We are stardust, we are golden, and we're caught in the devil's bargain... but while here, like meteors, we do not know how long we each have to shine on the path of our personal trajectory... so let us use our time on earth wisely, preferably to benefit others while furthering our own dreams and passions.

Thank you Anita, and may the stars be with you...

Dame Roddick, may have passed on, but she leaves behind a model for others to follow. Roddick my have been an "accidental" environmentalist, however this in no way diminishes the impact, nor the contributions she has made to the environmental movement.

Dame Roddick took an industry (Beauty), and an existing economic framework (Capitalism), and re-shaped it to the benefit of everyone. It is an example that can be replicated accross many industries and businesses.

If I may, without appearing too self-serving, show how Dame Roddick's example can be found in my own personal business. Hopefully, others will see, how they also can apply environmentalism to their own industries and businesses. And through our own, individual efforts,have a greater collective impact.

As an environmentalist, and a business person, I have long been aware of the self interest served by presverving our environment. My business was a hotel in Costa Rica, located near a picture postcard beach, and adjacent to Costa Rica's first National Park. To the delight of our guests, monkeys, sloths, and toucans, would appear in and around our small hotel.

American real estate developers, having taken their profits in the U.S. housing market, came to Costa Rica to "develop" the country. They began bulldozing the rainforests and constructing high-rise condos on the beaches. Not only was this environmentally disastrous, it was economically disastrous as well, as tourism declined along with the population of the animals.

I tried to halt this catastrophe, for moral and financial reasons, the conventional environmental way. Raising public awareness, funding environmental groups, and filing lawsuits. Basically, supporting environmental fundraisers, enriching lawyers, and perhaps only delaying the inevitable. Eventually, I became financially, and emotionally exhausted, and could fight no more.

This was the conventional environmental approach that had failed, not only me, but an entire movement. In the decades since we have become aware, of the disastrous environmental consequences, of our human actions. We have had only limited success. In fact, it can be argued, that our victories at home, have led to defeats abroad. As our minimal protections enacted, to preserve our environment and workers, has led to even greater destruction overseas.

I realized that I must find a new approach, that the current methods were not working, the planet was disappearing before my eyes. My children, forget about my grandchildren, would be facing envirogeddon. I re-committed myself, to finding new ways, to have a positive impact on the planet.

The approach already existed, Dame Roddick had "accidentaly" invented it, thirty years before. How do you take the example of Dame Roddick, and her Body Shop, and apply it yourself and your business? Let me show you, as she did with me, by example.

In the face of continuing environmental destruction in Costa Rica, due to poor real estate practices, and my failure using the conventional methods, how could I change the course?

As Dame Roddick surely realized, people were going to continue buying beauty products, as well as real estate, so give them a choice where none existed. I started a company (iCare Costa Rica) to give people a choice, where none had existed, to purchase environementally friendly real estate. People now have a choice.

Here is another example of Dame Roddick's ground breaking principle in action. An industry that one would not expect to find environmentalism - Retirement. One of the ways in which a person, can have a tremendous positive impact on the environment, is to retire. By eliminating your daily commute, you will not only save close to $2,500 year in gas costs, you also spare the air 800 gallons of burned fuel annually.

The retirement industry is based on consumption, by switching to conservation, millions more Americans (anyone anywhere for that matter) can retire earlier and on much less than they think. This new approach to retirement, which is nearly completed, has the potential to re-shape an industry. And have a hugely positve impact on our environment.

Now, if I can apply Dame Roddick's example to real estate and retirement, two mundane, and unrelated industries. Where might you be able to do the same?

We are all born to this world by "accident", yet we may still lead lives of purpose, thank you Dame Roddick for showing us the way.

I was saddened to see this, but she leaves a wonderful legacy that has inspired so many. We are all the better for her being here....and I know her 'model' of business has definitely influenced mine!

Thank you Dame Roddick!

This woman is OK, but once and for all let's drop this damn BS about capitalism can be good-- no damn way in hell. As W's and all his kind's good book says,"For the love of money is the root of all evil," and as Karl Marx put it so well, "Capitalism carries seeds of its own destruction."

AD:
You are absolutely correct on both points. Eve got greedy and took the apple. Thus,we have spent an eternity, sweating and working, as a consequence.

I'm just as cynical as you are, no really, I see through all the hypocricy and fraud as well. You can read "Al Gore iPhoney" and "Environmentalists Killing Monkeys" on my blogs. But...

Communism and Capitalism, both have an inherent weakness, one that destroys both systems. Greed.

Greed is a part of human nature, how do we deal with it, cause it's not going to go away? You can't abolish it, like the communists wish, and you can't celebrate it, like the capitalists currently do.

Socialism? O.K. I'll go with you on that, not perfect, but the best alternative. Until we get there what do we do?

Dame Roddick found a way. Working within the current system, to bring about a product, that had the least harmful impact.

Capitalism will self-destruct, but in the meantime, we're stuck with it - so let's make the best of a bad situation. Dame Roddick showed us a method.

Selling the Body Shop to L'Oreal, the biggest animal tester, was a shockingly horribly end to the company. Ironic in a bad way.

good for her. she made the best out of the system

Socialism? yuck. i fail to see how people can ignore the states that have been socialist - east germany, the former soviet union. these were not great places to live. It's difficult to understand how people can fall for the lies that these systems are good alternatives to capitalism.

Socialism? yuck. i fail to see how people can ignore the states that have been socialist -

Norway, Sweden, Finland...

Ramsay is correct - if you can't beat 'em, join 'em and make them think that you're one of 'em.

It's a conundrum - how can you be in business for yourself, encourage growth and profit yet maintain social and ecological integrity? It's a fine line but I think it can be done. The main thing business people (small, large and small that become large) need to keep in mind is continuous integrity - apply the same principles to your business with which you began. Strive to provide well-made, enriching, safe products. Maintain a high level of service, to your customer and your community. Pay your employees a living wage and offer benefits as soon as you're able. Give back as much as you can to non-profits, local schools and charitable organizations, whether in the form of money or time.
Above all, don't let success move you from these principles.

What screws up an "ism"? An "ist."

RIP, Anita Roddick, you had the right idea...

I loved the banana shampoo & conditioner even though they were overpriced

I loved the banana shampoo & conditioner even though they were overpriced, I just hate it when rich white women who contribute so much to the world leave us. Oh well i guess i will go back to my mundane world and hope i can afford some more shampoo from the body shop. Heil to the chief.

good points, norwegianwood. i'm a small business owner and i know capitalism has it's bad points, but then it's up to people to make it work. we can make a difference. There's better solutions than socialism

Interesting discussion.

I invite you all to read "Ballbuster?: True Confessions of a Marxist Businessman"

It is a true story about a Marxist professor who started a business trying to market a board game like monopoly, but called "Class Struggle."

The book demonstrates that, basically, capitalists have no choice but to act as capitalists. Despite that, it's a really fun read.

You are confusing communism with socialism. Socialism has many wonderful things going for it. Communism on the other hand is oppressive just as the Eastern Europeans, the Afghans, the Vietnamese, the Chinese and all else who suffered as Soviet satelight states!