Don’t you know there are children starving in Africa?

If your family was anything like mine, you will have heard the following phrase repeatedly while you were growing up. “You haven’t finished your carrots – don’t you know there are children starving in Africa?” My (usually silent for fear of force feeding) response was always: “Carrots are rank, even starving people wouldn’t eat them…”

This question was inevitably followed up with the threat of sending our leftovers to those living in poverty. A noble concept, I agreed, but having seen what happened to composted food within just a few days, I was sure my gravy-soaked carrots would be even less appetising by the time they arrived.

I’m not being flippant, though. The team at Sorted is passionate about seeing an end to global hunger, which is why the latest campaign from Christian Aid really appeals to us. The charity’s new film and spoof campaign, Leftovers for Africa, captures the genuine need in a fun and engaging way by capitalising on the crazy childhood myth many of us were fed as youngsters.

The film follows eager entrepreneur Dan Stirling as he tries to encourage people to save their leftover food in charity envelopes to send to Africa in a bid to solve world hunger. Aiming to inform young people of how they can be part of the fight against world poverty, the film ends with a positive – and more practical – message from the Christian Aid Collective that tells viewers how they can really help.

Christian Aid’s church youth manager, Laura Bardwell, said: “With Leftovers for Africa we’re aiming to engage young people in a way that Christian Aid has never tried before. We want to strip back the often dense political language of campaigning and provide simple, practical actions that they can take.

“This year has so far seen huge progress made on raising the awareness of food security and hunger issues with the IF campaign. Young people have played a big role in this and it’s important to provide them with a means of continuing this work and putting this learning into action.

“Leftovers for Africa suggests that by posting half-eaten food into envelopes and sending it to hungry people, we can help end world hunger. This of course is an absurd idea so we’re using this false message to inform young people of things they can do; actions they can take which will make a difference.”

The Christian Aid Collective gives people the opportunity to learn and engage with issues of poverty and social justice. Through the collective, young Christians who are passionate about campaigning can come together to learn, discuss and engage with the fight against global poverty.

Be among the first to watch the film by clicking here.

And by the way, reusing leftover food isn’t a totally crazy idea. Doing so can help to save money, reduce consumption and cut down on waste – what’s not to love? If you’re not a big lover of bubble and squeak like me, here are some great ideas from the BBC's Good Food showing you how best to use up those extra veggies or spuds you didn’t quite get through on Sunday. Even manky old carrots can be 'recycled' and the money you save can be used to support Christian Aid or other like-minded charities in the fight against hunger and poverty.

There’s also an app for those of us whose eyes are bigger than our stomachs and can’t quite finish the 16-inch pizza that seemed like such a good idea at the time. The app, called LeftoverSwap, allows users to upload pictures of their leftover food and allows people who are nearby to come and get it if it takes their fancy. We’re not convinced this is quite such a great idea (plus we all know cold pizza is delicious for breakfast), but we appreciate the sentiment behind it. 

Finally, find out if there is a foodbank in your area by clicking here. Some churches and community groups are doing a great job in providing food and other practical items for those who are struggling to make ends meet. It’s worth remembering that there are people starving where you live, too.

Find out more about other global campaigns and life issues in the upcoming edition of Sorted magazine. 

Greenbelt 2013: the 40th birthday celebration

Guest post from Sorted's agony aunt, Jojo Meadows

I’ve been told that life begins at 40, but as I approach this grand age, the idea alarms me a little. Why? Well, I wonder whether previous years count if life begins at 40. But of course they do! In nearly 40 years of being on this earth, I have been shaped, moulded and altered by my former years and experiences. (PS, I’m not dead yet, although the phrase “former years” makes it sound like I’ve already popped my clogs!)

The same could be said for Greenbelt’s journey. The arts, faith and justice festival has embraced the idea of turning 40, growing gracefully and victoriously though its own conquests and challenges.

Greenbelt is held every August bank holiday weekend at Cheltenham Racecourse. Enriched by the beautiful surrounding area, this sprawling piece of land is turned into an animated community hub with a fresh vibe. The exclusive Racecourse accommodates 20,000 like-minded people, many of whom have travelled from far and wide to be part of this creative, abstract and non-denominational festival.

 

A variety of individuals, independent groups, non-denominational churches and established denominations come together each year. 

Festivalgoers relish the opportunity to explore and expand their faith and knowledge through creative art or inspiring talks that are primarily focused on spirituality and social justice.

Greenbelt’s got talent

This year, the weekend kicked off at five pm on the Friday with a dynamic array of acts. Popular comedian Milton Jones was on top form, as always. Renowned for his appearances on Mock the Week and Live at the Apollo, his ability to woo the audience with his waggish swagger is memorable to say the least.

Peter Rollins also impressed at the Jerusalem Venue, captivating his audience with deep theological circumlocution. Peter was enticing, dishing out a “taster” of what was to come; preparing the ears of his listeners and critics for the main talk on ‘Divine Decay: Living the ‘Death’ of God’ at the Big Top.

Folk On stormed the Mainstage and their combined wit and ability to entertain teens and the elderly alike made for excellent viewing. They even encouraged the crowd to have an old-fashioned sing-along. These comedy heroes have influenced Milton Jones as much as he has them.

Bottles and buddies

The Jesus Arms, or in the words of Ben Jones (a member of Ikon) ‘Back in the arms of Jesus’, proved to be a beer tent with a difference. On sale were spirits, cider and ale, with apt names such as ‘Jonah and the Ale’ chosen by various punters and workers. It was all in very good taste!

For me, Greenbelt was like going from home to home. I met old friends and made new ones, feeling really comfortable in my own skin. The friendliness of others caused me to feel like I belonged. As a single mother, I would say that whether you are married, dating or single, do not allow insecurity or intimidation to deter you from going. It is more or less impossible not to feel welcomed in this streamlined and seamless festival, which houses an aromatic throng of creative, opinionated, arty, dexterous and thoughtful souls.

Get together

As I walked around, breathing in the celebratory atmosphere, it was clear to me that this is how festival life should be. Actually, it is how everyday life should be lived. There was no strife, no angst, no collision of opinion without a respectful response, and people seemed happy to be around one another and accept people regardless of who they were. The atmosphere was enriched with different views, yet somehow the reverence bestowed was not about religion; it was about a unity of love and a meditative understanding that we can all celebrate and join together as a community.

One community that really caught my eye was Belfast-based Ikon, which facilitated a deeply creative act of worship entitled ‘The End’. While walking into a dark and deeply mysterious room, each of us was given a balloon, which symbolised our own lives. We then had to attach the balloon to a body part or item of clothing. Either the number ‘1’ or the word ‘one’ was written on the balloon.

We walked into a sultry atmosphere knowing that a thought-provoking experience that tantalised our sensory abilities awaited us. The delivery was as good as expected; combining a fresh blend of visual imagery, theatre and interaction with the audience. When interviewing a couple as they walked out, one described it as “a form of art within worship that has caused me to want to step out of what I know and look and reflect with a new ideology”.

Black and light

Another event that caused a stir was the Gothic Eucharist, which took place in the Aspire Venue. A choir called nChant, all dressed in black, led the worship and engaged with the 400 people who turned up. Despite being an ‘outsider’ on the surface, I wasn’t treated this way at all. In fact, I was very much included in the beautifully mysterious gothic worship and communion.

The worship consisted of a deep tribal drumbeat with a medieval chant that brought shivers to my soul. I started to come alive, stirring up dark things that I had suppressed, bringing them to the fore so that I could reflect upon and deal with them.

The main service was led by Skye Denno and three assistants, having been written by Skye’s husband Joel. Their intention was clear as they talked with passion and zeal about their convictions. The talk was based on the four elements: fire, water, earth and air and each priest took one of these elements.

Three readings took place and the communion table sat prominently in the middle of the room. Various ‘alternative’ representatives from around the country helped to distribute the sacraments to symbolise unity. Everyone was treated equally, whether they presented themselves as ‘traditional’ or ‘alternative’.

Pennie Ley, who participated in the prayers during the communion, explained how much support and love she and others had received. Friends and family of Sophie Lancaster (who was tragically murdered six years ago after defending her boyfriend from a group of people who were taunting the pair for dressing differently) regularly attend to remember who Sophie was and to celebrate her legacy.

Surprisingly, after optional baptismal vows were offered, followed by the ancient tradition of sprinkled water with rosemary, one girl stepped forward asking to be baptised properly. She wasn’t disappointed.

A house away from home

A new venue I stumbled across this year was the GTV Treehouse. GTV has been on site for five years, filming and capturing short talks, acoustic music events and punters’ opinions on the festival. However, over the last few years, Greenbelt’s organisers have revealed a bigger and better vision for GTV. As a result, the setup was a little different this year. Walking into the blackout studio space, it felt like a really intimate venue. The grass was soft underfoot and birds were tweeting in the background, and the set was kitted out like a traditional tree house, with fresh wood and naked bulbs aplenty.

Speakers gave short talks on themes such as, ‘I raise a glass...’ and ‘When I am 40, I hope…’. There was also an eclectic mix of discussions on subjects such as storytellers, godless churches, Gandhi, eating as a subversive activity and failure. Evenings at the Treehouse featured a host of lyrical music, poetry sessions and conversational panels on women in the church.

The venue is unique as everything is pre-filmed, which provided a relaxed atmosphere for the audience, but with acts such as Martyn Joseph, Miriam Jones, Alice Wroe and Sanderson Jones on hand, we were kept entertained with a host of witty anecdotes and stories. The talks and music events will be posted on the website as free podcasts throughout the year for people who couldn’t attend the festival and for use in churches, so don’t forget to take a look.

And… breathe…

One service I really have to applaud is St John Ambulance. Its staff patrolled the length and breadth of the festival day and night, catering for every incident. They were so attentive and professional in their duty, and I had first-hand experience of this. While walking some distance from the main arena, I had a sudden asthma attack. Two St John patrollers were walking by and could see my struggle. They practically carried me to the medical centre, where I was treated immediately. They monitored me after the attack and had someone watch me the whole time.

As I sat with a mask over my mouth, breathing in the oxygen and treatment, I started to reflect on Greenbelt and how it originated, as well as the trials and tribulations it has encountered. I felt so honoured to be part of this 40th birthday celebration. So thank you Greenbelt for persisting in the face of adversity and for bringing a fresh, dynamic approach.

Best for last

The weekend was packed with an array of delights; the ‘gold’ glistened like a pirate’s booty. Within the treasure stores were the likes of Lemar, Clare Balding, Pip Wilson, Gareth Higgins, Steve Chalke and Fat and Frantic.

Then, as a finale for Greenbelt’s spectacular 40th birthday celebrations (almost like the icing on the birthday cake) came Belfast’s very own Duke Special, a talented singer/songwriter whose lyrics draw you in as though you are a musical note or a word uttered from his own mouth. Duke’s stage presence, along with the full Greenbelt orchestra, made it feel like a warm portion of sunshine had collided with the stage.

A DVD showcasing Greenbelt’s history is now available here, and I would highly recommend that you buy it.

Read more from Jojo in Sorted magazine - click here to buy your September-October issue today.

Why I support the rights of women

By Steve Legg










If I’m honest, I don’t really understand why anyone wouldn’t support the rights of women. There’s more depth to the debate than that, of course; but on one level, what kind person doesn’t treat everyone with respect?

The thing is, I love women. Let me qualify that: I’m a dad raising five women, a husband partnered by a simply brilliant woman, and I was raised by the first women I ever loved – my mum. Each of these women is amazing in their unique way and I love to watch them reach their potential; to grow and develop and aim high. I don’t like to see them boxed in by other people’s opinions, ignored because they’re ‘just women’ or leered at, because alongside being outstanding they happen to be stunners.

As a Christian I’ve chosen to follow a God who, when he came to earth as a man, went out of his way to honour women, who respected them regardless of their background, marital status or profession, and who empowered women to go out and change the worlds they lived in, even though culturally that was incomprehensible. Jesus loved women too.

I run a men’s magazine, Sorted, and I started it because I wanted my son and his mates to be able to read a magazine that wasn’t full of semi-naked women. I wanted him to understand that reading about footballers is entertaining and that learning about great adventurers is exciting, but that getting kicks out of looking at naked women is offensive.

I wanted to reach more men and boys with that message, but I also wanted the women in my life to know that there are men who want that type of magazine; who aren’t just buying their ‘reading’ material for the pictures. Some great women write for the magazine, and they’re appreciated for their journalism skills and their wit, not for their vital statistics.

From the beginning, I’ve wanted to take on the magazines that objectify women: Loaded and Nuts being two of my particular bugbears. It has been amazing to watch Sorted’s circulation rise as theirs have dropped. We now distribute more magazines than Loaded. 

There have been many campaigns to boycott these magazines, but I think it sends an even louder message to the market when the ‘boobs, babes and bums free’ magazine overtakes the smut through a process of natural selection.

I want to encourage men to be men – to learn how to be good dads, husbands, brothers and friends – and at the heart of that is the lesson of how to live in what I believe is a God-ordained equal partnership with women.

Visit our website to find out more about Sorted magazine and click here to order your copy today.

Having a smashing time

After a lovely family dinner celebrating my mum’s 60th birthday last week, I turned a corner I had rounded a hundred times before and heard a horrible, gut-wrenching crunch as the metal of my car bonded with the metal of someone else’s (parked) car. To make matters work, I had to keep crunching before I was able to move my poor battered motor away from its new buddy.

I pulled up at the side of the road, and I’ll admit that a series of thoughts went through my head. Would anybody ever know if I just drove off without saying anything? (Yes, I’m ashamed about that one.) The thing is, my car has been hit two or three times in the four months I’ve lived in my street and no one owned up, so what goes around comes around, right? I couldn’t exactly justify that to myself.

Anyway, I left a note on the Audi (I don’t do things by half), apologising and providing my details. Then I went to my friend’s and wept a little. And panicked… And waited… And then, when I remembered what one should do in situations like this, I prayed.

Around this time, my mum texted me Romans 8:28: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.” It was hard to see how anything good could come out of a car accident, but I guess that’s why they call it faith.

Almost a week later I had heard nothing. Deep down I hoped that whoever owned it had chalked it up to bad experience and that I was off the hook. Not likely! I eventually received a call from a friend of the Audi owner, as the owner doesn’t speak English. The friend thanked me for owning up and said Mr Audi would accept a very small cash payment to fix his bashed-up motor. It then transpired that said friend is a car bodywork specialist and will be able to fix the damage to my car for next to nothing.

This might not sound like much to you, but I guess this was the best possible result from a situation that seemed pretty bleak at the time. I don’t need to claim on my insurance, and I’ve also made connections with two local people who I otherwise wouldn’t have crossed paths with. And now if anyone else bashes into my car and doesn’t own up, I at least know who to call!

While I was looking for news stories to populate the Sorted site in the aftermath, I couldn’t seem to avoid car-related press releases. The first, from Admiral Car Insurance, was about drink driving, and worryingly revealed that 19% of Brits (27% of men and 10% of women) admit to having driven while over the limit.

The second showed that men aged 50 and over are more likely to get distracted behind the wheel than their female counterparts. Research from Saga Car Insurance claims two-thirds of men over 50 have been distracted behind the wheel during the last 12 months compared with half of women.

Men are twice as likely to be distracted by programming Sat Navs (23% versus 13%), rubbernecking (15% versus 9%) and channel hopping on the stereo (24% versus 18%). A quarter of men also admit to ogling attractive passersby, while just 1% of women say their eyes have momentarily wandered towards a good-looking male.

Having hit two parked cars and two birds with my car in the last two years, I’m hardly in a position to offer road safety advice, so I’ll let Saga's director of communication, Paul Green, do it for me. "Driving is like second nature to most of us and we forget about the risks of getting behind the wheel,” he says, adding: “The best advice to drivers is to stay safe and don't be an in-car fiddler."

When it comes to drink driving, no one says it better than Sue Longthorn, Admiral’s managing director: "It's vital that people are aware of how much alcohol they are consuming when they are due to drive, and remember that drink driving is not acceptable in any shape or form and it's never worth the risk."

"The difference between men and women in our research is a worry, as it appears the anti drink driving message is getting through to women, but not so effectively with men. The amount of alcohol in someone's blood is the same, regardless of their gender."

(Shameless plug alert) If you’re in the London area and you’ve had a few jars, why not jump into the Sorted taxi rather than taking the car? You’ll get a free copy of the magazine instead of a potential fine/ban/prison sentence! You can’t say much fairer than that.

Should access to pornography be restricted?

In carrying out research for this blog, I was forced to type the words “David Cameron porn” into Google. That’s something I hoped I would never have to do! Fortunately, the results it drudged up related to the latest government ruling on pornography that will force internet users to opt in if they wish to view X-rated material.

The law, which will take effect in 18 months’ time has met with some controversy, with many criticising the ‘nanny state’ mentality at play. Others feel that the lawmakers are naïve and that the ruling won’t prevent those who want to access adult-only sites from doing so. I guess my feeling is that any step towards restricting access to porn is a good one, but that more can certainly be done.

Google search figures show that more people in the UK visit adult-only sites than Facebook and Twitter put together. The data shows that 8.5% of searches were for online pornography, while just 7.3% sought access to social networking websites. Perhaps most worryingly, the study did not include hits from mobile phones or searches for child pornography, which tend to occur on secret networks that are often referred to as the ‘dark internet’.

Meanwhile, another campaign is underway to criminalise porn that appears to simulate rape. While some argue that consumers of pornography are discerning enough to recognise the difference between entertainment and real-life crime, others (like me) feel that rape does not make for suitable entertainment content in any shape or form.

Fiona Elvines, operations co-ordinator at Rape Crisis South London, says: “We see the harm of rape pornography in the ways the material assists in normalising offending for perpetrators, helping them legitimise and strategise their crimes, as well as overcome internal resistance. 

“Evidence shows rapists use rape pornography as part of their deliberate pre-offence preparation. The amended law will make this in itself a crime; a significant step towards primary rape prevention through giving legal grounds for intervening before a sexual offence is committed.”

Now I’m not suggesting that everyone who watches this kind of material is about to go out and re-enact what they have seen, but why watch it at all? I think it’s sad that this legislation is necessary, but it certainly is necessary.

On a lighter note, some good news came in this week on the lads’ mag front with The Co-operative forcing publishers to cover up indecent images using modesty covers. Introduced in response to customer feedback, it hopes the screens will prevent children from being confronted by pictures of scantily clad women during the weekly shop. We hope other stores will follow suit.

Child Eyes, a project that aims to restrict children’s exposure to sexual and violent images, welcomes this decision. However, it recognises that “there is still a lot of work to be done”. A statement from the organisation says: “We need to keep the pressure up to rid the streets of sexual imagery. There is no automatic filter in shops and supermarkets! We are still working hard to make Britain more family-friendly and we need you.”

You can click here to sign a petition making it illegal to display pornography around children, and follow @ChildEyesUK on Twitter for regular updates.

Finally, you can support Sorted magazine. Designed to reach out to men without using sexual imagery, we are thrilled that anti-pornography measures are hitting the headlines and that the general public is eager for protective measures to be introduced.

We know that pornography isn’t going to go away, but we believe that children should be shielded from it. We also believe women should be respected and cherished rather than gawked at and objectified. Finally, we believe men should be offered a better alternative; a magazine that is entertaining but that deals with the real issues of life in an engaging and practical way, for example.

We printed a whopping 40,000 copies of our July-August issue and were able to give away a large proportion of these to many who might not have picked it up otherwise. It would be great if you could support us by buying a one-off copy for a friend, subscribing to the magazine yourself, advertising your business within its pages or by making a donation.

Our September-October edition is about to go to print and are excited about the impact it is going to have! Thanks for all your support.

Domestic violence against men

The issue of domestic violence has really been on my mind in the last week, particularly after seeing a horrendous cartoon featured on Genius Football’s Twitter feed. I’ll spell it out in words as we don’t want to republish the image:

(Man and woman in clinch) Woman: “Hey love. I have arranged our honeymoon on August 17^th.

(Man hits woman in the face, causing a large flow of blood) Man: “Dafuq? I aint missing the start of Premier League. Go alone.”

Making a joke of a man beating a woman for any reason is enough to make anybody’s stomach turn. The picture has since been taken down from the social media site and I hope the person who posted it is well and truly ashamed.

But it’s actually domestic violence against men I want to talk about. This is partly because our Smart Talk (problem page) panel recently received a letter from a guy who was being hit by his wife, and partly because there is so little focus on this type of violence in the media. Domestic violence against women is certainly a taboo, but we could be forgiven for thinking that violence against men simply doesn’t happen.

Did you know that one-third of domestic violence victims are men? I have to say I was shocked at that statistic, and I actually looked it up to verify it (with the National Centre for Domestic Violence). Because when those two ugly words are spoken, I invariably think of a man standing threatening over a terrified and defenceless woman.

I admit this is ignorance on my part, but I also think that male victims are repeatedly, and wrongly, ignored. According to the same site, one in six men will experience domestic violence during their lifetime and a 999 call is made every three minutes by a male victim.

Perhaps this issue doesn’t get as much ‘air time’ because men find it more difficult to talk about abuse and to ask for help. After all, men are supposed to strong and protective aren’t they? Surely admitting to being hit – not least by a woman – is to admit weakness and defeat? Of course, this isn’t our opinion at Sorted; it’s just the way some men see themselves. Then when violence occurs they blame themselves for not upholding the media-fuelled ‘standard of manhood’. Regardless of gender, any human being can be abusive to another, whether verbally or physically, and this has no bearing on the victim’s physical or emotional strength.

It is important to talk about domestic violence, because silence perpetuates the problem and gives the abuser power. Some find it helpful to speak to a close friend, while others prefer to talk to a stranger, such as a counsellor or a church leader. Doing so helps to release pent-up emotions and can enable victims to see solutions where before there was only hopelessness. Admitting that abuse is taking place isn’t a sign of weakness; it takes immense courage to do this.

Others feel that speaking about domestic abuse is a betrayal of the partner carrying out the abuse. Many blame themselves and feel they deserve to be hit, while others love their partners deeply and want to fix things without stirring the waters. Each case is different and there is no right or wrong way to act, but it’s important to accept that the violence is wrong and that, one way or another, it has to stop.

There are several groups out there to help men experiencing domestic violence, including Men's Advice Line and ManKind Initiative. Men’s Advice Line offers the following advice for male victims:

·         Keep a record of the dates and times of any incidents. If you have been injured, seek medical attention and the doctor will make a note of your injuries

·         Keep your phone charged and on your person at all times in case you need to make an emergency call

·         Tell a trusted friend or family member what's been happening

·         Make sure your passport and important documents are kept in a safe place (preferably with a trusted friend)

·         Report violence or criminal damage to the police

·         Don’t retaliate, it's not safe

If you or someone you know has experienced domestic violence of any kind, get in touch with Men’s Advice Line on 0808 801 0327 or via the website.

Read more on this issue in the upcoming edition of Sorted magazine, out August 19.

A shift away from boobs, babes and bums

A couple of weeks ago, the news broke that Blue Publishing, the company that publishes Loaded magazine, has been forced into administration. While the lads’ mag will still be available through new firm Loaded Media Limited, it seems Blue Publishing’s mass expansion plans for the title have been put on hold.

Now we’re not mentioning this because we delight in other people’s misfortunes, but we are interested in the anti-nudity shift that seems to be emerging in the media, and particularly in the lads’ mag domain. The ‘No More Page 3’ debate has been well publicised – it has even been addressed in parliament – and a more recent campaign entitled ‘Tesco: Lose the Lads’ Mags’ is also gathering speed.

Derided by some as ‘feminist claptrap’, it’s clear that this recent trend goes far deeper; many of these campaigns are supported by and even led by men. It seems that men want more than just boobs and bums these days, and some even consider this type of female objectification to be an insult to the ‘fairer sex’. 

Even those that have been embroiled in the lads’ mag industry appear to be changing their minds about what makes for appropriate content and what doesn’t. A Daily Mail interview with former Loaded editor Martin Daubney is particularly revealing.

“To me, it was harmless fun, dictated by market forces,” he told the tabloid paper. “What’s more, I was paid more money than I’d ever earned in my life to do it. I’d always dreamed of editing Loaded and vowed to do whatever it took to stay there. 

I never stopped to consider issues like the crass sexualisation of women. Moral naysayers were party-poopers, and if they attacked me, I’d attack them back –  harder.”

Looking back, he sees things a little differently: “We were normalising soft porn, and in so doing we must have made it more acceptable for young men to dive into the murky waters of harder stuff on the internet. And, for that, I have a haunting sense of regret.”

However, Martin is realistic about the future. “Let’s be clear: you can’t ever ban pornography,” he says. “Like tax and Tory U-turns, it is painfully unavoidable and lots of consenting adults consume it of their own free will. But we must tighten up the current laws to make it unavailable to children, as it can be so damaging. It sells boys the debasing view of women as one-dimensional fakes: fake boobs, fake hair, fake nails, fake orgasms and fake hope.”

Moreover, it seems Tesco is taking these concerns seriously. The supermarket chain’s chairman, Sir Richard Broadbent said he was considering the campaign targeted at Tesco and that he had been ‘startled’ by some of the content featured in the lads’ mags featured on the stores shelves.

When Sorted launched in 2007, it was specifically aimed at guys who were looking for an alternative to the nudity-rich, content-poor men’s magazines on the market. By including a wide range of features from celebrity interviews to gadgets, cars, music and even sex, Sorted is all about providing a high-quality magazine that men can read openly and with a clear conscience.

In response to the shift in demand away from these semi-pornographic magazines, Sorted has increased its print run to 40,000 copies per issue. The magazine is also distributing free copies across London – in bars and restaurants, tube and railway stations, airport departure gates, universities and gyms – and also via a dedicated Sorted Taxi that will roam the streets of the capital for the next year giving out thousands of copies and discussing the issues the magazine raises.

Show the retailers your support for a magazine that doesn’t objectify women and is more entertaining than the soft-porn shelf-huggers that are available to adults and children alike. 

Click here to buy your copy of Sorted today or help us to give more copies away by clicking here and donating.