Use Your Voice

Hi everyone,

Just wanted to let you know about a little, no cost, no time way that
I was able to make a difference this week.

The other day, I went to fill up the tank with petrol (or gas if you're in America) and as soon as I walked into the service station, my eyes were met by large, bikini-clad breasts on the cover of a magazine, directly at a child's eye level. My soon-to-be 12-year-old daughter and I recently had a talk about porn and she said she had been aware of magazine porn in particular since she was about 8.

So, I asked the guy serving me if he was the manager. He wasn't, so I told him to please relay to the manager that I would never bring my children inside this petrol station for a drink or an ice-block while filling up because I found his display of magazines offensive. He said nervously (the poor guy was young) that he would pass on the message.

This morning, when I returned to fill my tank again, I noticed the display had changed. The same guy was working and before I even made it to the counter, he was beaming at me saying that his manager had been very sorry about the incident and had promised to hide the magazines nearer the back of the shop. I thanked him and asked him to relay my appreciation to his manager.

I know we can't stop our kids from being exposed to this stuff, but maybe we can limit it. Maybe if we all said something to our local newsagent or petrol station we could make a difference. Also, I encourage you to talk to your kids about it. They are seeing it, processing it and outworking it without us even being aware. Keep the
lines of communication open!

Use your voice this week and see if you can make a difference in
your world.

Lv Jane