Australian atheists banned from bus blitz
We read:
"Atheists in Australia wishing to follow the lead of their British counterparts have been refused permission to launch advertising slogans on local buses. British atheists campaigners launched their campaign - proclaiming, "There's probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life" - on 800 buses this week. But a similar campaign by the Atheist Foundation of Australia has been rejected by the largest outdoor advertising company in the country, APN Outdoor. APN Outdoor gave no reason for barring the $16,000 Tasmanian campaign, which was set to feature slogans such as "Sleep in on Sunday mornings" and "Celebrate reason".
David Nicholls, president of the Atheist Foundation of Australia, told the Sydney Morning Herald the rejection amounted to a breach of freedom of speech. "Australia is in desperate need of a human rights and equal opportunities act," Mr Nicholls said. "It's clear that western Europe, the US and Britain have better laws than we do when it comes to respecting freedom of speech. "The intention was to demonstrate to the public that there is an alternative to religion that is rational, reasonable and worthy of thought.
"It took three weeks for APN Outdoor to come to a decision, after they initially told me there'd be no problem. The final discussion by phone to an executive ended with an abrupt message that they were not going to take our business." Mr Nicholls said the Foundation would take the case to the Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Board.
Source
This should be a private matter between the parties concerned but once "Anti-Discrimination" laws get involved, any outcome is possible.
7 comments:
Most governments these days have spent so much time meddling in the affairs of private individuals and businesses that ANY discussion about "a private matter" is almost laughable.
We've already decided businesses can't discriminate based on race, sexual orientation, ethnic background, etc. Religion will be just one more area that some politician will see as an opportunity to garner votes, and a protected "class" will be created.
You're right Stan, but you're too late since even non-religions get (or will get) religious protection. There's no one in govt. (any govt.) smart enough to understand that all men are not created equal, and no amount of "forced" govt. intervention will change that!
ah... but of course the athiest here doesnt see that this is attacking all religions directly and attacking a religion is a hate crime today...
is this a religious form of kill one religion its a trajedy, attempt to kill them all, its a public service? (to paraphrase stalin with my tongue firmly and far in cheek)
they are about to find out that the communist system freezes beascuse all the rules start to work againsdt each other till there is nothing you can do.
in fact, before their left push, this knid of ad would have been EASIER... but now with all the liability for free speech created by them, and set as an example by them...
a company then is only avoiding its own destructio at the hands of political activists, or rather political terrorism of the protest kind which refuses to work with teh system to prove it cant reform so must be forcebly addressed everytime...
all of this is very divisive, because they now think they have the right to attack, when attacking is not free speech.
Freedom of speech? LOL. Make your own damn signs. You can't force a private entity accept your business especially when it could harm their image and holdings.
If such atheist signs are "attacking" religion, then all religious signs are attacking atheism. What's sauce ...
I'm with Anon 9:24.
This is a private company who has chosen not to take your ads. Get over it, make your own signs, find appropriate places to put them and pay the fee.
Why would you want to force a private organisation to carry a message they don't wish to accept? Would you feel the same why if the Atheist Association were obliged to accept Deist ads in their magazine???
Tasmanian Anti-Discrimination Board.
Is that anything like a Tasmanian devil?
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