Atheist bus campaign launched
Athiest Bus Campaign creator Ariane Sherine
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Tuesday, 06, Jan 2009 05:01
An alliance of atheists has launched an advertising campaign which will see their slogan featured on 800 buses across the UK.
"There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" is the message on the 'atheist buses', the results of a campaign by comedy writer Ariane Sherine.
After an article she wrote for the Guardian suggesting the campaign attracted considerable attention, prominent atheist scientist Professor Richard Dawkins of Oxford University pledged to match the first £5,500 of donations by the public.
Within four days they had raised £100,000 from individual donations made by the general public and it has now raised over £135,000.
As a result the advertising campaign will be far more substantial than initially anticipated. The 800 buses, 200 of which will be in London, will be joined with two large LCD screens on Oxford Street and 1,000 adverts on the London Underground.
Prof Dawkins said the sentiments driving the advertising campaign were reflected in those of the Alpha Foundation, a Christian organisation.
"I once saw a poster which said 'is this all there is?'. How much more do you want?" he asked.
Ms Sherine added: "You wait ages for an atheist bus, then 800 come along at once.
"I hope they'll brighten people's days and make them smile on their way to work."
In addition to the capital the buses will be running in cities including Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow, Edinburgh, York, Leeds, Newcastle and Sheffield.
The campaign is also gathering pace abroad. Atheist buses can already be found in Washington DC while some are in Barcelona and others are coming to Italy.
Hanne Stinson, chief executive of the British Humanist Association (BHA), said the campaign revealed "how many atheists out there have been looking for a voice".
"Now that the buses are rolling out across the country, I feel sure that everyone with non-religious beliefs who spots one of these buses on the streets will be delighted to see what this amazing appeal has achieved."