Lush, what is the point?!

I think its a great gesture of solidarity and any thing that brings the starvation of Gaza into the headlines is a good thing.

The watermelon soap has quickly become one of their best selling products, 100% of the profits are being donated solely to projects providing urgently-needed professional mental health support, trauma counselling and art and play therapies for children in Gaza and the West Bank.

Israel need to stop starving Gaza.

It’s not entirely empty - if you read the details it is specifically re the aid situation in Gaza and it is to pressure the uk govt: it means the UK govt is missing out on tax from them for being closed for a day. A small gesture but not empty. They’ve also already raised a lot of money for a mental health charity for children in Gaza with their watermelon soap which is coming back to raise further funds for children who have lost limbs. Even if you disagree with closing for a day, perhaps you could pop in and buy some soap to support a worthy cause?

Lush closing stores for 24hr 'in solidarity of Gaza'.

What a ridiculous empty gesture.

Surely a better idea would be to stay open for 24 hrs and donate all extra income to a Gazan charity, or close but all staff to attend an intifada with flasks and placards <'free palestine' naturally, do not mentions the hostages!>

I quite liked Lush I'll ensure to shop elsewhere going forward.

Yes their donations are great and very admirable.

Closing a shop for a day and giving all their staff a lazy day off is not usually the way to raise awareness about a situation that is already constantly in the news. But yayy 3 cheers for more days off Lush!

Actially I think it is harmful. As this discussion shows it debases the level of public debate and prioritises fatuous virtue signalling over the hard work of getting things done.

Their fundraising is much broader than just watermelon soap. Their ‘Charity Pot’ (hand cream, I think), for example, raised millions and was split between causes across the globe. They have worked with Palestinian charities (seed banks and settler violence support) before the war so their interest in Palestinians suffering predates the war. They’re not jumping on some bandwagon - not everyone was clueless about the region pre 7/10.

For anyone interested: in 20/21 Charity Pot donated funds in the following way:

• 23% donated in the animal protection sector;
• 54% donated in the human rights sectors;
• 23% donated in the environmental sector.
• 10% of all Charity Pot donations in the 2020-2021 Financial Year went to organisations working with Migrants, Refugees and Displaced Peoples, and toward organisations working against Trafficking and Slavery.
• 6% of all Charity Pot donations went toward Animal Sanctuaries and Animal Rehoming.
• 5% of all donations went toward the Climate Change sector.
• 5% of all donations went toward organisations working toward Anti-Racism.
• 4% of all donations went toward organisations supporting, and campaigning for the rights of, LGBTQIA+ peoples.

If none of these causes connect with you,
don’t shop at LUSH. It’s simple.

I’m not sure why you object so strongly. Their action is not harming anyone and is indicating concern about the genocide. It’s not just Lush anyway, it’s part of a global ‘strike’ to indicate a worldwide horror about civilians being deliberately starved to death.

Yes we can only hope hamas have taken note of Lush's day off and signs and stop looting all the aid.

Do you think Lush are doing a 'free the hostages' sign? Or, maybe another shop should shut for a day to fix that horrific situation. Perhaps Clinton's cards are next up for a day off.

I’m not sure why you object so strongly. Their action is not harming anyone and is indicating concern about the genocide. It’s not just Lush anyway, it’s part of a global ‘strike’ to indicate a worldwide horror about civilians being deliberately starved to death.

Exactly

You can't be serious. We are talking about the ludicrousness of Lush. We have been talking about Gaza long before their stunt.

What lush are saying to Israel is 'Stop Starving Gaza' it was there in big letters on their posters. Do you not agree with their message?

other than advertising for Lushand people ticking a box on 'I have done something' how is this actually helping the people of Gaza are they getting more food? please explain what it is doing to help and not just making a bunch of western people feel better about themselves?

So we just give up and let the jihadis take over? I think thats bizarre tbh. And would result in the end of Israel. All the countries in the ME rely to a greater or lesser extent on trade with rhe West. Qatar and Saudi account for a huge proportion of UK arms sales. Look at all the sucking up we did to Qatar over football. Of course more could be done.
Its extraordinary to say to Israel. Look we know you are facing genocidal extremists who cant be reasoned with but theres's nothing anyone can do because they are genocidal extremists who cant be reasoned with so we think YOU should behave with the utmost reasonableness.
Perhals you can see why Israel is a bit pissed off?

So we just give up and let the jihadis take over? I think thats bizarre tbh. And would result in the end of Israel. All the countries in the ME rely to a greater or lesser extent on trade with rhe West. Qatar and Saudi account for a huge proportion of UK arms sales. Look at all the sucking up we did to Qatar over football. Of course more could be done.
Its extraordinary to say to Israel. Look we know you are facing genocidal extremists who cant be reasoned with but theres's nothing anyone can do because they are genocidal extremists who cant be reasoned with so we think YOU should behave with the utmost reasonableness.
Perhals you can see why Israel is a bit pissed off?

I understand that but isn’t it just being realistic about Islamic radicalism/jihadi culture? I don’t think it’s unreasonable to believe that terrorists who can do things like 7/10 aren’t going to listen to western powers or people telling them to surrender or ‘do the right thing’. They hate us all. They don’t care when people die. They’re happy to die. I don’t absolve Hamas, I just don’t see the point in applying pressure to a group who think the way they do. They’re being reason so why would they listen to it?

You see this is what I don't get and a classic example of it.

Of course Hamas can help. Of course pressure can be put on Hamas to give up the hostages, surrender, stop terrorising their people, stop disrupting aid and, god forbid, maybe actually help aid get to their population.

Why is Hamas always absolved and all resonsibility put onto Israel. Israel has responsibilities, yes, we all agree. So too does Hamas, the PA and all Palestinians and their allies

But Palestinians can’t end the conflict and that’s who they are raising money for.

Hamas won’t end the conflict because they’re happy to die for their cause or will hide outside of Gaza and carry on living wealthy lifestyles whilst plotting/funding atrocities.

Israel don’t need to end the war necessarily as the reason they are at war makes sense - wipe out as many members of Hamas as possible. But Israel can help more aid get into Gaza and that’s what Palestinian civilians need. And that’s what LUSH are campaigning for. Better humanitarian aid for civilians. It’s one sided because one side need aid and only one side can help because they control the borders.

We need to protest about our government enabling genocide. I’m not trying to say that lush have done something brilliantly effective, but at least we are now having this conversation because of their action.

'If you don’t want to support humans or animals or forests then go elsewhere'

I want to support humans, animals and forests.

However apart from being an empty gesture to give staff an extra day off it is poorly worded 'in solidarity of gaza'. They should say 'end the conflict'. This would include all victims including the hostages and of course lets not forget <although Lush seem to have> the victims of Oct 7th.

Uefa, Lush, oap protesters they all need to change their narrative to end the conflict otherwise it kind of looks a bit biased.