Hi,

I am writing to remind you to join us on the Secular Europe March & Rally on Saturday 14th September 2013.

The UK's outgoing Chief Rabbi Lord Sacks, who has been granted a life peerage in the House of Lordssaid today on the Radio 4's Sunday programme that Society is "losing the plot" as it becomes more secular and less trusting. He concluded his talk by saying there was a lot more work to do "to make faith a real presence in people's lives."

Are you going to stand for that or stand up against it and defend the true values of secularism on the 14th September?

In a secular democracy all citizens are equal before the law and parliament. No religious or political affiliation gives advantages or disadvantages and religious believers are citizens with the same rights and obligations as anyone else.

Secularism is a framework for ensuring equality throughout society – in politics, education, the law and elsewhere, for believers and non-believers alike.

I cannot put it better than Christopher Hitchens who said,

"The great struggle of our time is the battle to separate church and state, and to maintain such separation as has already allowed democratic civilisation to grow and develop. Sincere believers have a common interest with unbelievers in resisting all versions of clerical and sectarian bullying"

I am sure you also agree with Stephen Fry and his deep concern over Putin's recent actions in Russia.

Here is an extract from his open letter to David Cameron and the IOC

"I am gay. I am a Jew. My mother lost over a dozen of her family to Hitler’s anti-Semitism. Every time in Russia (and it is constantly) a gay teenager is forced into suicide, a lesbian “correctively” raped, gay men and women beaten to death by neo-Nazi thugs while the Russian police stand idly by, the world is diminished and I for one, weep anew at seeing history repeat itself."

See more at: http://www.stephenfry.com/2013/08/07/an-open-letter-to-david-cameron-and-the-ioc/#sthash.U3LiFAsF.dpuf

Please come and support the Secular Europe March & Rally on 14th September and stand up for equal human rights for all in the UK, Europe and beyond.

Register here

The Annual Secular Europe Campaign March and Rally 2013 - Central London Humanists (London, England) - Meetup

Find more information about the event at these links.

Secular Europe Campaign March & Rally 2013 | Facebook

https://www.facebook.com/events/354424788022313/

Secular Europe Campaign -

http://secular-europe-campaign.org/march-rally/

Please put this important date in your diary now, add it to Facebook, tell friends and Tweet about it.

We will be using the hashtag SECM2013

You can adapt this draft tweet if you wish.

Join the Secular Europe March 14th Sept. Be seen be heard be Secular! Separate church & State#SECM2013  http://tinyurl.com/SECM2013

I leave you with two thoughts from another Jewish man, Woody Allen.

"if God exits, I hope he has a good excuse."

and

"80% of success is showing up"

Please show up on 14th September and support Humanism and Secularism.

Secularism unites where religions divide.

Human rights are our priority
Not giving privilege 
to a religious minority

Warmest wishes,

Helen

Helen Palmer

Chair of Central London Humanists

[address removed]

• Watch the clips below if you need more inspiration to attend

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n3XKoZYbceE

  James McGuire's video from last year

  Secular Europe 2012 - YouTube

There are many reasons to attend the March here are a selection and please add your own to the list in the comments section on the Meetup page.

The Annual Secular Europe Campaign March and Rally 2013 - Central London Humanists (London, England) - Meetup

(These reasons are suggested by our supporters and may not reflect the views of the CLHG)

Mainly we don't have a Secular Europe.

Religious discrimination against women.

Religious discrimination against LGBT people.

The abuse of children by the clergy.

Bishops in House of Lords.

Religious institutions preying on the poor and vulnerable.

The teaching of Creationism in Schools.

Religious Schools full stop.

Community services being run by religious organisations.

Religious slaughter methods of farmed animal.

The religious anti abortion lobby.

Religious misinformation on contraception and AIDS.

Religious influence on the BMA on the health care of others.

FGM. (Female Genital Mutilation) 

Religiously motivated male circumcision.

The right to die with dignity.

The abuse of women and children falsely accused of witchcraft.

The fleecing of their flock by prosperous gospel churches.

Showing solidarity with the rest of the world where individuals and groups are struggling to achieve basic human rights.

Intimidation and death threaths against Ex Muslims living in Europe.

Cultural relativism and putting faith and culture before citizenship and equality.

Discriminatory Sharia Laws being used in the UK

Forced marriages in the UK

Freedom of speech

Freedom of Expression.

We also march to celebrate success with Gay and Humanist Marriage in the UK.

And we march to show that we are proud and happy to live a Secular life.

We hope you join us to make the 2013 Secular Europe March a great success.