Lush boss opposes hunt

kristen thompson/metro vancouver

Karen Wolverton, a co-owner of Lush Cosmetics, protests Canada’s seal hunt outside the company’s Robson Street store at noon yesterday. The anti-seal hunt campaign extended to Lush stores across North America.

Published: March 25, 2009 2:59 a.m.

Last modified: March 25, 2009 3:03 a.m.

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Covered head-to-toe in red paint and lying on a bloody Canadian flag, Karen Wolverton turned heads on Robson Street yesterday afternoon.

Wolverton, who is co-owner of Lush Cosmetics, was meant to represent one of 280,000 seals expected to be slaughtered in Canada’s seal hunt this year.

The cosmetics company yesterday kicked off a campaign in partnership with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society to protest the hunt and raise money for the environmental organization’s fight to protect baby harp seals.

“We’re trying to educate the public on the slaughter that happens every time this year,” said Brandi Halls, spokesperson for Lush. “It’s horrendous and cruel to animals, and we want it to stop.”

We’re an ethical retailer and we do business in Canada, so it seems natural to us to use our storefront as a way to get this message out,” added Halls. “And we’re ashamed about what’s happening.”

Lush employees across North America, including those at the company’s Robson Street store, handed out postcards urging Prime Minister Stephen Harper to outlaw the hunt.

The company has also created a seal-shaped bubble bar called First Swim. Proceeds from the sale of the soap go to Sea Shepherd, which intervenes in the annual seal hunt.

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