Sign Our ePetitions
Humanist e-petitions
What is happening?
Recently the government has launched an e-petitions website. Anyone can create a petition which has the chance of being discussed in parliament if it reaches over 100,000 signatures. The BHA has used this new opportunity to start two petitions, ‘Teach evolution, not creationism’ and ‘Abolish collective worship’, and also launch a petition on the Welsh Assembly website, ‘A Call to Abolish collective worship’.
Teach evolution, not creationism
Despite assurances from government that creationism should not be taught as scientific fact, the plans to allow more freedom over curricula and the establishment of academies and Free Schools makes the teaching of creationism in science classes in certain ‘faith’ schools a real possibility.
This petition can be signed by all British citizens or residents of the UK, and mirrors the new campaign website signed by the BHA, the Association for Science Education, British Science Association, Campaign for Science & Engineering and leading theological think tank Ekklesia; and by thirty leading scientists including three Nobel laureates; naturalist and broadcaster Sir David Attenborough; neurobiologist Professor Colin Blakemore; evolutionary biologist Professor Richard Dawkins; President of the Royal Society Sir Paul Nurse; and science education expert Revd Professor Michael Reiss.
It is currently the law that all maintained schools hold a daily act of collective worship which is ‘broadly Christian’ in character. This law is extremely unpopular with parents, teachers and pupils alike and so we feel it should be abolished and replaced with a guideline that schools might instead hold educational assemblies which are of benefit to all. This petition can be signed by all British citizens or residents of the UK.
A Call to Abolish collective worship
Similarly to our above UK Government e-petition, we’ve launched a petition on the Welsh Assembly website calling for the same thing. If this petition receives enough signatures there is a chance that the issue will be debated or looked into by ministers. Due to the devolution of the Welsh education system, our previous petition does not apply to Wales. However, the new petition can be signed by anyone in the UK, not just those living in Wales, and we encourage as many people as possible to do so.
What can you do?
Click here to sign our e-petitions ‘Teach evolution, not creationism’, ‘Abolish collective worship’ and ‘A Call to Abolish collective worship’.
In addition to signing, we would be very grateful towards anyone who advertises our petitions, for example on Facebook or Twitter, to get as much support as possible.
