By KELLY BURNS - THE DOMINION POST
Added: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 00:00:00 UTC

Thanks to Daniel Schealler for the link.
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A group of atheists says it faced discrimination when a bus company rejected its advertisements and is now considering legal action.

The bus advert, which reads: "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life," has been used worldwide but was dismissed by bus companies in New Zealand as too divisive.

It was to run on at least 24 buses in Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch. But NZ Bus rejected the advertisements after staff and the public expressed "distaste and distress" at the campaign.

New Zealand Atheist Bus Campaign spokesman Simon Fisher said the move was discriminatory. "In a way, the rejection by NZ Bus has shown why this campaign is needed in the first place.

"The message of atheism is not accepted in the public, showing the double standard between religious and non-religious messages," he said.

The campaign was started in December, aiming to raise $10,000 for the slogan adverts on buses - identical to ones used in Britain.

It cruised past the target in just 30 hours and now had more than $22,000 for the four-week advertisements.

It aimed to provoke discussion on religion and raise awareness about atheism, as one-third of Kiwis had no religion. But in a backlash, religious groups had written to NZ Bus, which then pulled out, Mr Fisher said.
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TAGGED: ATHEISM, CAMPAIGNS