The madness of factory farming

Peter, a committed vegetarian, is vocal in his views on the evils of factory farming – not only for animals, but for the planet and everyone living on it: “It’s not sustainable”, he declares. “I think that industrialised farming of any kind is totally ‘anti’ our planet. Totally ‘anti’ the health of the individuals on our planet.”

The actor discusses how factory farming’s behind-closed-doors culture has “disconnected” people from their food, and praises the urban farm we’re sitting in, which helps people to “relate a hamburger to where it comes from, or a slice of bacon”.

Questioning society’s bizarre habit of perceiving companion and food animals differently, Peter highlights the sentience that unites so many living creatures: “Once you...look into any animal’s eyes and you realise that they are receiving you, you start to wonder – do all animals function in the same way? And of course they do.”

Changing the world

Despite the actor’s horror at the treatment of animals all over the world, listening to him talk is an incredibly uplifting experience. And that’s because, above all, he is hopeful that things will change.

“Education, education, education! All change is about education”, he declares. “I believe that animal welfare should be part of the curriculum in all schools.”

But it’s not just about giving children the right information, he insists – adults also need to be better informed, in order to make better choices at the checkout.

“This government has got to insist that all meat is labelled...so people have a choice. The government has a responsibility to all those people who...choose to be compassionate and eat well-sourced meat...they have the right to know that they can choose and support their belief.”

A final word

Peter describes himself as “animal-welfare ‘glue’” because he holds together so many discussions on the issue – and it’s easy to understand why. This is a man who lives and breathes animal welfare, who travels the world to ease the pain of all kinds of creatures, and whose impassioned remarks on the subject cannot help but move you.

If you take one thing away from our conversation with the ardent animal-welfarist and popular TV actor Peter Egan, let it be this: “Insist on knowing how your food was produced...everything has to be designed with the future in mind rather than the present, if we are to sustain the planet. And it’s a wonderful planet.”

We’re delighted to have Peter as our newest patron and look forward to continuing our work with him to raise awareness about the wrongs of factory farming.

Peter Egan on acting and animals