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Vegan Vestey heir to lead wave of BP eco-protests
Nigel Rosser and Robert Mendick10 Mar 2009
The heir to a multi-million-pound trust fund is helping to organise eco-protests in London including demonstrations against BP's centenary celebrations.
Mark Brown, a vegan who lives off the proceeds of the Vestey family meat business, is plotting to disrupt a party hosted by the oil giant at the British Museum.
The BP celebration on 1 April coincides with a mass protest in the City against bankers and comes on the eve of the G20 summit in London, which will also be targeted by demonstrators.
There are fears that a loose union of eco-activists, anti-globalisation protesters and hardcore anarchists will cause chaos in the City before moving on to the British Museum for the BP party.
Campaigners will have been emboldened by stunts in recent weeks, including the occupation of Stansted airport and the "sliming" of Lord Mandelson.
Mr Brown, 44, a leading figure in the eco-protest movement, co-founded London Rising Tide, the group targeting BP's party. He entered the spotlight in 1999, charged and acquitted with organising violent City protests that caused £2million damage.
There are fears the 1 April demonstrations could also spiral out of control.
Mr Brown has been involved with anti-road protests, Friends of the Earth and Greenpeace. Last year he forced Shell to abandon its sponsorship of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year show. Mr Brown's family's wealth, estimated at £750million, is derived from meat supply to companies including McDonald's and the Dewhurst butcher chain.
On Rising Tide's website, the group states: "BP has chosen Fossil Fools Day, April 1st 2009, to celebrate its centenary. This will take place at the British Museum, where the not-so-great and the far-from-good will quaff cocktails, snaffle canapes and watch a celebratory film. And we will be there too, between 6-7pm, to say 'Your party's over!' Bring banners, musical instruments, a sense of climate justice and a nonsense of foolery."
A Rising Tide activist said: "BP are holding their reception at a semi-public building when hundreds of protesters are going to be in London. It is an own goal by BP and will be exploited fully."
A BP spokesman said: "We will carry on with our private event as planned while they carry on their protest. Security is not really our responsibility but I am sure that will be looked after by police and others."
Reader views (8)
ood to see that Mark shares more than just my name but my ideas as well, Plants are the way to go. KUDOS Mark and Cheers from USA! Mr. Mark Brown
- Mark Brown, Knoxville Tn USA, 25/03/2009 21:01
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Literally - Blood money going to do good. Hats off to Vestley and anyone else who can turn the fortune made from the flesh of billions and make an honorable deed of it. Bloody, killing meat money - it should have been burned before it took all the lives that it did -
Go Vegan
- Bea Elliott, Florida - USA, 11/03/2009 13:05
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I have a real problem with this. I broadly support the aims of these people but the stink of hypocrisy is so rank that I find myself instinctively supporting the other side. The same is true of the Plane Stupid lot, they make me almost support a third run-way at Heathrow!
As I said, rank hypocrisy. But then what do you expect with a name like Brown!
- Chris, Brighton, England, 11/03/2009 09:21
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I remember the other Lord Vestey; from way back in the 70s.
He paid 10 shillings tax on £15,000.000. profit from his meat empire.
Nice to see that Mark is not a chip of the old block.
Mind you; he doesn't need to work anymore; thanks to the family around him.
Lets hope he doesn't live in a Family Mansion; and needs oil to heat it etc.
And lets hope the Bankers are still looking after the family silver.
- Mickyinlondon, london, 10/03/2009 14:59
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Please save us from the rich eco-warrior. The amount of hypocrisy is unbelievable. A vegan living off the proceeds of meat. Zac Goldsmith apparently living off the proceeds of one of the largest logging companies in the world. I expect to see one actually beating baby seals soon.
- Alex C, London, 10/03/2009 14:34
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It's my understanding that any meat money he receives is given away to environmental/social justice-related projects. But what money is 'clean'? It's always got its roots in the exploitation of something or someone, surely?
- Jim, London, 10/03/2009 14:21
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A vegan does not live off meat in any way, shape or form. Therefore, Mr Brown is, by defintion, not a vegan.
- Juma, london, uk, 10/03/2009 13:01
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A greater gesture would be to not take the millions on offer and therefore not live from the profits made from dead animals.
No didn't think he would!
- Stuart, UK, 10/03/2009 11:09
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