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KINGSTON TRANSIT MAY FIND ITSELF STEERING INTO A CONTROVERSY OVER THE PLACEMENT OF "ATHEIST ADS" ON THE BUSES.

February 02, 2009

KINGSTON TRANSIT MAY FIND ITSELF STEERING INTO A CONTROVERSY OVER THE PLACEMENT OF "ATHEIST ADS" ON THE BUSES.

A GROUP CALLED THE "FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION" IS SPREADING THE WORD ON TRANSIT SYSTEMS AROUND THE WORLD -- THAT THERE PROBABLY IS NO GOD.

KINGSTON TRANSIT SAYS IT HASN'T DECIDED WHETHER TO RUN THE PAID ADS -- BECAUSE IT HASN'T BEEN ASKED.... YET.

HERE'S NEWSWATCH'S STU HAY.

IT'S THE KIND OF PAID ADVERTISING THAT'S ALMOST GUARANTEED TO PROVOKE SOME KIND OF REACTION.

AND SO FAR A NUMBER OF MAJOR CITIES -- INCLUDING LONDON, WASHINGTON AND NOW TORONTO -- HAVE AGREED TO RUN THE ADS ON PUBLIC TRANSIT.

THE SIGN SIMPLY SAYS, "THERE PROBABLY IS NO GOD, NOW STOP WORRYING AND ENJOY YOUR LIFE."

THE AD CAMPAIGN WAS STARTED IN LONDON, ENGLAND BY THE "FREE THOUGHT ASSOCIATION".

'WE'RE ORGANIZED

...WHY ARE WE HERE"

AND SOON, THOSE SAME ADS COULD FIND THEIR WAY ONTO KINGSTON TRANSIT BUSES.

PAUL

"WE DO WANT TO GENERATE ADVERTISING REVENUE SO THAT IT REDUCES THE COST OF PROVIDING SERVICES TO TAXPAYERS.

WITH RESPECT TO ANY PARTICULAR AD, THE POLICY SAYS WE ACCEPT OF A RELIGIOUS OR PERSONAL BELIEF NATURE, AS LONG AS IT IS NOT OVERTLY OFFENSIVE OR HATEFUL."

WHILE MANY PASSENGERS HAVE CRITICIZED THE "GODLESS" ADS, CHURCH LEADERS SEE THEM AS AN OPPORTUNITY.

STEVEN CHAMBERS

"I THINK ITS A GREAT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE THAT ARE INTERESTED IN TALKING ABOUT GOD."

JUST THIS WEEKEND THE UNITED CHURCH OF CANADA RAN THIS FULL PAGE AD IN THE GLOBE AND MAIL.

IT LOOKS ALMOST IDENTICAL TO ATHEIST AD, EXCEPT IT SAYS "PROBABLY THERE IS A GOD."

THEN DIRECTS PEOPLE TO A CHAT ROOM RUN BY THE CHURCH.

THE MINISTER OF CHALMERS UNITED CHURCH IN KINGSTON SAYS THE TIMING COULDN'T BE BETTER.

STEVE

"PARTICULARLY AT A TIME WHEN THERE IS A LOT OF STRESS, ALOT OF CONCERN IN PEOPLE LIVES ABOUT THE ECONOMY, THERE JOBS.

ITS A VERY IMPORTANT TIME TO TALK ABOUT THE DEEP AND MEANINGFUL THINGS IN LIFE."

AND TO BE SURE .... A DEEP AND MEANINGFUL CONVERSATION WILL TAKE PLACE AT CITY HALL IF THE FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION WANTS TO SPEND MONEY IN KINGSTON TO PROMOTE ITS ATHEIST POINT OF VIEW.

KINGSTON TRANSIT OFFICIALS WON'T SAY 'YES' OR 'NO' TO RUNNING THE ADS..... UNTIL THEY'RE ASKED.

PAUL

"EACH SPECIFIC AD MUST BE LOOKED AT BY OUR COMMUNICATIONS DEPARTMENT TO MAKE SURE IT FITS WITHIN THE POLICY."

THE FREETHOUGHT ASSOCIATION SAYS EVEN IF THE ADS DON'T RUN ON SOME TRANSIT SYSTEMS, THEY'RE ALREADY A SUCCESS BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE TALKING ABOUT THEM.

STU HAY CKWS NEWSWATCH KINGSTON.

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