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GUEST: Anita Roddick courtesy of the Pacifica Radio Archives

Anita Roddick, founder of The Body Shop, died late Monday evening at the age of 64 after suffering a brain hemorrhage. Born as a daughter of working class immigrants in England, Roddick became well known as a pioneer of ethical and green consumerism. Opened as a single store in Brighton, England in 1976, The Body Shop expanded to become a socially responsible cosmetics firm that promoted an environmental, sustainable, and ethically sourced product line. Ahead of her time, Roddick used The Body Shop as a platform to promote causes such as third world debt relief, voting rights, and environmentalism. In 1990, Roddick helped set up Big Issue Magazine which is sold by the homeless. Anita Roddick will be missed by members of the activist community as the current chairman of The Body Shop said of her, “Anita was not only our founder but she was also the heart and passion…and with her we achieved so much whether or animal rights, human rights, community trade or through the founding of organizations like Children on the Edge.”

Special Thanks to Edgar Toledo of the Pacifica Radio Archives