PETA UK’s 2017 Person of the Year: Sir Roger Moore
For taking on a number of animal-protection causes – including, most recently, using his trademark wit and charm to urge the Prime Minister to introduce a long-overdue ban on wild-animal circuses in Britain – PETA UK has named the late actor, humanitarian, and long-time animal advocate Sir Roger Moore its 2017 Person of the Year.
In addition to offering to pop a champagne cork with Theresa May should she bring forward a long-awaited ban on wild-animal circuses, Moore also led a successful campaign to push Selfridges to stop stocking foie gras and boldly called for the Queen’s Guard’s caps to be made with synthetic materials instead of bearskin. He also commended “real-life heroes” working in animal conservation and lent his support to efforts to secure national parks in Zimbabwe as refuges for animals. And in a blistering condemnation of trophy hunting penned after Cecil the lion’s killing in 2015, he wrote, “We know that we should protect the most vulnerable and helpless in society, not destroy them” – words he lived by in his own life every day.
PETA founder Ingrid Newkirk recognised Moore’s commitment to animals:
Animals in dire need had a caring, charming friend in Sir Roger Moore. PETA is honoured to recognise this wonderful man for sticking his neck out for the vulnerable amongst us time and again. We will continue to campaign to help the animals he cared so deeply about.
Like Moore, anyone can speak out and make a difference – and animals need as many people as possible to use their voices. We hope his legacy inspires others to take action.
