South Africa’s Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu was one of the world’s leading figures in the fight against oppression. He received worldwide recognition during the 1980s as an opponent of apartheid and, later, as chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. He retired as Archbishop of Cape Town in 1996 but continued as a tireless campaigner for health and human rights. Tutu received the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984 for his anti-apartheid work. He was also clear that non-human animals fully deserve moral consideration, writing that: “Churches should lead the way by making clear that all cruelty – to other animals as well as human beings – is an affront to civilized living and a sin before God.” [1]. In signing Compassion in World Farming’s Vision for Fair Food and Farming, he said: “I support this Vision for Fair Food and Farming, being so aware as I am of the cruelty that we mete out to animals… I hope we will learn that we are related to the animals and to Nature and if we destroy the balance, we are ultimately going to suffer and pay the price.”

[1] Linzey, A., 2013. Global Guide to Animal Protection. University of Illinois Press