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Apr
12
We're eager to protect beavers!
On a cool March morning, myself and two LUSH colleagues met Adrian Nelson of the Fur Bearer Defenders at their modest office in Vancouver.
Fur Bearer Defenders has been a LUSH Charity Pot Partner for several years, fighting against the commercial fur trade and creating opportunities to coexist with urban wildlife. We've also built a personal relationship with the organization; hosting information sessions in local shops and volunteering our time to work on projects. The three of us had volunteered our day to help a family of beavers in Mission, a community about 40 miles (65 kilometers) east of our head office in Vancouver.
Why beavers? The beaver is considered a keystone species in North America, increasing the number of plant species by 1/3rd in dammed areas. They've proven to be beneficial to water quality and their ponds provide habitats for fish, waterfowl and other aquatic animals.
Our drive out to the Fraser Valley provided some time for us to get to know Adrian and his role with Fur Bearer Defenders. Adrian is their Director of Communications, and has taken a personal interest in the humane management of urban beaver populations. He travels across North America to conferences about non-lethal management of urban wildlife to build on his knowledge and provides training and assistance to communities and municipalities on alternatives to lethal trapping procedures.
Apr
11
DIY Air Fresheners
The easiest way to freshen the air is to simply use LUSH products.
However, we do like a good crafty project or two. These are three simple, quick projects to keep any room smelling fresh. You’ll need about five minutes, and a few basic supplies for each. It’s a great regular task to include kids in, when supervised by responsible adults. Safe handling and proper care of essential oils will protect both yourself as well as the precious material. As they are highly valuable, and often low-yielding in origin, they can be pricey. Consult an Herbalist or a respected local purveyor for advice on specific ingredients. Or, start at the grocery section for a few basics you can easily extract essence from--without breaking the bank. Three simple recipes to keep your nose happy at home:
Simmering Spices
Create a healthy mist full of detoxifying and blood-warming essential oils. This is perfect for before guests arrive, as a welcome that will warm them from the inside out. Feel free to experiment and add your own special mix or play up the proportions of a favorite ingredient.
Materials Needed: Pot, 2 cups of water, oranges, whole spices such as cinnamon sticks, cloves, allspice, peppercorns, and star anise.
1. Bring 2 cups of water to a gentle boil on the stove. While that’s on, slice oranges into rounds about a quarter-inch thick. In a bowl, mix the spices together. Start with a tablespoon of each spice, but play with the proportions as you like.
2. When water boils, add in the freshly sliced oranges and other spices, and turn heat to simmer.
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Apr
11
Rob Stewart's Revolution
"I spent the better part of my adult life trying to save sharks thinking that sharks were one of the most important animals we've got on this planet, and if we could save them we could save the ecosystems we depend on for survival."
We first met filmmaker and environmental activist Rob Stewart 5 years ago, when his first film Sharkwater was released. It helped to inspire us, and cities and countries around the world to work towards banning shark finning in an effort to halt the extinction of sharks and ultimately, the oceans.
When we heard about Revolution we were excited; it's been 5 years since his last film was released and we were curious about what he had been up to during this time. Revolution expands on the scope of Sharkwater and focuses on the global environmental crises facing the human population.
Rob Stewart has a lot of fans at LUSH (can you blame us?) and we were lucky enough to have him stop by our offices and speak to us about his newest project. Suffice to say our biggest meeting room at head office was packed as he shared how Revolution came to be:
"When Sharkwater first came out there were 16 countries that had banned shark finning - now there's more than 100 and at least 75 territories, states, countries or cities that have banned shark fin altogether. The fin-free movement has been spreading like mad and that's the proof to us that humanity is good.
This [Revolution] is the survival of our own species. The situation has changed for me. From saving sharks to saving humans; if we want to save anything, we've got to save everything.
Apr
9
Employee Profile: Meet Lee O'Connor
Ever wonder what Manu folk do when we’re not making bubbles or massage bars?
Well if you’re Inventory Management Specialist Lee O'Connor, the moment you get out of work or school, you grab your bike and hit the beautiful city of Vancouver to raise money for charities!
As a vegan, an active member of our Manu Charity Pot Team and Manu Green Team, and with a workout schedule that would put most of us to shame, Lee is one of those true gems of LUSH. He does so many amazing things for others and has such an amazing positive attitude all the time, that he’s really someone the rest of us here in the factory look up to! He’s almost never without a smile or a kind word for someone, and he’s taking that positivity to the streets to pass it along!
An avid bike rider, Lee came up with the idea for his nightly charity rides in January of 2013: for the following 365 days, every time he goes on a bike ride (usually every night), he takes a photo of the area of Vancouver that he’s in! Once he posts it on Facebook, his friends and family have the chance to try and guess where in the city the photo was taken – not an easy feat! If they guess it right, Lee donates $5 of his own money to the charity, non-profit, or activist organization of their choice! If no one guesses in between pictures, or if he misses a day, the money rolls over into the next day and is added to that day’s $5! There have been days where the pot has literally climbed, along with Lee, to $50!
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Apr
5
LUSH Cleans Up with San Diego Coastkeeper
For water quality and conservation, it comes down to the little things.
A shorter shower in the morning, using a little less fertilizer in the garden, not washing your car in the driveway, or picking up trash along our waterways all go a long way. When everyone does something small, it adds up to something very impressive.
San Diego Coastkeeper protects and restores swimmable, fishable, drinkable water in San Diego County.
From beach cleanups to water quality monitoring to educational events, we find ways to connect communities with our water resources and share ways we can all help. In February, LUSH Cosmetics partnered with San Diego Coastkeeper, pulling together 30 volunteers for an afternoon cleaning the beach at La Jolla Shores in support of cleaner, healthier water.
A popular beach for residents and tourists alike, La Jolla Shores fronts an Area of Special Biological Significance, one of 34 state-designated marine sites in California recognized for its unique habitat and ecological structure. In just two hours, the team removed 4,835 items from the shoreline. Totaling 26.85 pounds, 2,542 plastic items, 809 cigarette butts and 636 foam pieces were among the debris collected from one of San Diego’s most treasured beaches.
Nearly 80% of debris we find in our oceans starts from land.
Though sometimes left behind on the beach, marine debris can originate much further inland. Blown out of landfills or left on the ground, rain and wind can push into to our waterways, ultimately carrying it to the ocean. Being aware of yo...