" I love Kimberley" campaign petition handover

Last night was the formal handover of the 24,131 signed “I love Kimberley” petitions (in the three boxes pictured) to Minister Tony Burke last night, Graeme, Ali & Don enjoyed an hour long chat with him after the handover.

Here's the money shot photo with The Hon. Tony Burke MP (Minister for Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities), Ali Ardern (The Body Shop Woden), Graeme Wise (Chairman of The Body Shop), Don Henry (CEO, Australian Conservation Foundation).

According to ACF: "While the Minister’s heart might be in the right place, Ali could not quite convince the Minister to join the others in making a heart shape with his hands! The busy staff in the Minister’s office were absolutely delighted to receive the small gifts of heart shaped soap and other products from The Body Shop – and the scent of The Body Shop will permeate the atmosphere there for a while."

Great work Ali! We're so glad you were there to represent our store staff!

Here's the media bite & the money shot of the handover:

The Body Shop customers call to protect our Kimberley

Over 24,000 Body Shop customers around Australia joined forces with the Australian Conservation Foundation (ACF) calling on the Government to protect the iconic Kimberley region.

Over a month-long campaign in September and October 2011, 24,131 Body Shop customers in 83 stores signed letters to Environment Minister Tony Burke urging the Government to protect the Kimberley’s natural and cultural values.

“We had an unprecedented customer response to this campaign highlighting the importance of protecting this outstanding region of Australia,” said Graeme Wise, Chairman of The Body Shop.

“While we have welcomed the National Heritage listing of the Kimberley, many real threats to the region loom, including Woodside’s proposed LNG hub at James Price Point,” said Don Henry, ACF CEO.

Happy 50th Anniversary Amnesty International

Watch this fantastic new video celebrating Amnesty International's 50th Anniversary.
Find out all the amazing things they do to defend human rights.

Support Amnesty International now! www.amnesty.org.au

In the lead up to Christmas 2011 The Body Shop Australia sold 79,020 Amnesty International Christmas cards - generating $102,330.90 in sales (100% of proceeds go to Amnesty International). We also proudly displayed the below posters in our windows promoting their Homelands campaign.

Support Amnesty International now! www.amnesty.org.au

Christmas Gifts that keep on giving...

Have you finished your Christmas Shopping yet? There are plenty of great gifts you can give that help people in need all over the world.

How about scaling back on the gifts for family this year, and buy a gift for someone in need.

Below are some fantastic websites with great gift ideas that 'keep on giving'. And after all, giving to others is what Christmas is all about!

Give Now
Christmas Tips
Useful Gifts
Oxfam Gifts
The Smith Family
Berry Street Merry Christmas Appeal
World Vision Gifts

Labor party pledge moves live export debate forward

Text and photos courtesy of WSPA

Labor has rejected a move to phase out live exports at this weekend’s National Party Conference, but WSPA is encouraged by moves to support alternatives to the cruel trade.


WSPA Captains demonstrating at the Labor Party conference











At Sunday's National Labor Party Conference in Sydney, MP Melissa Parke put forward an amendment asking delegates to support a four-year transition away from live export to a strengthened Australian chilled meat export trade – a move that would both protect Australian animals and promote Australian jobs.

The vote was so close that it was put to an official count, however sadly, support for the amendment fell just short with 173 votes for and 216 against.

WSPA Campaign Manager Jodie Jankevics said, “Whilst we’re disappointed Ms Parke's amendment didn't get through, we’re also very encouraged by Minister Ludwig’s move to create infrastructure that would support alternatives to the live export trade in the North.”

“Coupled with a stronger Labor focus on the elimination of chilled meat trade barriers such as tariffs, we believe practical steps are slowly being put into place to allow the supply chain to reduce its reliance on live export and move to a more humane and sustainable alternative.”

WSPA supporters’ efforts across the country through our "Move Forward" campaign have played a key role in raising awareness of the benefits of transitioning away from the live export trade with both the general public and importantly many key decision makers.

Since October, with the support of more than 100 volunteer Captains and their teams, we have generated over 80 pieces of media coverage nationally, had face-to-face meetings with almost 40 Labor representatives and union officials and collected over 11,000 new petition signatures.


Just one of many examples of a Captain who got published in her local paper.
















It was all of this tremendous activity that helped make yesterday’s historic vote possible. Together we really have moved the debate around live exports forward and are now one step closer to ending this cruel and unnecessary trade.

On another positive note, Ms Parke also put forward an amendment this weekend calling for an Independent Commission of Animal Welfare, which was passed. WSPA would like to thank Ms Parke for all of her efforts to help improve animal welfare.

WSPA will continue to work with industry and Government to transition away from the live export trade to an alternative that protects animals from cruelty. With the start of a New Year just around the corner, we now have some new opportunities for change for animals that we can pursue - keep a look out for some exciting new initiatives in 2012!

Daniel Johns and Chris Cheney join forces with Wspa and offer signed guitar to help dogs around the world

Text and photo courtesy of WSPA

Two of Australia’s most prominent and successful rock musicians, Daniel Johns and Chris Cheney, have exclusively joined forces to raise funds and awareness for WSPA’s ‘Collars not Cruelty’ a campaign to help improve the lives of tens of thousands of street dogs around the globe. Both musicians are taking part in a competition to win a rockin’ Epiphone Les Paul Studio guitar signed by both and kindly donated by The Gibson Foundation.

Chris said, “Typically the only times where Daniel and I reconnect is for something purely for our own benefit, like at a gig or a festival. This is a cause, a mission, a message and something of importance.”

Daniel added, “This is something we could do on a selfless level, as soon as Chris and I heard about WSPA’s campaign and the 20 million dogs brutally slaughtered every year, we knew we had to ‘man up’ and do something about it.”

To enter the competition visit dollarsforcollars.org.au and buy a virtual collar for just $10 and tell us in 25 words or less why dogs mean the world to you. Two exclusive videos will then be unlocked featuring Daniel and Chris, one a more serious insight into the inhumane culling of dogs around the world, the other a candid and fun quiz where Daniel and Chris answer a series of dog-related questions with comical results.

All entries will be judged by Daniel and Chris and the most creative answer will win this fantastic piece of rock history. Each entry and virtual collar bought will donate vital funds to help convince the world to stop killing dogs in response to rabies and will help work with governments to stop the cruelty and instead run effective dog vaccination programmes.

Daniel will also personally sign a copy of Andrew Zuckermann’s acclaimed coffee table book ‘Music’ in which he is featured, as a special runner-up prize. Chris is generously providing a The Living End merchandise pack that includes a signed copy of Guitar Australia Magazine with him on the cover, a signed copy of ‘The Ending is Just the Beginning Repeating’ album, a signed The Living End t-shirt as well as a The Living End iPhone 4 cover, stickers and badges.

WSPA spokesperson Joanna Tuckwell said, “Every year up to 20 million dogs are inhumanely culled across the world - that’s the equivalent of 38 dogs every minute. These dogs are often poisoned, beaten or gassed to death as part of this culling process. Such cruelty is clearly unacceptable and we are proud and excited to have Daniel and Chris join WSPA as ambassadors for the ‘Collars not Cruelty’ campaign.”

Chris concludes, “The vital funds raised at dollarsforcollars.org.au will ensure that WSPA can campaign to let people know that vaccination and not culling, is the solution to the rabies problem. Upon vaccination these dogs are given red collars and communities then know that these dogs are safe from the disease, this is a noble and practical solution and you can help make it a success.”

To buy a virtual collar, unlock exclusive video content and a chance to win the signed guitar, visit dollarsforcollars.org.au. To see a special teaser video featuring Daniel and Chris visit http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9DbnJqb0wI