'On the train back to Leeds I wanted to do something more out of the ordinary to draw attention to the campaign.'

Surefish user Dr Joanna Brown is a Learning Technologist at the University of Leeds. She was also one of the people responsible for a large red double-decker bus travelling up to the G8 in Edinburgh with thousands of campaigners’ signatures all over it. Andy Jackson found out why.

Why campaign with a bus?

At the Jubilee 2000 rally at the end of the year 2000 all the talk was focussed on the G8 summit in Genoa the following year. On the train back to Leeds I wanted to do something more out of the ordinary to draw attention to the campaign.

I came up with the idea of taking a London bus - a bit like the film "Summer Holiday". For about three months a friend who owns a coach company and I searched for a bus to hire to take to the summit but all the companies we approached said no.

In the end, one Saturday I asked a church prayer meeting to pray that a London bus might be provided by the end of the week or the idea was off. I searched the internet one last time and came up with "Jolly Bus Jaunts" - the owner and driver of the bus, Ian, said "yes" to Italy and "yes" to campaigning so we were away.

When I went over to Market Rasen in Lincolnshire to see the bus I wondered how on earth it would get to Lincoln never mind London, Paris and Italy! God had answered my prayers and provided a bus, Ian said that we could do it, so I had to take a step of faith and go for it.

The bus did make it to Genoa and back - it only failed to start briefly one time. That trip was a phenomenal experience. It changed the lives of many of those who were on board.

Have you always had a love of buses?

Yes, if they have character and charm like the Routemasters.

Why buses though?

When I see a Routemaster buses, I see warmth, brightness, joy and peacefulness. With a maximum speed of 40 mph they are in no ways threatening. As our bus trundled through the country side to Genoa with "Drop The Debt" on it side it was bearing a message of hope. The Routemaster also symbolises community - the coming together of all sorts of people from different backgrounds to go on a journey together for a week or two with the purpose to make the world a better place.

On its return, the bus went on to campaign at the Trade Justice lobby of Parliament in 2002 and at Glastonbury in 2003 and 2004. This year we painted a massive white band around its centre so that it might bear a gentle but powerful cry to "Make Poverty History".

Since the Genoa experience, it has been thrilling to hear how campaigning and buses have taken off and how the G8 Genoa bus has inspired others to go on their own journeys. Buses have gone to Iraq and recently an Action Aid bus travelled across Africa and is now heading to the G8 summit in Edinburgh. The G8 Genoa bus now has lots of brothers and sisters journeying for justice and peace.

What is the initial reaction when people realise what the bus is aiming to do?

Wherever the bus travels and parks up, generally people are really supportive and want to "get on board" in more ways than one! Some folks like a good discussion about the issues and we are always ready to chat.

Do you think that originality (e.g. a big bus!!) helps get a campaign message across?

Yes. Heads turn as the bus drives down the street and lorry drivers hoot as they pass the bus on the motorway.

What do you think of modern buses?

They are good for travelling from A to B, but the journeys don't have the same razzmatazz!

What are the advantages and disadvantages of campaigning on a bus?

Advantages are that the message reaches lots of people, whether you are on the road or parked up and everything you need is on board and there's also a great view from the top deck! It’s a disadvantage when there are eight on board so sleeping space is a premium and snoring is a problem.

You're in a bus garage on fire - you can only save one bus. Do you save the Routemaster or the Wright Eclipse Fushion (the London bendy bus)?

The Routemaster every time!

Visit www.dontmissthebus.com