BHA: Dying Matters Awareness Week 14-20 May 2012

Next week is Dying Matter Awareness Week, a week of events and activities that aim to encourage people to talk openly about dying, death and bereavement. Organised by the Dying Matters Coalition, a national coalition of more than 15,000 members that work to change public knowledge, attitudes and behaviours towards death, dying and bereavement, the theme of this year's awareness week is 'Small Actions, Big Difference’.

Events during the week aim to encourage individuals and organisations to take the simple steps that can make a big difference to people when they are dying or bereaved. Whether it is through sharing their wishes with someone close to them, registering to become an organ donor, writing a will, considering taking out a funeral plan, or making an effort to speak to someone who has been recently bereaved, members of the public can take small actions that make a real difference.

To find out more about Dying Matters Awareness Week or to find out how you can get involved visit the website here.

BHA: Holy Redundant! Remove Privilege In Parliament

Over 100 years on from the call for immediate reform of our second chamber in the House of Lords Act 1911, House of Lords reform continues to be a constant in our political landscape, defying every cliché about how quickly things change in politics.

However, as the Draft House of Lords Reform Bill makes its way through the early scrutiny stages, and is likely to be included prominently in the Government’s agenda for the next parliamentary session, we have a unique opportunity to remove one of the most archaic, unjust, and peculiar of parliamentary customs – the reserved places for Church of England Bishops in our legislature.

Unfortunately, both the government and the Joint Committee scrutinising the Draft Reform Bill have called for the retention of a number of Bishops.

This is why we’ve launched our new campaign ‘Holy Redundant’, as we think that automatically awarding seats in our legislature to senior clerics is antithetical to the principles of a democratic and just society. Not only is it unfair, it is unpopular, and entirely at odds with a culture which is both increasingly non-religious and religiously diverse at the same time.

Whatever direction this reform takes, we cannot miss this opportunity to push for the removal of the Bishops; we won’t get a chance like this again.

Please go to holyredundant.org.uk, read about what is happening, help with our campaign, and donate if you are able.