Lush/HSA - Message from the Countryside Alliance regarding protest etc

[Countryside]

A message from the Countryside Alliance

Dear all

It is important to realise that whilst the rural community is deeply upset at Lush's misguided decision to support the Hunt Saboteurs Association, any sort of direct, abusive or tactical protest, illegal or legal, is not appropriate and such action will most definitely not be supported by the Countryside Alliance.

The major issue with the Hunt Saboteurs is that they have a long history of violent and direct action, which causes danger to horses, hounds and people; not that they are anti hunting. There are other reasonable organisations that have a history of organised and peaceful protest, and perhaps Lush should have looked into these options prior to supporting an organisation whose members many see as violent extremists.


Whilst we appreciate that fox hunting is a divisive issue on either side, the best way to protest about Lush is either with your pocket or by contacting your local and national papers and voicing your opinion.

The use of direct, abusive and tactical protest by hunt supporters achieves absolutely nothing other than being incredibly detrimental to the countryside community to get this bad law repealed. While repeal is a possibility everyone who loves and supports hunting should do everything they can to protect its reputation and help promote it as an accessible and inclusive activity.

Please do not hesitate to contact me chloe-finch@countryside-alliance.org if you have any further comments.

Best
Chloe

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Yeah, think this is probably the best way to go, hit em in the pocket. Coz if there's a lot of demo's and stuff like that, then Lush will really think they're on to summat and the whole thing could escalate. Best to just ignore maybe - as commercial pressure i.e. lack of sales and boycotting their products will hit them hardest.

 

[GPWool]

I am alarmed that the Countryside Alliance continues to support the illegal practice of hunting with dogs and so pleased that Lush have taken it upon themselves to notify people that such activities are still going on.

I am a country person, I grew up in the countryside and love the environment.
My first job was beating on a pheasant shoot before becoming an engineer.
It is really annoying that the "Countryside Alliance" purports to be our voice, as I would say the majority of the people living out here oppose hunting with dogs, it's just the wealthy few who have the loudest voices and the biggest sticks who make us all sound like bloodthirsty nutters!

 

[combat_claire]

Hunts across the country continue to work within the law as prescribed in the Hunting Act 2004. The Countryside Alliance campaigns on a wide range of issues that affect rural dwellers, country sports is just one tiny aspect of this work. Just a few of the recent campaigns have included Casting for Recovery where breast cancer sufferers were encouraged to take up Fly Fishing; Game to Eat which publicised just how healthy and yummy all types of game meat are and of course the Rural Awards which recognises excellence in rural enterprise.

The anger with the Lush campaign is not the anti-hunting stance that they have taken but that they have opted to fund a group well known for violent tactics against law abiding hunt supporters.

On a slight aside I totally condemn those people who thought they would make their views known by vandalising Lush shops or abusing staff. Why you idiots felt the need to stoop to the level of our opponents is completely beyond me.

 

[Scratchline]

A reply to your post on facebook put you in your place IMO Chloe ;o))

Chloe,

As a member of this group, I appreciate that you are posting here to point out that you do not condone violent protests that may be carried out by your members or supporters.

However, the emotive tone and unsubstantiated propaganda filling your post does nothing more than support my views that the Countryside Alliance is an organisation more concerned on propagating lies and breeding mistrust amongst such issues than supporting anything to do with the countryside.

Lush products use a lot of food ingredients; fruits, vegetables, herbs, essential oils taken from herbs. Where do you think some of these may be grown? Bang on! The British Countryside, seasons permitting. Lush also support the British Countryside and British life (being a leading British employer, retailer and manufacturer), but they do not support cruelty in the countryside. I have no time for reading anecdote upon anecdote of how members of the HSA are supposed to have done this that and the other. And quite frankly, if such anecdotal "evidence" is coming from the same people who make cheap jibes like " let’s be honest, hunt sabs are not the biggest consumers of soap" I am not inclined to either read it or believe it.

You have no place to suggest that the "rural community" is "deeply upset" by Lush's "misguided" actions; Most of my family make up this rural community and your organisation do not represent them. Many Lush employees will also be part of this "rural community" that you speak of and your organisation can not claim to speak for them. I was born and bred in the Lancashire countryside and am well aware of how it operates, your organisation certainly does not represent me. I suggest your first sentence would have been better phrased as "...the hunting community is deeply upset".

Your post smacks of nothing more than P.R. and a slur campaign.

And regardless of whether your first love is town or country, this country is in deep recession at the moment and the continual suggestions by pro-hunting supporters (and perhaps members and supporters of the Countryside Alliance?) to disrupt trade by abusive means is far more than bad publicity for your organisation. We should all be supporting British Manufacturing and British Retailing which brings far more revenue to this country than a gang of riders in hunting pinks.

Saying all of that, I wish you a pleasant weekend. I hope it is as pleasant for various horses, hounds and foxes too.

Regards,