Call to boycott soap firm supporting Hunt Saboteurs
COUNTRYSIDE campaigners have called for a boycott of high street toiletries chain Lush after it announced a fundraising campaign for anti-hunt campaigners (WMN news, October 15).
Horse & Hound magazine is also urging its readers to snub Lush after they began a £50,000 campaign to support the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA).
Lush, which sells cosmetics at numerous branches throughout the South West, will be selling Fabulous Mrs Fox Bubble Bars – a blood-red fox pawprint design – with all proceeds going to the HSA up to and including Boxing Day.
It is also inviting customers to send postcards to police forces urging them to enforce the laws regarding fox hunting more rigorously.
However, the actions have angered the Countryside Alliance, which says it is astonished at the high-profile firm's support for the organisation. A spokesman for the CA, which has strong support in the Westcountry, said as far as it was concerned the Hunt Saboteurs Association stood for violent protest.
"While we appreciate everyone has different opinions on such an emotive issues, surely there are better organisations to support," she said.
Hilary Jones, Lush's company ethics director, said the chain believed the Hunting Act was not being policed properly and the HSA needed support.
A number of campaigns urging action against Lush have sprung up on the Internet, including the Facebook group "Boycott Lush this Christmas".
3 Comments
by cj_nemo
Tuesday, August 16 2011, 10:02PM
“Lush cosmetics say they are an ethical company and have a whole list of ethical cuases. Yet at the same time they are supporting oppressive regimes by having shops in these countries. Hopefully I do not need to go into the human right record and oppression of women etc in Saudi Arabia and Sri Lanka.
How can this company call it self ethical ?
I suggest we FLUSH LUSH!!!!
Boycott Lush”
by NORMAN BRYANT, Copsale
Thursday, October 22 2009, 11:04AM
“Lush are providing funds to Hunt Sabs who often break the Law, frighten children, are so brave that they wear masks to hide their identity, will spray antimate in Hounds eyes and trespass damaging crops, mind you the publicity from this that Lush has received is probably money well spent on their part so perhaps they are using this for advertising more than anuthing else.”
by Simon Hacker, Wotton-under-Edge GLOS
Thursday, October 22 2009, 8:07AM
“Interesting that this report fails to mention the chain of attacks and threats from hunting thugs that have ensued from this orchestrated attempt to boycott Lush. Clearly such initiatives hit a nerve. Having done its homework beforehand, Lush will also know that the tiny vocal minority, who are furious that a High Street name has put a spotlight on the continuation of illegal hunting, will make no difference to its business. Lush is an ethical retailer with a well-known practice for supporting ecological/humane issues. What on earth would a Horse and Hound reader being doing in there anyway?”