Just because the hunts did not “win” their fight, it does not mean they did everything wrong
as charged. In their attempt to change the Labour policy to ban hunts the Country Alliance tried everything in their power - many arrows in their quiver, but, as Thomas said, the voters are in the cities. Every tactic imaginable was thought of. However, anarchists are always available…indeed the same faces are to be seen causing riots at the soccer games, at home and abroad.
I received an answer from Lush: Im quoting relevant paragraphs –
<<Thank you for your recent email. I would like to take this opportunity to explain why we are supporting the Hunt Saboteurs Association, who will directly receive the proceeds from our Fabulous Mrs Fox bubble bar up until and including Boxing Day…
In February 2005, hunting with hounds was made illegal in England and Wales (Scotland having done so a number of years previously). Sadly, despite being supported by more than 80% of the population and after more than 5 years of this ban being in place, hunts right across the country continue to illegally cause untold suffering to animals in the name of sport.
We feel that it is disgraceful that the Hunt Saboteurs Association, a volunteer organisation, are the only people trying to enforce a ban that was passed into Law not just by a majority in Parliament, but with overwhelming support from the majority of the British public. We also believe that this majority think that hunting has ceased now that it is against the law. Sadly this is not the case and we believe the public should have the right to know.
Lush is proud to be associated with the Hunt Saboteurs Association who show the tenacity and bravery to uphold a law that our own police force and government seem reluctant to enforce, despite strong and continued support for the ban from the British public. >>
I wrote back:
So it is all right with you that these crazy people attack human beings and in a recent case MURDERED someone…???
Then you are correct–you should give them money and support.
I am sending your email to everyone I know so that they are aware of just how wrong-headed and dangerous you all are.
They say bad publicity is better than no publicity–but I can only hope you go out of business.
You know nothing about animals. Nothing about hunting with hounds. Nothing about human compassion or kindness.
You might ask them where they get their “facts” from ?
How disappointing, I emailed them as well and will stop using their products.
There was never a referendum or public vote in regard to banning hunting. The 80% figure quoted by Phoney Tony Blair was from Mori polls carried out in towns - not rural areas - I never got polled once in 5 years.
There is also the hidden cost that those who were polled and said no to hunting are unaware of.
Over here we pay Council tax based on the value of our homes. A proprtion of this is towards the cost of local Policing.
The debacle I got caught up in cost the tax payers in my rural area an extra £150,000. because we have such a small force, Police Officers where bused in from as far afield as Manchester to the North and Birmingham to the South.
There were Helicopters, plod on off road motorbikes in the fields and wood, we had to have a pass to get in and out of the yard.
All of those arrested had legal aid (free legal advice including solicitors and barristers) because they were unemployed (surprise surprise) so even their legal representation came out of tax payers money. No one was charged as I recall
All this costs and those who say they wanted hunting banned are ultimatley paying those costs.
The ALF dug up the remains of a local farmers mother in-law from the local church and held her remains to ransom. Just because he breed Guinea pigs for Lab use. The leader of this little band has had cancer treatment - how hypicritical is that. He chose to use drugs tested on animals rather than follow his so called beliefs and die.
This is what we have to deal with. The ALF have deep roots in the Anti-hunt movement and think nothing of injuring horses, riders, landowners, car followers etc.
And Lush by supporting Anti-hunt activists is, by proxy supporting the ALF.
Paddy
Guess which finger I’m holding up.
[I]Dears Ladies and Gentlemen,
I regret to inform you that I will no longer be purchasing Lush products. Your support of the Hunt Saboteurs Association is the cause. This group has been cited often for attacking hunt members, causing injury to riders, horses, and hounds as well as terrorizing children and landowners. They make no discrimination between live and drag hunts, trespass on private property and burglarize huntsmen.
Fox hunting has a large following here in the United States where quarry is run to ground and usually unharmed. Most of the equestrian community who does not partake in hunting supports the rights of fox hunters here and is opposed to any group who would infringe on those rights. News of your support of hunt saboteurs is traveling quickly and I am afraid there are now large boycott groups forming. Your decision to support this cause is most unfortunate for those of us who truly enjoyed your products.
Sincerely,
[/I]
I’ve also had the Lush standard reply, but I bet they are regretting their stance now 
N
Keep Lush protests within the law, urges Countryside Alliance
Charlotte White, H&H deputy news editor
19 October, 2009
The Countryside Alliance (CA) has urged hunt supporters to keep protests against high street cosmetis chain Lush within the law.
Members of the public are reported to have knocked over displays and vandalised stores across the country since Lush launched its bubble bar last week.
Lush hopes sales of the soap in the run up to Boxing Day will raise £50,000 for the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA).
CA spokesman Jill Grieve said: “With repeal of the Hunting Act increasingly likely, it is vital that everyone who supports hunting helps to protect and enhance hunting’s reputation, not discredit it. Legitimate channels of complaint remain the only way to proceed.”
The bubble bar will be sold in Lush stores until Boxing Day, and customers are being asked to complete a postcard asking their local police force to enforce the Hunting Act.
Horseandhound.co.uk forum member, Linda W, said she intends to fill a basket with Lush products, get it weighed and wrapped and then leave the shop.
She said: “I will not be rude or threatening to the staff — unlike the female HSA member who called my six-year-old daughter scum.”
Another added her own poster to a billboard outside the Taunton store, so the sign read “Keep Hunting — For Fox Sake”.
Others have been swapping anti-hunting leaflets in store with those supporting country sports.
Not only will I not be using this line, my bussiness will never carry it, and my client base will be enlighted to this information.
I can not even comment I am so disgusted :no:
Remember too, that these hunt sabs don’t have the guts to show their faces while they are disrupting these hunts…they wear camouflage, military-style gear and balaclavas.
They try to intimidate and cause fear in law abiding people, including children.
They spray hounds with a product called ‘anti-mate’, which hampers their scenting ability, and throw marbles down under the feet of horses.
Much of their hatred of pro-hunting people is class-based.
Many of them have never worked a day in their lives, sponging off the state, when the people they seek to hurt are hard working and law-abiding.
Re arguing in favor of hunting based on conservation/green issues–that’s something all kinds of hunters need to do! (Like pointing out where money for wetlands preservation comes from–federal duck stamps all hunters have to buy in addition to their state license. Plus by and large it’s not fluffy-bunny urban animal lovers who belong to Ducks Unlimited or Pheasants Forever!)
I don’t think I’ve ever bought a Lush product, and I certainly won’t be buying any now, plus if I run into anyone considering it, they’ll be getting an earful (and I do competitive ballroom–we run through an awful lot of cosmetics, fragrances and body/hair care in our sport.) I think, looking at their website, I’ve been in a Lush store at the mall in MA, and I ended up not buying anything anyway as their prices were extortionate for what you got.
Heh, there you go, go in a Lush store, waste the associates’ time which they could be using on paying customers, use up as many (very expensive) testers as you can find an excuse to, and leave without purchasing anything. You don’t have to say a word, it’s perfectly legal, and it smacks them in the bottom line.
Excerpt from today’s Countryside Alliance email
“And what of Lush cosmetics? The high street cosmetics chain decided to market soap in support of the Hunt Saboteurs Association. Following a concerted effort to point out the evils of getting tied up with extremists it seems that all reference to the HSA has since been removed from the Lush website and I noted in a recent visit to Cardiff that the ‘hunt sab soap’ was completely absent.”
Beverly - I’m glad for that news.
I think that danceronice brings up a very good subject - hunting as a wildlife management tool and a “green” form of management at that.
I’m saddened to find that in my state at least - mounted foxhunters do not seem to attend VDGIF meetings, or participate in game/wildlife management at all.
What really shocked me was the number of people who don’t know they need a hunting license to hunt - even as a guest or for Virginia Hunt Week.
Mounted foxhunters can be accused of being conservationists only because it serves our interests- but we know that’s not true. Like DU, QU and other groups it can be hard to get that message out - that conservation is important for its own sake - not just so we can hunt.
A person doesn’t need to belong to a club in order to become involved, you can sign up for emails from your game department, volunteer for clean up at parks (this might be a nice off season project for the club), or otherwise contribute. It’s all good.
[QUOTE=danceronice;4487423]
Re arguing in favor of hunting based on conservation/green issues–that’s something all kinds of hunters need to do! [/QUOTE]
