November 24, 2003 -- As the busiest shopping days of the year approach, parents have two new holiday toy lists to assist them in shopping for toys during the Season of Peace on Earth. The annual Top Twenty and Dirty Dozen lists are being released today by The Lion & Lamb Project, a national advocacy organization working to stop the marketing of violent toys, video games, and movies to children.

The Top 20 list includes family games, active toys, and a number of computer and video games that encourage fun, creative and imaginative play. Among the Top 20 are toys such as the remote control KG Racer cars, a three-dimensional puzzle and building set called Geosphere, and an active video game called Dance, Dance Revolution, which requires children to use their feet rather than their fingers.

Products on this year’s Dirty Dozen List include toys, video games, and DVDs with violent messages that parents are urged to avoid. Most of the products on this year’s Dirty Dozen list are part of "brands" that are marketed to children through a combination of toys, video games, DVDs, and other items. Power Rangers, The Hulk, The Matrix and Jak are four of the brands on this year’s Dirty Dozen list.

"The video game, movie and toy industries continue to market violent products allegedly intended for teens and adults to younger and younger children," said Daphne White, executive director of The Lion & Lamb Project. "Our children are now moved along from the cartoon violence in Ninja Turtles to the cold blooded murder in The Matrix Reloaded (now out on DVD) in just a few short years."

Lion & Lamb works to reduce the marketing of violent toys, games and entertainment to children in two distinct ways. The group works with parents and other concerned adults to reduce the demand for violent "entertainment" products, and with industry and government to reduce the supply of such products.

A representative from the Interfaith Center on Corporate Responsibility (ICCR) will also address ICCR's initiative concerning the retailing of violent video games to children. ICCR is a coalition of 275 faith-based institutional investors with combined assets of more than $110 billion.

"As institutional investors committed to corporate responsibility, one issue that we are concerned about is the impact that violent media has on children, and the access that children have to adult-rated products such as video games, DVDs and music," said Cathy Rowan, who represents ICCR. "Research has shown that exposure to media portrayals of violence increases aggressive behavior in children."

For complete Top 20 and Dirty Dozen lists call The Lion & Lamb Project at 301-654-3091 or visit www.lionlamb.org