Peter Roberts

Thirty years ago Peter Roberts gave the Grumpy Vegan, when he was a 21-year-old vegan know-it-all, his first opportunity to work for an animal protection organization. Peter, and his wife Anna, had founded Compassion In World Farming in 1967. I was CIWF’s second full-time employee and worked for two years (1976-78) as its national campaigns organizer. Nearly 40 years on, CIWF is — I believe — the world’s leading farmed animal protection organization. Some take issue with its intentional ambivalence toward vegetarianism but it was a strategy that the vegetarian Roberts’ took from day one. Why exclude involvement from meat-eaters if you didn’t have to?

Peter died on Wednesday, November 15. He suffered from Parkinsons for some considerable time.

CIWF’s chief executive, Philip Lymberry, writes,

Peter was a true visionary. He took up the cause of farm animal welfare at a time when few others shared his concern. He challenged government and industry. He galvanised support, paving the way for the issue to become a widespread concern. He challenged the view that animals were mere ‘agricultural products’. In the 1980s, Peter conceived the idea that animals should be granted a new status as ‘sentient beings’ and started a campaign in Europe. It was to be truly ground-breaking. In 1997, the EU agreed to legally recognise animal sentience in what is known as the ‘Amsterdam Protocol’, signalling an official sea change in attitudes to animals.

I’m eternally grateful to Peter for showing me how meaningful it is to dedicate one’s life to others in need. What could be more important than this in how we live?