, inclusiveness and evidence-based policy making. Your inner humanist knows it's the right thing to do!! :)

Whether you intend to sponsor me or not, please read on if you have a spare minute as you'll find the following interesting and might even discover that you're a humanist without knowing it!

What is Humanism?

Humanism is a naturalistic approach to life based on humanity and reason. Humanists:

• recognise that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience and that the aims of morality should be human welfare, happiness and fulfillment;

• base their decisions on the available evidence and their assessment of the outcomes of our actions;

• believe in individual rights and freedoms, but believe that individual responsibility, social cooperation and mutual respect are just as important;

• believe that people can and will continue to find solutions to the world's problems, so that quality of life can be improved for everyone;

• are positive, gaining inspiration from our lives, art and culture, and a rich natural world.

Who are the British Humanist Association?

The British Humanist Association (BHA) wants a world where everyone lives cooperatively on the basis of shared human values and respect for human rights, in which people can be confident in living ethical and fulfilling lives on the basis of reason and humanity. They campaign to protect our secular state and promote equal treatment of everyone, regardless of their religion or beliefs.

Among others activities, the BHA are currently campaigning to:

• stop schools from discriminating against children and teachers because they belong to the 'wrong', or no, religion;

• stop the funding of Homeopathy on the NHS as there is no evidence it has any medical use beyond the placebo effect;

• promote the teaching of evolution in schools, and stop creationism being taught as a viable alternative;

• replace forced religious worship in English schools with inclusive school assemblies which can help to build shared values and a sense of community;

• highlight and combat oppression and discriminatory practices, especially where basis is gender, sexuality or race;

• replace faith schools, which cause religious and socio-economic segregation and deny thousands of children a broad, balanced and inclusive education, with inclusive community schools.

*Who Advises and Supports the BHA?

BHA policies are informed by some of the most prominent scientists, philosophers, experts and free-thinkers in the UK, including Prof. Peter Atkins, Dr Julian Baggini, Prof. Colin Blakemore, Dr Susan Blackmore, Prof. Brian Cox, Prof. Richard Dawkins, Stephen Fry, Prof. A C Grayling, Dr Evan Harris, Prof. Sir Hans Kornberg, Prof. Sir Harold Kroto, Ian McEwan, Prof. Sir Roger Penrose, Sir Terry Pratchett, Sir David Smith, Polly Toynbee and Prof. Lewis Wolpert to name only a few. (More found here: humanism.org.uk/about/people/distinguished-supporters).

For more information on the BHA (and humanism in general) visit their website (humanism.org.uk/) or feel free to ask me. Your help really is appreciated and will make the blisters, cramps, aches and pains of the next couple of months totally worth it. PLEASE DONATE NOW!!!