Posted April 3, 2011 by Rob T in Useful Stuff, Vegan Beauty, Veganspiration. Tagged: animal testing, cruelty-free, EU, humane society, leona lewis, ricky gervais, vegan, vegetarian. Leave a Comment

Leona Lewis, Ricky Gervais and one of the Mels from the Spice Girls (the sporty one) have all shown their support to the Humane Society International and their petition to get animal tested products banned in Europe by 2013.

There have been several plans to end selling animal tested cosmetics throughout Europe over the last couple of decades, with the ban originally scheduled for 1998 but being pushed back several times. The latest plan is to end testing by 2013, but there are now further plans to push this date back again. The HSI has had enough and has launched a large petition to gain support for the 2013 ban, with over 40,000 signatures so far. This petition is set to be handed over to EU officials at the end of this year.

This will hopefully lead to a ban on selling animal tested products in European stores, and will show negative feedback for the REACH initiative – a ridiculous procedure put into place by the EU in which every ingredient used in cosmetics (even those deemed entirely safe) will be tested on a mass-scale – nothing short of an animal holocaust.

So, long-term animal rights supporters Leona Lewis and Ricky Gervais, as well as, curiously, Mel C have all pledged allegiance to the HSI’s campaign by getting tattoos (albeit, temporary ones) of bunnies saying ‘End Animal Testing’. The shots of the different celebs showing off their tattoos can be seen on the HSI’s website.

Leona Lewis highlighted the importance of signing the petition by saying “if companies can’t sell their products, they’ll stop animal testing, and we’ll be one stop closer to the whole world being cruelty-free.”

Ricky Gervais said on the issue “It’s shocking to think that behind the glamorous advertising and glossy packaging, there can lurk the ugly truth of chemicals forced down an animal’s throat. It would be nice if companies would stop animal testing just because it’s the right thing to do. But in reality, for as long as they can sell their products, they’re unlikely to change. That’s why I’ve signed HSI’s Cruelty-Free 2013 petition calling for the sale of animal-tested cosmetics to be banned in the EU without delay.”

It’s about time the issue of animal testing was taken into consideration in a far more serious way. It’s something that nearly everyone opposes, as with fur, yet testing continues on a mass-scale everyday. To sign the HSI’s petition and register your support for the European ban of animal tested cosmetics, click here. But then, maybe avoid getting a Mel C face tattoo. I mean, respect for showing your support and all, but I’m not sure how long it’ll be before you regret that one…

Read more: http://www.looktothestars.org/news/6053-leona-lewis-and-ricky-gervais-get-tattoos-for-animal-charity#ixzz1ISJK128i If companies can’t sell their products, they’ll stop animal testing, and we’ll be one stop closer to the whole world being cruelty-free.