Anti-animal testing activists rejoice! Lush has put the horrific sequences of animal testing into a space where no-one can ignore it: one of London's busiest shopping streets.

Joining forces with Humane Society International, Lush Cosmetics today launched the largest-ever global campaign to end animal testing on cosmetics in its Regent Street store window.

Image via The Drum

Horrified shoppers witnessed the 'test subject', a young woman called Jaqueline Traide, being put through a series of tests that highlight the pain and cruelty inflicted on animals during laboratory tests on cosmetics.

Unlike the real life animals that through painful experiments each and every single day for the sake of beauty, 24-year-old Jaqueline had volunteered to be put through tests such as:
- Being force-fed, her mouth stretched open with two metal hooks
- Having irritant sprayed into her eyes
- Being restrained for ten hours
- Having a large strip of her hairline shaved off using electronic clippers
- Being manhandled by a lab technician

Publicly humiliated and nursing the red-raw skin on her cheeks after having various wonder creams put on her body, Jaqueline was, unlike helpless animals around the world, free to go home after the experiments had ended. The animals on the other hand will have suffered a miserable death.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, Lush campaign manager Tamsin Omond said: 'The ironic thing is that if it was a beagle in the window and we were doing all these things to it, we'd have the police and RSPCA here in minutes. But somewhere in the world, this kind of thing is happening to an animal every few seconds on average. The difference is, it's normally hidden. We need to remind people it is still going on.'

Humane Society spokeswoman Wendy Higgins said it was 'morally unthinkable' that cosmetic companies should continue to profit from animal suffering, adding there could be 'no justification for subjecting animals to pain for the sake of producing lipstick and eye shadow'.

Well done for Lush and Humane Society International for taking a risk and showing people exactly what is going on behind closed lab doors!

Sign the petition here.

More images and a video can be found on The Daily Mail.

London tourists certainly got a different view of Big Ben as blonde beauty Victoria Eisermann - the female winner of PETA's 2007 Sexiest Vegetarian in Europe contest - gave bloodbath a new meaning this morning.

Sitting in a bathtub filled with fake blood with a banner that read "Stop the Bloodbath, Dr Cable: Support EU's Cosmetics Testing Ban", the naked lady was in full view of the Houses of Parliament earlier today.

Eisermann and PETA's 'blood bath' took place to make a statement to the European Commission, which is considering postponing the 2013 deadline for banning the sale of cosmetics that have been partially or fully tested on animals after pressure from the cosmetics industry.

Why was Vince Cable, UK Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, targeted? Because he has refused to commit to backing the ban as scheduled. Naughty Mr Cable, very naughty.

"Everyone knows that cosmetics testing on animals is a bloody, indefensible business, but the government is standing by and doing nothing while the EU ban on selling cosmetics that have been tested on animals is under threat", says Victoria, a vegan and an ex-Playboy model. "Vince Cable needs to stand up for what's right, represent the people of this country and throw Britain's weight behind the 2013 ban."

In 2003, the European Parliament voted to end the sale of all cosmetics and toiletries containing ingredients tested on animals, setting a final deadline of 2013 for a full ban. Although the testing of cosmetics on animals is already banned in the EU, companies that test elsewhere can still sell their products in the EU until then.

For more information, please visit PETA.org.uk.

Joss Stone has become the latest celeb to support BUAV's new global non-profit organisation Cruelty Free International and its mission to end product testing on animals worldwide.

Shockingly over 80% of the world still allows animals to be used in cruel experiments for the sake of beauty. Despite progress with some countries and companies, animals that many consider pets, such as rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats, are routinely injected, gassed, force-fed or killed for cosmetic testing.

Joss Stone said: "I'm proud to support Cruelty Free International. At last someone has stepped up to the plate to take on the task of ending cosmetics tests on animals around the world."

"Thousands of animals continue to die each year for lipstick, toothpaste, fragrance and other products, so it's crucial that we campaign for a global ban. Cruelty Free International has taken on this challenge and I am pleased to support them, and I urge you all to do the same."

Stone joins UK actor Ricky Gervais, who is the Ambassador of Cruelty Free International. See what Ricky has to say below:

Ahead of Earth Hour 2012, WWF has launched an interactive website - Foodstory - that highlights some of the problems the world is facing when it comes to food sustainability and global hunger. These include:

Producing the meat and dairy we eat causes 30% of the loss of our natural world

30% of UK greenhouse gas emissions come from the food we eat

1.5 billion people worldwide eat too much while a billion people go hungry, which is quite ironic as enough food to feed the world and to create a healthy future for people and the planet

In the words of the WWF, 'If we want to keep our world brilliant we have to change how and what we eat.'

It is time to take action and call for the UK Government and its Food Ministers to develop a strategy to meet the challenge.

Earth Hour takes place at 8:30pm on Saturday 31st March 2012.

Ever since we heard the news earlier this week that meat is now being grown in labs, with scientists using stem cells to create strips of beef, the debate has been quite lively here at Hippyshopper HQ: Would you eat test-tube meat?

According to this article on BBC.co.uk, Dutch scientists are now working towards creating a more efficient alternative to rearing animals and have so far successfully grown small pieces of beef muscle in a laboratory. The beef strips are then to be mixed with blood and artificially grown fat to produce a hamburger by the autumn.

The cells initially used to grow the beef strips come from by-products of slaughtered animals, but could potentially be taken from a living animal in the future.

Besides the discussion of would you eat it or not, I suppose there is the question of if vegetarians could, and would, eat this lab-grown meat? According to the Vegetarian Society, a vegetarian does not eat 'any meat, poultry, game, fish, shellfish or crustacean, or the by-products of slaughter'. So as it currently stands, these synthetic hamburgers would be a no-go for vegetarians.

However, leaving the idea that a meat-free diet is healthier aside, in the future, if no animals have been killed or hurt in the process of making this type of meat, vegetarians could potentially eat this meat if they (as most vegetarians I know) are doing it on grounds of animal welfare. In the end, I suppose it comes down to individual choice. But with the first lab-grown burgers estimated to cost around £200,000 to produce, there is still a long way to go before we would see it in our local supermarket.

But going back to the original question: Would you eat test-tube meat? For the devoted vegetarians in the office the answer was simple: no, they wouldn't. For me, a carnivore with a conscience - I'd never have an animal killed for the sake of ending up on my plate and I do care about animal rights - I would definitely try it. And if it means an end to unnecessary slaughtering of animals and a more fair distribution of food worldwide, the future is looking brighter when seen from the lab lights.

Leona Lewis has issued a personal plea to help end the suffering of animals used in cosmetics testing.

The 'Hurt' hitmaker has sent a Valentine's card and letter to John Dalli, the European Commissioner for Health and Consumer Policy, to encourage him to support Humane Society International's CrueltyFree2013 campaign against animal testing.

She wrote: "Like most girls, I love make-up, but my ethical principles are also very important to me. No new lipstick, eye-liner or other cosmetics ingredient can ever be worth the suffering and death of defenceless animals forced to endure painful toxicity tests.

"These gentle animals are killed by the hundreds in some tests, despite the fact that manufacturing products free of new animal testing is perfectly possible through the use of thousands of existing, safe ingredients.

"Animals have suffered enough - if their pain has been deemed immoral within the EU, it must also be immoral outside the EU. To trade in their pain would be hypocrisy."

Leona is one of a number of stars, including the likes of Ricky Gervais, Dame Judi Dench, Melanie C, and Sir Roger Moore, to have signed the CrueltyFree2013 online petition.

In 2009, the European Union banned animal testing for cosmetics, but ingredients are still able to be tested on animals in other countries and sold in EU shops.

Frankly any excuse to use a picture of Morrissey on Hippyshopper, but especially one of him wearing a cat on his head - is that the worst wig you've ever seen?

Anyway, despite looking a bit, well, eccentric, it's all for a good cause: to end animal testing for new cosmetics sold in the European Union.

Explains Morrissey: "Say no to injecting, force-feeding or forcing animals to inhale substances for a new lipstick or shampoo. Please join me in signing the BUAV No Cruel Cosmetics petition to stop the sale of new animal tested cosmetics in the EU."

Despite UK and EU bans on animal testing for cosmetics, products can still be tested on animals in other parts of the world and then imported and sold in the EU. A marketing ban which would end this cruelty is due to come into effect in 2013.

However, it is now in danger of being delayed, thereby putting thousands more animals at risk, who will continue to suffer and die needlessly in cruel tests for new beauty products sold in the EU.

A delay could mean that hundreds of thousands more rabbits, guinea pigs, mice and rats will be injected, gassed or force-fed cosmetics worldwide for new beauty products sold in the EU, including the UK.

Morrissey joins a number of high profile celebrities to sign the No Cruel Cosmetics petition, including Sir Paul McCartney, Sienna Miller, Jodie Kidd, Jenny Seagrove and Kimberly Wyatt.

The No Cruel Cosmetics petition has over 140,000 signatories. It can be found at NoCruelCosmetics.org

The BUAV (British Union Against Vivisection) Chief Executive, Michelle Thew, stated: "We are delighted that Morrissey is helping the BUAV save animals from suffering and death in tests for cosmetics products sold in the EU. Please join him to help us end this cruelty. Add your name to the BUAV petition at www.NoCruelCosmetics.org today."

Who eats turkey at Christmas?! Not these compassionate celebrities, who have made the choice not to gobble down something that used to ... gobble.

Here are our favourite veggie and vegan celebrities who will be tucking into their nutloaf or Quorn roast this Chrimbo!

For the full list of celebrities go to Peta's website

Tonight on Remembrance Day, 11 November, British celebrities like Peter Andre, Martine McCutcheon, Ester Rantzen, and Nicky Clarke will show their support for our furry friends as they attend the Battersea Dogs & Cats Home's Collars & Coats Gala ball, the biggest annual fundraiser for the animal charity.

The Battersea Home's legendary Guard of honour, made up of dozens of Battersea dogs, will line the red carpet entrance and will most certain provide an emotional welcome to the guests.

The Collars and Coats Gala Ball, which celebrates Battersea's unparalleled work caring for thousands of lost, abandoned and unwanted animals, is hosted by media personality Peter Andre and promises a high octane evening with a distinguished guest list that boasts the showbiz and entertainment glitterati, influential business leaders, society and public figures, stars from the world of sport and British Royalty.

There will be musical performances by legendary act Status Quo as well as Lulu.

Guests include celebrated British actresses Prunella Scales and Martine McCutcheon, fashionista Brix Smith Start, television presenters Esther Rantzen, Kate Walsh and Jasmine Harman, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel-Horwood, and celebrity hair-dresser Nicky Clarke.

Stage and screen star Sienna Miller has joined the increasing list of high profile celebrities supporting the BUAV No Cruel Cosmetics campaign to end animal testing for toiletries and cosmetics sold in the EU.

The UK and EU have already banned the use of animals to test cosmetics and toiletries, but companies are still able to sell products in the EU that have been tested on animals in other parts of the world. A ban on the import and sale of new animal tested cosmetics products in the EU is due to come into effect in 2013 but might be delayed, so BUAV have launched a European-wide campaign to put pressure on the decision makers to ensure the ban comes into effect as planned. Other celebrities who are already supporting the campaign are Sir Paul McCartney, Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and British actress Jenny Seagrove.

You can do your share by signing the No Cruel Cosmetics petition which is being sent to the European Parliament and help put a stop to the needless suffering of animals to feed our beauty addiction.

Kelly Brook unveils her campaign for PETA targeting the exotic skins trade on the eve of London Fashion Week in Covent Garden, London.

The 31 year old model was shot with a snakeskin painted onto her body by singer Bryan Adams for the animal rights group in order to highlight the cruelty suffered by reptiles that are killed for their skin.

Brook says: "It makes my skin crawl to think about the violent ways snakes, lizards, alligators and other exotic creatures are raised and killed for boots, bags and belts."

The Government's Climate Change act has committed Britain to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to an 80% reduction by 2050, with the aim of a 34% cut by 2030. While buying organic was a massive trend in the late 90s, the movement has in more recent years been pushed aside for other green ways of living such as growing your own and buying locally. But organic is not gone and forgotten and September is Organic Month.

To hit the governments targets we must all make fundamental changes to the way we farm, process, distribute prepare and eat our food over the next twenty years says the Soil Association. We all have to think about how we can encourage climate-friendly food production that is less dependent on oil-based fertilisers and pesticides

Organic farmers adhere to a strict set of standards that define what they can and can't do, and that really takes wildlife and environment protection into consideration. Check out the Soil Association website for the rules and regulations of organic farming.

But buying organic is not just about the farming, it also trickles into health and beauty products; it is about food and products that are good for you, good for animals and good for the environment - it is a way of life. Throughout September we'll bring you stories to tie in with living an organic lifestyle and what you can do to get involved. So keep checking in!

September is finally upon us and with it comes double cause for elation. While the fashionista in us can make merriment with London Fashion Week (and all the goings-on and prep surrounding it), the determinedly green side of us can also embrace Organic September. What's more, the coming week marks Wool Week, dedicated to ensuring that sheep may safely graze (thanks J.S Bach).

To celebrate this wooly week, John Lewis are set to launch a Cornish Organic Wool range certified by the Soil Association, which proudly ticks every box of THE international standard for organic textiles.

COW was founded by Matt and Julia Hopson and is based in Penzance in Cornwall (which you probably gathered). Matt expresses delight in being able to see his quality spun yarn make the high street and over at John Lewis, Haberdashery buyer Sam Drysdale says: "Our customers are increasingly interested in provenance." It's with some intrigue then (I think, anyway!) that shoppers will learn the new range is sourced from Prince Charles's Duchy Home Farm.

Look out for the the Organic John Lewis range next week in London's Oxford Street branch!

Actress Joanna Lumley posed for photographer John Swannell wearing the solid gold, diamond-encrusted Shere Khan Necklace, which is hoped to raise at least £300,000 for the Born Free Foundation.

Designed by award-winning jeweller Catherine Best to depict the tiger in Rudyard Kipling's 'Jungle Book', the jewellery holds 182 precious stones set in nearly a kilo of 18ct gold and has been independently valued at more than £500,000.

Joanna, who revealed her love for cats, big and small, in a TV show last year, described the necklace as "blingtastic" and compared it to pieces worn by members of the royal family.

She said: "I feel very much that it's almost a royal piece. The necklace is so special it can be worn with anything, though I feel a strapless evening gown and long evening gloves would show it to perfection. The moment you put the necklace on, it comes alive!

"It feels great, like a badge of office, but it's incredibly comfortable and easy to wear. It reminds me of the fabulous pieces in the Duchess of Windsor's collection - panthers and leopards. I adore extreme looks and this is blingtastic!"

The Sher Khan Necklace will be auctioned worldwide from yesterday May 31 until June 17, when a gala evening will be held at the Savoy Hotel in London to mark the 80th birthday of actress Virginia McKenna, who founded the Born Free Foundation.

Former Pussycat Doll Kimberly Wyatt and British actress Joanna Lumley are asking people who are buying Easter presents to help save rabbits by buying beauty and personal care gifts that have not been tested on animals.

These products can easily be identified by the Leaping Bunny Logo that symbolises the product has been approved by the BUAV's Humane Cosmetics Standard, which guarantees a company doesn't test their cosmetics and toiletries on animals.

Kimberley, who is also the founder of a new cruelty-free cosmetics brand BM Beauty, said: "Please be kind to bunnies this Easter - don't buy animal tested cosmetics and toiletries when choosing gifts for your loved ones. Look out for the BUAV's Leaping Bunny logo."

Joanna added: "I'm helping rabbits this Easter by only buying cruelty-free cosmetics. Look out for the BUAV's Leaping Bunny logo."

Despite bans in the UK and EU that prevent animals from being used to test cosmetics and toiletries, products that have been cruelly tested on animals in other parts of the world are still allowed to be sold and the BUAV is campaigning for a ban that will prevent this from happening.

Kimberley and Joanna are not the only stars lending their support to BUAV to end cruel animal testing. In March, Sir Paul McCartney joined the animal rights charity in a European campaign.

You can sign the No Cruel Cosmetics petition at www.nocruelcosmetics.org.