Re: LUSH Cosmetics Supports Anti-Israel Extremism -- Join the Boycott Message Board

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Date Posted: 19:49:06 07/17/11 Sun
Author: D
Author Host/IP: c-76-24-23-198.hsd1.ma.comcast.net / 76.24.23.198
Subject: Re: LUSH Cosmetics Supports Anti-Israel Extremism
In reply to: david 's message, "LUSH Cosmetics Supports Anti-Israel Extremism" on 11:37:09 07/12/11 Tue

To those representing Lush,

My husband and I live in *********, right near your ********** location. For years, I have enjoyed Lush products, exploding bubbles in my bathtub, and the many scents you provide. I've bought them as treats for myself, my husband has bought them as gifts -- and more importantly, I have helped to spread your name among our friends and family when buying gifts for everyone. As a result, you have me directly to thank for many, many extra customers who continued to buy your products after I've gifted them. And now, I can promise you that just as easily, I wish to take away this whole set of customers - but this time, I will work harder to ripple through a larger set of people to advocate against you.

I am appalled to learn that you are spending MY, my friends' and family's hard-earned dollars - that we naively spend at your doors, innocently thinking we are just contributing to a soap company - to advocate for, support, and "raise awareness" for the "One World Campaign" which you openly advertise on your LUSH page (http://www.lush.co.uk/articles/our-ethical-campaigns/oneworld_100-10285_10.html) as "FREEDOM FOR PALESTINE". I resent you taking any political stance whatsoever as it is wholly unprofessional, unprovoked, and irresponsible. Have you ever been to Israel? Do you understand that despite your take on the 'Middle east conflict', that the above three manipulative words ALONE call Israel oppressive and place it in a negative light - with no basis (not to mention the rest of your biased and shameful article)? In fact, you DO call Israel a "human rights abuser" - HOW DARE YOU!?

This is a controversial and heated ongoing debate - how can you, a SOAP AND COSMETICS COMPANY, make such statements like, "For those living in the Occupied Palestinian Territories, the situation is critical. Israel's siege of Gaza has condemned its 1.5 million inhabitants to levels of poverty more commonly associated with sub-Saharan Africa - a humanitarian disaster with no end in sight. " and pass them as fact?! You despicably discuss the Palestinian children in refugee camps, pass this off as fully Israel's fault, and then have the gall to state that this is illegal under international law? You had better fire all of your writing staff and make sure that next time you decide to alienate a whole customer base, you do so by ensuring your facts are correct. The poverty levels, the faults - these are all highly controversial and heavily debated topics. Moreover, citing international law is disgraceful when these very Palestinian people whose cause you have undertaken break this very same law in horrific and unabashedly inhumane ways - terrorism, mortars, rockets, even throwing rocks and urinating on both Israeli soldiers and civilians. You act as though the Palestinian people are a wholly innocent and victimized bunch, silently advocating for their cause with no bloody history such as, for example, a true hero like Gandhi. Get your facts straight! This is a complex and multi-faceted issue which you should stay the hell away from, again, AS A SOAP COMPANY! You want to help humanitarian causes? Help local communities! Help US poverty, which you are geographically and factually surrounded by! Help unemployment - help any one of the myriad of local and NEUTRAL issues facing us and stay AWAY from serious political matters! I am shocked, disgusted, and repulsed by your actions - and that is a very mild description of my feelings.

1) You are a soap company - you have absolutely no business in politics. How dare you take my money for benign products I use to wash myself and turn it into advocacy for a cause many of your customers will disagree with. This is truly an affront to business ethics and ethical practices.

2) Were you to stupidly become involved in politics, I'm disgusted that you are so uninhibited in any attempt to do so in a 'politically correct' way - instead of advocating for a neutral cause such as peace in the Middle East in general, you are actively taking sides! And in the process, forcing me - a customer who has provided to you many dollars and a large customer basis - to support a political stance (mind you, one that remains VERY heavily debated!).

3) If you dare to take such political sides, I demand that you then use equal resources, funds, and "awareness" building for the victims of your cause: the many terrorist victims and their families. There are plenty of groups and agencies from which to choose.

I doubt words can express my horror and vile contempt towards your company - I feel cheated and manipulated, ashamed and regretful of the positive customer base I have built for you and its many resulting dollars. Rest assured that I will never, ever again shop at any Lush location, and I will work very hard to destroy any positive light I have shed on your company. You should be ashamed of yourselves.

Most sincerely,
~D

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Replies:

Re: LUSH Cosmetics Supports Anti-Israel Extremism -- Pablo, 07:53:14 07/18/11 Mon