Lush, what is the point?!

Have you not watched the news videos showing mass starvation? Every international organisation including the UN and Oxfam condemn the Israeli blockades. Even Trump has seen the evidence and been convinced .

And info about the watermelon soap including a very upsetting Save the Children report : https://weare.lush.com/lush-life/our-giving/watermelon/

A reminder that 100% of the profits went 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. Something that is desperately needed in the area and can make a difference to those children’s futures.

Next, 100% of the profits will go towards helping people in Gaza who need prosthetics. Another worthy cause in my mind that will be life changing for the children it helps.

If that’s not a cause you can get behind though, you can also save some bees, you can help protect the Amazon from forest fires, or support human rights in Mexico or forest conservation or donate to a children’s cancer.

Again, I’m not actually a huge fan of their products because the shop is so heavily scented and my days of lounging in the bath are sadly long gone but the uproar against a company that does so much good fundraising is surprising. No one is making you buy the soap. If you don’t want to support humans or animals or forests then go elsewhere.

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.

Perhaps they would have been better placed campaigning for the release of the hostages and the surrender of Hamas, which would bring the war to a close. Gestures like this only embolden Hamas.

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.

People in Gaza including children are being deliberately starved. Collecting money is no use because aid is being blocked by the Israelis. Many Jewish people are very shocked and joining the protests.

Of course it isnt what a ludicrous argument. Closing your shops is the definition of doing nothing. On that basis every shop should close permenently or otherwise they are doing nothing about children abducted by Russians in Ukraine, babies starving in Yemen, Sudan, human rights in DRC or Qatar, sex apartheid in Iran. Or is it only Gaza we're not allowed to do nothing about?

Amazing … well done LUSH

According to Lush's own website their expansion plans include Iran.

Making a protest is surely better than doing nothing at all?

I don't think a Marathon or fundraising would make national news. Or cause you to write a thread about it. Profile raising is the most important thing at this moment.

Also they will still be paying rates and employment taxes.

We should be boycotting Lush then, No? Gosh, what to do?

Lush have stores in Saudi Arabia.

Im sure it will be on the next cabinet agenda. I wasn't aware lots of businesses had closed. Which other businesses closed alongside Lush?
Anyway as it was so successful I expect there will be loads of aid going in now, which is obviously good news. I hope Hugh Bonneville doesn't try to steal the credit from Lush. Though its ok because all consciousness raising is good.

I guess it is something the government will notice though, and also members of the public, seeing lots of businesses close on the same day. Fundraising doesn’t help much when aid can’t be brought in and distributed so protest is vital.

Hardly vitriol is it? Its completely legitimate to point out that its a hollow gesture.

I thought the same - donate all profits for a day to Gaza.

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?

Just amazed at how a business that raises awareness for the plight of people in Gaza can get so much vitriol on mumsnet

Arent they the same place that did some weird police protest thing a few years ago, I presume they dont report shoplifters or staff stealing from them?