Celebrating Christmas as an Atheist

[Red]

it roughly pronounced hre-stos.

Are you sure? I'm pretty sure it's pronounced with a Kh sound, and the K is not silenced. Kind of guttural. "Hre" is very soft.

Yes, there is a K sound, however it is quite soft. The R has emphasis on it (you do that thing with your tongue), and the E factor is slightly extended.

[Red]

Anyway, what are you whipper snappers going to get for Christmas?

[EquALLity]

^I'm not sure, for the most part.

I've always wanted to try those LUSH bath bombs... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NxZ3MAF2R3E

Yesterday, I was on the LUSH site, and I came across a notification that LUSH doesn't test its finished products on animals, and that it doesn't buy from suppliers that test. There was a link that came with it:
http://www.lushusa.com/on/demandware.st ... s-fighting

And there was a link somewhere on the site that eventually led me to a page that I think said LUSH might be involved in some third party testing as a result of some law (which didn't really surprise me given that 'finished' products were specified in that notification), but I can't seem to find it now...

On this link: http://www.lushusa.com/on/demandware.st ... troduction
there are a few links that aren't working, involving LUSH's testing polices...
"Find out more about our policy here,"
The link for 'here' leads to this: http://www.fightinganimaltesting.com/th ... -policies/

I'm getting the impression that LUSH is hiding information about its testing policies.

Oh, when I looked up 'animal testing laws europe lush', I found it: https://uk.lush.com/article/animal-testing-our-policy

Authorisation - Substances subject to authorisation can only be used if the particular use has been authorised and the user meets the requirements stated in the permission, or if the use is exempted from licensing obligation (e.g. intermediate uses).

The new REACH Chemical Legislation hits us harder than other cruelty free policies – and means that whilst it was possible to be truly cruelty free and still meet all the stringent legal safety requirements, this new layer of legislation puts our suppliers at risk of being involved in third party testing. The new REACH chemical legislation affects our policy. As mentioned above our suppliers must not be involved in or commission animal testing for any reason, and any materials they supply to LUSH must only buy from other suppliers/manufacturers who are NOT involved in the use of, or commission of, animal testing, for any reason. However due to the introduction of REACH we had to make an unavoidable exception to our policy: If a supplier gets involved in animal testing due to the unavoidable requirements of meeting the requirements of REACH legislation, we have to ‘accept’ this. Whilst we recognise the now unavoidable exception of REACH legislation, LUSH continue to encourage suppliers, who have to test for safety, to use alternative testing methods and to fund the development of non-animal test methods. We also seek to re-source or reformulate a product formula to eliminate any ingredient suddenly tested on animals.

Difficulties / other testing policies

No other company follows this policy. Which means we are also often left off ‘cruelty free’ lists simply because the organisations that compile the lists either:

Do not fully understand our policy
Do not have a convenient pigeon hole for us so would have to give us our own heading section as our policy exceeds their standards
Only lists companies licenced under their own scheme
Or perhaps they simply do not agree with our route to the solution?

However lots of animal protection organisations do see the strength of Lush’s policy and are happy to include us in their cruelty free lists, even though we do not fit in the same category as the other standards.

Our policy is a hard policy to stick to and means that we have a smaller pool of suppliers to choose from than most companies.

Lush intends to highlight this and work towards a day when all animals are safe from testing and properly protected by worldwide laws.

What?

It sounds like they're talking out both sides of their mouth.

As mentioned above our suppliers must not be involved in or commission animal testing for any reason, and any materials they supply to LUSH must only buy from other suppliers/manufacturers who are NOT involved in the use of, or commission of, animal testing, for any reason.

If a supplier gets involved in animal testing due to the unavoidable requirements of meeting the requirements of REACH legislation, we have to ‘accept’ this.

...Well which is it?

Interesting, that link is from the UK LUSH site, and everything else was from the US one, and I can't seem to find this on the US site. I guess it's because the legislation only applies to countries in the EU.
The US site had that notification though.

Not sure whether or not I should stop supporting LUSH because it may be required to be involved in animal testing. What do you think?

[Mateo3112]

Most people where i live don't see christmas as a christian celebration, some don't even remember where it is from. For us christmas is just an excuse for reuniting with family and exchanging gifts (Because you know, consumerism xD).

[brimstoneSalad]

I wouldn't buy LUSH because it's expensive.

If stupid laws require animal testing somewhere, though, that part is unavoidable and not something the company has done (so not buying from them because of that won't help things).

[EquALLity]

^Some products are really expensive, yeah, but a lot of them are reasonably priced.

Most of this page seems pretty well-priced.:http://www.lushusa.com/Bath-Bombs/bath-bombs,en_US,sc.html

But anyway, this law only applies to companies in countries in the EU. So wouldn't it be best to avoid those companies?
And also, now I'm thinking... What about the dyes in there? Dyes are tested on animals.

[Insert name here]

Anyway, what are you whipper snappers going to get for Christmas?

I just asked for dishonored, anything else I get will be a surprise.

[Red]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I've never played dishonoured is it good?

[Insert name here]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
I've never played dishonoured is it good?

I would say that it is very good. The number one problem is that it is way too short, and the other main problem is that there is no free running machanic in the game. But that doesn't stop it from being one of the best games ever created.

[Mateo3112]

Yes! Dishonored ftw! I was gonna ask for a videogame, but i haven't finished Dead Rising and Borderlands 2, so i asked for something different: A graphic tablet. It seemed like a good idea, i love drawing, although most of what i draw is anime xD