In 2011, Humanists UK members and supporters created Humanists for a Better World as a network encouraging humanists to take action on issues of human rights, global poverty and justice, war and peace, and environmental issues. The emphasis was on putting humanist values into action, and the ‘Humanists for a Better World’ banner was carried at various demonstrations and campaigning events.
The work of Humanists for a Better World has now been succeeded by Humanist Climate Action, created in 2021 by climate-concerned members and supporters. It focuses more specifically on climate change and environmental issues. Below is a list of some of the organisations which provide opportunities for individual humanists to put their values into action on other issues previously covered by ‘Humanists for a Better World’.
Global poverty and justice
ActionAid is an international charity that works with women and girls living in poverty.
Oxfam is a global movement of millions of people working together to end poverty.
Save the Children believes every child should be able to make their mark on the world, so it is finding new ways to help millions of children around the world escape extreme poverty.
Unicef is the leading organisation working for children. It ensures more of the world’s children are vaccinated, educated and protected than any other organisation.
Jubilee Campaign is a UK charity working to end poverty caused by unjust debt through education, research and campaigning.
Kiva is an international nonprofit, founded in 2005 in San Francisco, with a mission to expand financial access to help underserved communities thrive. Kiva encourages specific communities to create their own Lending Teams, which are self-organized groups built around common interests, school affiliation or location.
Fairtrade is about better prices, decent working conditions, local sustainability, and fair terms of trade for farmers and workers in the developing world.
Anti-Arms Trade Organisations
Campaign Against Arms Trade (CAAT) is a UK-based organisation working to end the international arms trade.
Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament campaigns non-violently to achieve British nuclear disarmament – to get rid of the Trident nuclear weapons system and stop its replacement.
The International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN) is a coalition of non-governmental organizations promoting adherence to and implementation of the United Nations nuclear weapon ban treaty.
The Peace Pledge Union is the oldest secular pacifist organisation in Britain. Since 1934 it has been campaigning for a warless world. From anti bombing campaigns during WW2 to protest at the remote-controlled military drone assassinations of today.
The Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) is a non-profit non-governmental organization working “to bring together women of different political views and philosophical and religious backgrounds determined to study and make known the causes of war and work for a permanent peace” and to unite women worldwide who oppose oppression and exploitation.
Human rights organisations
Anti-Slavery International campaigns to end the continuing forms of slave labour in the modern world.Amnesty International UK is a global movement of over seven million people, to investigate and expose abuses, educate and mobilise the public, and help transform societies to create a safer, more just world.
More from Humanist Climate Action
Reliable scientific sources on the environment and climate change
Challenging non-evidence based beliefs, misconceptions and disinformation
The environment and the population question
General best practice advice when planting a tree
Urge your MP to stand up for the environment
The background to Humanist Climate Action