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WELLINGTON: Stamp of Disapproval.  The $1 New Zealand nuclear-free
stamp was designed to show the rest of the word---via the post---how
strongly New Zealanders oppose nuclear weapons.  But at home that
message has been tarnished.  Several women's groups have labeled the
image---a woman whose lips are sealed by the peace symbol---sexist,
and are calling on supporters to boycott the stamp.  Women's-health
campaigner and Wellington mayoral candidate Phillida Bunkle believes
that the stamp suggests there is something sexy about a female in
fear.  A spokesperson for Women Against Pornography said the peace
symbol over the mouth suggested that women were being stopped from
speaking rather than speaking out.  Chris Martin, the stamp's
designer, professed surprise at the hostile reaction.
		-- from "Talk of the Streets", _Time_, September 4,
		   1995

Tags: health surprise newzealand fear lips pornography wellington spokesperson disapproval campaigner chrismartin nuclearweapons mayoralcandidate hostilereaction freestamp peacesymbol