A new documentary by world-renowned atheist Richard Dawkins calls time on the growth of state-funded religious schools in Britain. Andrew Copson, vice president of the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) and chief executive officer of the British Humanist Association (BHA), is among a number of experts interviewed for ‘Faith School Menace?’. The show will premiere this Wednesday, 18 August, at 9pm on the UK channel More4.

'Extremist groups' will not be allowed to run 'Free Schools', Britain's minister for education says, but atheists could. The Secretary of State for Education, Michael Gove MP, was speaking yesterday, July 28, about government plans to encourage "Free Schools"—schools that are funded by the government but run by non-governmental organizations, such as religious groups, universities, businesses, or groups of parents. Free Schools will be given significant freedom to create their own curriculums. Ora disponibile in italiano -- vedi sotto

The British Humanist Association (BHA) has reacted to the news that the Catholic Education Service has claimed the credit for a Government amendment to the Children, Schools and Families Bill that will deprive children of their right to broad, balanced and objective Sex and Relationships Education.

Every school in England and Wales is to receive a free DVD of “Growing Up in the Universe”, Professor Richard Dawkins’s 1991 Royal Institution Christmas Lectures for children. The DVD is being distributed by the British Humanist Association with funding from the Richard Dawkins Foundation for Reason and Science to celebrate the 200th anniversary of the birth of Charles Darwin and the 150th anniversary of the publication of On the Origin of Species. To accompany the DVDs, three free lesson plans, “What is Science for?”, “Isn’t Evolution Improbable?” and “Design your own Organisms!” have been developed for teachers. See www.humanistgrid.net/guu

Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and internationally renowned atheist, sceptic and humanist is to receive an award for his ‘work in promoting reason and science worldwide’ on 6th June during an international gathering of humanist organisations from all over the world. The award is being given by the British Humanist Association (BHA) and the International Humanist and Ethical Union (IHEU) following a conference during the day on ‘Darwin, Humanism and Science’, at which Professor Dawkins is a key speaker.

IHEU's popular free webinar for Humanist leaders on how the media works and how to work the media is now available on this web site as a streamed Internet recording, including both the visual materials and the interactive soundtrack.

The decision of the Australian branch of the World Conference of Religions for Peace (WCRP), which acts for the (State) Government of Victoria, Australia, to accredit tuition in government schools by the non-Christian religions, prompted the Humanist Society of Victoria to prepare an ethics lesson plan for assessment. If approved, the lessons will begin in 2009.

One country that could have made a great impact on the propagation of Humanism as a practical discipline in Africa is Kenya. A country that has been confirmed by archaeologists to be the origin of mankind, (the works of the Leakey family), yet didn’t possess a Humanist organisation, not until 2004.

A free recorded version of the webinar is now available. IHEU has received a great deal of interest in its first ever free webinar / telesummit for humanist leaders. Humanist leaders from almost twenty nations have already signed up to learn how the media works… and how they can work the media. We now have an FAQ / Q&A. Register now!

If you are a group seeking to grow membership and influence public opinion, nothing beats media coverage. Good stories – whether in print, broadcast media or the Web – raise public awareness, attract supporters, and lend credibility to your mission. And best of all, it’s free! IHEU is organizing a free interactive online webinar open to Humanists worldwide to learn the secrets of effective publicity.