Religious extremism is, and has been for centuries, the cause of much suffering. Today the religious agenda is being used by politicians of all colours to further their objectives or to block progress on world peace, population control, education, the elimination of child poverty and in general, tolerance, respect, and understanding.

Although these are, it is acknowledged, world-wide threats, the situation in the United States, due to that country's pre-eminent position in world affairs, can only be described as alarming.

The present contest for the post of President is a case in point. Both aspirants pander to religious extremists, professing to believe in immaterial beings, the resurrection of the dead and virgin birth - to name but a few. The world looks on apparently powerless to stop its fate and that of the United States being decided in future by individuals whose minds are clouded by such beliefs.

Just recently for example, both candidates were shown on television in the company of self declared religious fanatic. This public association with political leaders is used to promulgate his beliefs, endowing  them with credibility and to give illusory substance to his opinions. That such an event could not happen in any other developed country in the world must give us pause.

This petition then, calls for support to combat specific pernicious activities or prohibitions practised today in the United States which are a threat to all our futures. Specific objectives are, initially:

- to keep open the access to abortion for all women

- to eliminate religious practices of all kinds from schools

- to eliminate reference to religious belief in Government,  public services and the Armed Forces.

- to promote access to contraception in the United States and world-wide

- to outlaw the teaching of Creationism

- to ban the provision of text books to educational establishments other that those approved by a secular body at national level.