Lush supports closure of Guantanamo Bay

The company is known for its activism having criticised the EU for being too slow to ban animal testing and regularly making a stand against the unnecessary use of packaging in the cosmetics industry. However, the company does not limit its campaigning to industry related issues and the support of the fight to close one of the world's most notorious prisons is another example of Lush's social activism. "Because Lush is a cosmetics company we normally campaign over the rights of mice and rabbits being harmed in pointless and cruel safety experiments, but when humans are being treated worse than rats in a cage we knew it was time to launch an initiative to close Guantánamo,"​ explained company founder Mark Constantine. Director of Reprieve and human rights lawyer Clive Stafford Smith said that the charity is 'delighted' by the involvement of the company in the 'fight for justice for the prisoners in Guantanamo Bay'. ​ Guantanamo Garden bath ball ​ In order to publicise the cause Lush has released a bath ball coloured orange as a reference to the inmates' infamous orange overalls. The ball tells the story of the hope and despair of the inmates of Guantanamo Bay, in particular the creation of a secret garden by some of the prisoners using seeds from their everyday meals inspiring the product's name, Guantanamo Garden. When placed in the bath the ball will fizz, dissolving to release a hidden photo of two of Guantanamo's inmates Al Jareeza News camera man Sami Al Haj and British resident Binyam Mohamed, with a note to urge consumers to take action and visit the Reprieve site. In addition, the proceeds from the sale of the Charity Pot - a moisturiser product from which proceeds are donated to charities of the company's choosing - will this week be donated to Reprieve in support of the closure of the prison. ​ Fair Trial My Arse ​ The company will also be displaying orange briefs in store windows with the slogan Fair Trial My Arse for the week starting March 3. The slogan was inspired by allegations from the US government that Stafford Smith was illegally smuggling underwear to the inmates of the prison. Lush is not the only consumer goods company who have used the slogan. Fashion designer Vivienne Westwood, similarly known for her outspoken nature, featured the Agent Provocateur Fair Trial My Arse briefs at her fashion show in London on the 14 February.