These Shoes Are Made For Walking

[Monte Christo]

An Australian company has just released a range of footware bearing an image of Buddha on it's sole! Extremely poor taste, and has caused a storm in Canberra.

Why not visit their website, and tell them what you think. There is a contact link on the site at...http://www.ecobuddha.com.au...............

Outrage over placement of Buddha motif on shoe soles

Australian company told to remove image

Achara Ashayagachat

The Thai embassy in Canberra is urging an Australian footwear manufacturer to suspend distribution of shoes with a Buddha motif printed on the sole.

Buddhists say the Ecobuddha brand is sacrilegious and in poor taste. They also criticised the company for using a revered religious symbol as a marketing gimmick.

On its website, Ecobuddha said its footwear has been described as having ``European design integrity with Eastern values.'' The advertisement added the shoes were inspired by martial arts.

The shoes, made for men and women, come in various styles and all depict the Buddha motif in a sitting posture.

Foreign Affairs Ministry spokesman Sihasak Phuangketkeow said the Thai embassy in Canberra had asked Ecobuddha through the honourary consul to stop making and selling the shoes. He said the shoes had offended religious sensitivity.

Deputy Culture Minister Veerasak Kowsurat said using sacred objects or images to market the product was inappropriate. If the shoes were imported for sale here, the distributor would be prosecuted. The firm would be liable to a jail term of up to seven years and a 2,000-17,000 baht fine.

In addition, US-based lingerie giant Victoria's Secret expressed regret for blending a Buddha image into some of its summer designs.

Some consumers were upset after the company unveiled a line of bras displaying embroidery resembling the shape of Buddha.

Mr Sihasak said the company had promised to suspend advertising for the bra and remove it from the company's catalogue.

source...Bangkok Post