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Soap tycoon: Why I'm funding airport demos
Robert Mendick, Chief Reporter9 Dec 2008
THE High Street tycoon who has been funding the eco-activists behind the storming of Stansted today vowed to pay for future direct action campaigns.
Mark Constantine, the multi-millionaire founder of Lush Cosmetics, today told of his support for Plane Stupid, the group which organised yesterday's protest at Stansted that brought flights to a standstill. His company Lush, which has 600 shops in 44 countries, has made a series of donations to Plane Stupid and other anti-aviation campaigns totalling around £20,000. But Mr Constantine promised more money after the group pulled off its most daring protest yet.
Mr Constantine, 56, told the Evening Standard today: "We are very keen to support this group... We are very keen to help them to highlight these issues [of climate change] until the Government does something about it."
He pledged to pay for the legal bills of the 56 protesters arrested yesterday for the Stansted invasion.
Essex Police said 49 people were today charged with aggravated trespass with a further seven released on bail.
Mr Constantine said: "I will be supporting them as much as I possibly can. I will be funding some of their court costs. Hopefully the Government will be kind to them.
"I do find it a bit odd that environmental protesters can be suddenly treated as terrorists. Surely it is a good thing that they are encouraging everybody to think about the environment. I cannot see much wickedness in it.
"For these groups £1,000 goes a long way. From our point of view it enables them to have some sort of voice."
Mr Constantine, who owns more than half the shares in Lush, a private company with a £144million turnover last year, admitted he was "too frightened" to take part in direct action campaigns himself and praised protesters' courage.
He said he was sorry for the disruption caused to thousands of passengers, stranded during yesterday's protest. More than 50 members of Plane Stupid broke through the airport's perimeter fencing in the middle of the night, setting up a protest camp on the taxiway, preventing planes taking off or landing for two hours.
Mr Constantine said: "I don't think it should be necessary to strand passengers but on the other hand we have to stop global warming - in which case, how? At some stage you have to do something. It is a reality we all agree is happening, so what are we going to do?"
Lush makes no secret of its support for Plane Stupid and other groups. On its website, it describes Plane Stupid as "a peaceful, imaginative direct action group working to highlight aviation's contribution to climate change".
The website adds: "Plane Stupid is Britain's first national direct-action group against the climate-wrecking growth in flying. Flying is the fastest growing cause of climate change gases. The scientists say that we have to tackle this growth if we are to stop irreversible and dangerous climate change."
Lush has become a fixture on the high street since it was co-founded by Mr Constantine in 1995, its rise to prominence one of the great retail success stories of the past decade. The Sunday Times Rich List estimates Mr Constantine's wealth at £50million.
Reader views (34)
From what I know, he's only given about £2,000. It's not like he's funding the whole group.
As I said to someone the other day, they've postponed the decision about Heathrow, that's in part due to people voicing their opinions about it. No real social change has ever come from people sitting in front of their TVs watching life unfold. These activists risking jail to make a point are the ones making history, while most of us are just worried about our own pockets and whether we will be able to afford that holiday in Spain. We tend to forget that the thousands dying because of Climate Chnage and the 24 million refugees in this decade so far also have a right to live. Compare losing your house because of extreme flood to waiting 6 hrs in an airport lounge.I'm sure no one would lose their jobs because they were stranded in an airport. Give me a break.
- Christina, London, 11/12/2008 16:37
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The man is doing the right thing. Enough said.
- Carol Isaac, seattle usa, 11/12/2008 01:15
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Dave Davies, and other idiots.
A terrorist blows you up, he doesn't passively sit in the way of planes taking off.
You're clearly someone who has no idea that human created climate change (as agreed by Scientists across the world, plus most politicians), as proved by the IPCC, is (according to the United Nations) killing 150,000 people per year NOW.
In the next decade, this could become tens of millions, hundreds of millions or even billions.
This government promised to reduce carbon emissions, but are building more runways!!!???
You complain so much about worried people closing a freaking airport, yet you happily ignore 150,000 people dying per year.
How did the british public get to be this selfish?
- Jeff, Cardiff, Wales, 10/12/2008 23:06
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I will never shop in Lush again and will urge all my friends to do likewise. I was stranded at Stansted Airport for 6 and half hours on Monday before having to take a 3 hour coach journey to Gatwick and wait a further 3 hours before I eventually got a flight home. My partner and I both had to miss work and a day's pay along with the possibility of losing our jobs for not turning up, due to the actions of these people. I understand very well about Global Warming and that we need to do something about it, but there are other ways to get your point across! How would this guy like it if we decided to picket outside his shops!?
- Leona, Dublin, Ireland, 10/12/2008 14:25
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The Government won't stop increased Stansted air traffic over the old and new Bradwell Reactor but will disallow stacking over the Newmarket area in case it upsets the Arab horsebreeders. Crazy world, horses more important than people. No wonder Plane Stupid fits in well.
- John, Mersea Island Essex, 10/12/2008 11:35
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Well I, for one, will be boycotting this idiot's products
- Alan, London, 09/12/2008 17:44
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Why doesn't he have the guts to tell us the next time he's flying off on holiday. Then we can all turn up and picket his plane, ruin his holiday and have a good laugh - all in the name of Global Warming of course. He won't tell us 'cause his got no backbone.
Actually - they've just given him loads of FREE publicity for his smelly company. He's brilliant at marketing.
- Haskey, London, 09/12/2008 17:27
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Good man,we could do with a few more like him,If governments wont listen then those who do care for the future of there children will be forced into more radical action.
- Kev, London, 09/12/2008 17:24
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Well done, Mr. Constantine. I had never heard of you before, but it is so heartening to see someone of your stature standing up against the wilful, undemocratic destruction of Essex and the disregard for the environment that has been the hallmark of this corrupt government. You had the decency to say you were sorry for the inconvenience caused to travellers. As a frequent air traveller myself, I would happily have put up with the inconvenience in such a good cause.
- Nick (Expat), Hong Kong, 09/12/2008 16:42
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I'm sure the growth of Mr Constantine business - 600 shops in 44 countries - was done entirely without the use of air travel. Yes, that would seem plausible. The moral high-ground is a wonderful place, but it leaves you clear in the sights of utter hypocrisy
- Adnam, London, 09/12/2008 16:09
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How about everyone blockading his shops as a protest about the diabolical smells they emit.
- Keith Waller, wanstead london, 09/12/2008 15:04
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More idiot comments-this man has the balls to back Plane Stupid who have the guts to actually do something about climate change rather than let do nothing.
- Jon Kent, Hertford. UK, 09/12/2008 14:49
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Doing Stanstead was a toal waste of time and money they should doe Heathrow instead.
They could point out the dangers of planes flying over a crowed city. Irrevelent of wheather by terrorist or mechanical failure a plane will one day be either forced orwill crash in the areas under its flight path.
Boris's plan of a air terminal on the Isle of sheppey.
is WONDERFUL IDEA AND USE FOR A DESOLATE AREA.
So Mark Constantine please think and use your finances where it'll be the most effictive.
- A Winsley, London, 09/12/2008 14:46
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Good stuff. We live in a democracy, and for all the promises made by the government re matters environmental, nothing tangible (except wind farms) appears to be coming to fruition. This is the difference between politicians and entrepreneurs. The former talk the talk, the latter walk the walk. Hopefully Plane Stupid can target runway 3, as that is a tragedy for people living locally.
- Vision Aforethought, Oxford, 09/12/2008 14:10
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So I take it this millionaire doesn't fly then?
I'm sick of the fact that hard working families are being punished just because they want to take a holiday. I'm sick of these posh types forcing their agenda on people and I'm even more annoyed that Mark Constantine is paying for all this!
Come on, are these people never gonna fly in their lifetime?
- Martin, London, 09/12/2008 14:07
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so, can all those people who were affected by the clowns at Stanstead sue him for damages? Even better, as financial supporter, can BAA and the airlines also sue him??
- John Whitby, Peterborough, Cambs, 09/12/2008 14:06
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600 shops in 44 countries. I wonder what mode of transport he uses to visits these 44 countries? I wonder how happy he would feel if his flight was delayed or cancelled by protesters??? Perhaps a boycott of his shops and products may make him rethink?
- Llewellyn Francis, London England, 09/12/2008 13:42
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Fair enough - this clearly means that he is prepared to pay the damages in the civil actions that I assume the airport, airlines, passengers and freight customers, as well as his other victims, will bring against him. If he can afford that, plus the legal costs, good luck to him. Ahem.
- Peter Dempsey, Greenwich, London, UK, 09/12/2008 13:20
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Please don't forget that Newham Council has agreed to let London City Airport have an additional 40,000 flights (up to 120,0000) a year in on of the most densely populated areas in London , with Royal Docks where the airport is situated having one of the highest asthma figures in the country.
The noise , pollution and community impact already is devastating without the need for additional flights.
The Taxpayer already pays £5.5 million to cover the airports costs with the airport contributing NOTHING. Newham is one of the poorest boroughs in the country. Fight The Flights are a great source of information.
- Dar, east london, 09/12/2008 13:16
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If Mr Constantine spends all his Holidays in England then good luck to him, if not, then he's a hypocrite of Diane Abbott proportions.
- Shelly, London, 09/12/2008 13:15
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Another fool with far too much money.
- Brian, Westminster, 09/12/2008 13:15
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From an environmental perspective avaiation is not one of this biggest polluters to the environment. Industry and commerce are far more guilty. Wise up people. Lets not penalise everybody for not being able to travel.
- Roberto Carballeiro, Basingstoke, 09/12/2008 13:12
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I wonder if this "eco warrior" ever flies anywhere?
- Mike Kimmins, Bexley, Kent, 09/12/2008 13:02
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Let's avoid Lush products.
- Charles, Bath, 09/12/2008 13:00
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I wonder how Mr Constantine travels around the world to visit his businesses - on his bike no doubt!
- Casper Slides, France at the moment, 09/12/2008 12:43
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Shouldn't he be charged with conspiracy with others to commit a crime?
- M W, somerset uk, 09/12/2008 12:43
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Should it not be PLAIN STUPID
- Bernard Parke, GUILDFORD, 09/12/2008 12:42
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Ooops. Mr Lush might find the legal bills he has pledged to pay going way north now that the airlines and the airport and the stranded passengers know about his deep pockets.
- Blackstone Coke, London, 09/12/2008 12:32
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How does Mr Constantine visit his 600 shops in these 44 countries I wonder?
One could argue that cosmetics is an unnecessary environmental pollutant.
- Frank, Home Counties, England, 09/12/2008 12:32
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Wonderful - A soap tycoon funding the "Saop Dodgers"!
- Matt Cornish, Aldershot, Hampshire, 09/12/2008 12:28
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So for anyone affected by yesterdays little stunt, you can start protesting at his stores.
- P I Staker, London, 09/12/2008 12:26
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I think the police should curtail this man's activities.
Paying for demonstrations on airport taxi lanes and runways will most likely sooner or later lead to accidents and loss of life.
- Robin, Brentford, UK, 09/12/2008 11:51
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Thanks for letting me know. I wont buy, or have my family buy any more from his shops. I encourage everyone else to do the same. Lets hit back at these single issue terrorists where it hurts, in the pocket.
- Dave Davies, Basingstoke, 09/12/2008 11:48
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Maybe he could donate some of his products to the soap-dodging activists?
- Nobby Clark, Perth, Scotland, 09/12/2008 11:42
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