MEDIA RELEASE
3 December 2008

Call For BP And Shell in NZ To Ban Porn Mags

Family First NZ is calling on petrol giants BP and Shell in New Zealand to follow their Australian counterparts and remove porn magazines with an R- rating from their stores.

Eighteen months ago they sealed both M- and R-rated material but have now banned them completely. But Family First says they are still on the shelves in NZ.

“The Australian companies have set a precedent and we are calling on the NZ branches to follow suit,” says Bob McCoskrie, National Director of Family First NZ.

“It is inappropriate for porn magazines, some hardcore porn, to be displayed in stores where children and young people can be so easily exposed to explicitly sexual materials, and where families are offended by the titles and material on the covers.”

“The increasing ‘pornification’ of women and children in the media, on video shelves, and available in corner dairies, magazine stores and petrol stations is a disturbing trend. Porn has a damaging impact on intimacy and relationships and leads to sex role stereotyping and viewing women purely as sexual objects. Of most concern is the progression of pornography to child pornography.”

“It is time we acted in the best interests of families and children and protected them from exposure to this material and this industry,” says Mr McCoskrie.

“Shell and BP in Australia are to be applauded for their socially responsible decision despite the loss of potential revenue, and we are calling on petrol companies in NZ to do likewise and start a positive trend.”

ENDS

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