Member of the UK Parliament Caroline Lucas signs Cruelty Free International pledge to end animal testing for cosmetics
28/05/2012
UK Member of Parliament, Caroline Lucas Caroline Lucas, has signed the international petition for a global ban on the use of animals to test cosmetics at The Body Shop store in Brighton. The first The Body Shop store was opened in Brighton 1976, and is well known for campaigning against animal testing.
The global pledge to ban animal testing for cosmetics was launched by Cruelty Free International last week at over 300 The Body Shop stores in the UK, and will roll out over the coming weeks at The Body Shop stores in 65 countries across the world. It is the largest and most ambitious campaign ever to seek a global ban on the use of animals to test cosmetics.
Caroline Lucas, MP for Brighton Pavilion said: “I’m delighted to be the first MP to sign the Cruelty Free International pledge and call on Governments around the world to ban the testing of cosmetics on animals. Given the history which the Body Shop has in Brighton, I know many of my constituents will want to join me in signing the pledge and support Cruelty Free International in their campaign to end this cruel and unnecessary practise.”
Michelle Thew, Chief Executive Officer of Cruelty Free International said: “I am so pleased that Caroline is supporting our efforts to tell the world about the continued cruelty to animals for cosmetics. Please add your voice by signing the Cruelty Free International pledge to ban the cruel use of animals to test cosmetics.”
There is no worldwide ban on animal testing for cosmetics. Despite progress with some countries and companies, over 80% of the world still allows animals to be used in cruel experiments. Cruelty Free International, the first organisation and global campaign dedicated to ending cosmetics testing on animals throughout the world, was launched on March 17th with the support of Ricky Gervais, Ambassador of the organisation.
Established by the BUAV, one of the world’s longest standing and most respected animal protection organisations, Cruelty Free International works with governments, regulators, companies and partner organisations worldwide. It is placing the issue of animal testing on the agenda of many governments for the very first time as part of a global strategy to tackle cosmetics testing on animals.
The Body Shop customers in countries including the USA, Australia, South Africa, Hong Kong, India, Thailand, Mexico and Saudi Arabia will soon have the opportunity to sign a pledge in-store. In addition to engaging with the estimated 275 million people a year who visit The Body Shop stores, Cruelty Free International will also be linking with The Body Shop websites, which host millions of customers annually.
Sign the pledge in your nearest The Body Shop store or visit www.CrueltyFreeInternational.org/telltheworld
The BUAV runs the internationally recognised scheme that enables consumers to identify and purchase cruelty-free products. In the UK this scheme, known as the Humane Household Products Standard, is identified by the Leaping Bunny trademark.