The Body Shop Australia is a proud sponsor of this year’s RSPCA Million Paws Walk. Hosted on May 20, tens of thousands of pups will come together for Australia’s biggest dog walk to fight animal cruelty.
The Body Shop Australia team will be at Million Paws Walks across the country to highlight its Forever Against Animal Testing campaign. Launched in conjunction with Cruelty Free International, the campaign is the organisation’s most ambitious crusade calling for a worldwide ban on animal testing in cosmetics, everywhere and forever.
Animal testing very much remains a global issue. Cosmetics and ingredients have been tested on animals for over 50 years, and despite changing ideals and more effective non animal tests, over 80% of countries still do not have any laws against testing in cosmetics.
Australia still has no laws ending animal testing in cosmetics. While the federal government committed to bringing in a ban in July this year, The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International understand that amendments to restrict cosmetics animal testing, via a package of Industrial Chemicals Bills are still before the Senate for consideration and may be subject to further debate and potential amendments.
Cruelty Free International estimates that approximately 500,000 animals are still used in some countries in cosmetics testing every year. This amounts to 1,390 per day and 25 million over 50 years. In fact, a single ingredient being tested can kill at least 1,400 animals alone.
With 5.5 million signatures already achieved by The Body Shop in less than ten months – making it the biggest petition ever against animal testing – the campaign has passed the halfway mark towards its target of eight million signatures.
Once the petition reaches 8 million signatures, The Body Shop and Cruelty Free International will present it to the United Nations, calling for an international convention to ban animal testing on cosmetics to protect millions of animals around the world.
The global petition can be signed online (https://foreveragainstanimaltesting.com) or at any of The Body Shop’s 3,000 stores across the world.
Australians are also being encouraged to use the campaign hashtag #ForeverAgainstAnimalTesting on social media to raise awareness.
Jessica Styles, Communications Manager for The Body Shop Australia, says: “Our sponsorship of the RSPCA’s Million Paws walk is a collaboration we are very excited about. Up to 150 volunteers from The Body Shop will be present at the walks in eight major cities across Australia, ready to spread the campaign message and collect signatures. Not only will this contribute to our global target of eight million, it’s a way to connect with people who are just as passionate about being cruelty-free as we are.”
RSPCA Australia Chief Executive Officer, Heather Neill says: “The RSPCA is excited to be partnering with The Body Shop Australia for this year’s Million Paws Walk, our largest national fundraising event. Each year, thousands of animal lovers join us across the country to celebrate their four-legged friends and support the RSPCA’s important work in preventing animal cruelty and supporting animals in need through our shelters.”
#TheBodyShopAust @thebodyshopaust
For further information please contact:
Michelle Simmonds, One Daydream, E: michelles@onedaydream.com.au
Jessica Styles, The Body Shop Australia, E: jessica.styles@thebodyshop.com.au
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