Atheist 'victory for freedom of speech'

Published on Tuesday 6 January 2009 20:49

AN ATHEIST advertising campaign on buses in Scotland, across the UK and on the London Underground was launched yesterday with the slogan: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life."

A total of 600 buses in Scotland, England and Wales and 200 bendy buses in London will carry the slogan following a fundraising drive that raised more than 140,000.

The money raised will also pay for 1,000 advertisements on London Underground from Monday.

The fundraising drive was prompted by a suggestion from comedy writer Ariane Sherine, who received support from the British Humanist Association and atheist campaigner Richard Dawkins.

Ms Sherine said she had objected to a set of Christian advertisements running on London buses.

Speaking at the launch of the campaign in central London, Ms Sherine said the sheer number of donations received had demonstrated the strength of feeling in Britain.

She said: "This is a great day for freedom of speech in Britain and I'm really excited and thrilled that the adverts have been approved and I hope that they will make people smile on their way to work.

"I am very glad that we live in a country where people have the freedom to believe in whatever they want."

The buses that will carry the slogan in Scotland over a four-week campaign will run in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Dundee and Aberdeen. Other cities include Manchester and Swansea in England and Wales, the British Humanist Association said.