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Campaign group launches petition to get Zoo Weekly pulled from sale in Coles and Woolies

Zoo WeeklyWoolworths and Coles are being urged to stop selling ailing lad’s mag Zoo Weekly with an online petition supporting the cause gaining more than 1,400 signatures.

A Change.org petition created by 23 year-old Laura Pintur from activist group Collective Shout, said the magazine creates a “diet of porn and violence” for men, and was in contradiction to the ‘family store’ image promoted by Woolworths and Coles.

The change.org petition has more than 1,400 signatures.

The change.org petition has more than 1,400 signatures.

“It’s time for you to stand up for the wellbeing of women and girls and against discrimination, harassment and violence… Please stop profiting from selling Zoo and remove it from your stores immediately,” the petition said.

The magazine, which has seen its circulation drop 36 percent last year, is already seen as being on its last legs. In 2012, the publication had a circulation of 61,000 on average – that has since dropped to 24,000.

Coles Woolworths

Laura Pintur said the petition was about the the image of Coles and Woolworths.

“They should take responsibility for their corporate and social responsibility,” she said.

“Displaying Zoo magazine normalises the brand. It’s a brand that promotes sexualisation and objectification towards women, and kids aged between 13 and 17 are still getting their hands on it.”

When asked, Pintur didn’t deny the move was aimed at closing Zoo Weekly down for good.

“To see two of the biggest name supermarkets stand up and take responsibility would be an enormous win.”

Neither Coles nor Woolworths had replied to repeated requests for comment at the time of publication.

Bauer Media, which publishes Zoo Weekly, also refused to comment on the petition.

The petition comes shortly after the magazine decided to relaunch its website, following the ‘retirement’ of its site and online community late last year.

Zoo Weekly was also the centre of controversy in April for publishing an Anzac Day tribute edition featuring a bikini-clad woman holding a poppy.

The issue was slammed by the Department of Veteran Affairs as having an unauthorised use of the word ‘Anzac’.

“Any commercial use of the word ‘Anzac’ requires permission from the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs,” the Department told Fairfax.

Zoo Weekly took down images associated with the issue from its website in response to the backlash.

Sam Buckingham-Jones

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