Compassion in World Farming wins Observer Ethical Awards 2011

The prestigious accolade was awarded at Londons Victoria & Albert museum for Compassions work to end factory farming and in particular their successful Cows Belong in Fields campaign. This was the charitys response to the proposed mega-dairy at Nocton, Lincolnshire where thousands of cows would potentially spend the majority of their lives indoors.

Accepting the award for Campaigner of the Year were Compassions Chief Executive Philip Lymbery, Joyce DSilva (Director of Public Affairs), Pat Thomas (Compassions Nocton Campaign Manager) and celebrity supporters Bill Oddie and Marc Abrahams (celebrity vet). The charity managed to secure a win over other shortlisted candidates such as Hugh Fearnley Whittingstall and 38 Degrees.

Nocton Dairies proposal was eventually withdrawn due to the huge intensity of public opposition, the work of organisations like Compassion and The Environment Agency all also opposing it. Compassion is thrilled to learn that once again, Compassions supporters and the local communities affected, rallied behind the campaign and cast enough votes to ensure that Compassion, the leading international charity dealing specifically with farm animal welfare was shortlisted for the award.

The Cows Belong in Fields campaign worked hand in hand with local campaign groups, in particular CAFFO (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations). Compassion is keen to acknowledge the importance of this mutually supportive relationship in building a successful and hard hitting campaign. The charity is therefore sharing the award with CAFFO in recognition of their huge role in helping to make the campaign a success and in helping to keep cows where they belong in fields.

The Nocton campaign ended on February 16, 2011 after more than a year of campaigning. At this point, the proprietors of Nocton Dairies had voluntarily withdrawn their application for a 3,700 cow mega-dairy at Nocton, Lincolnshire. It was a decisive win for everyone who wants to keep the factory farming of dairy cows out of the UK. Although the Nocton Dairies campaign has ended, Compassion continues its fight against mega-dairies in the UK and recently submitted an objection to the proposed 1,000-cow mega-dairy in Powys, Wales.

Compassion in World Farmings Chief Executive, Philip Lymbery, said: This wonderful award is recognition for all the hard work that everyone has put in from our supporters, celebrities and local organisations like CAFFO (Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations) who took part in the fight against mega-dairies. We not only stopped them coming into the UK, but we showed unity for ethical food and sent out a resounding message that cows belong in fields.

Compassion in World Farmings Nocton Campaign Manager, Pat Thomas, comments:

We are immensely proud to have won this award. It is an important acknowledgement for our ongoing Cows Belong in Fields campaign, which stretches beyond Nocton, at a time when the spectre of the factory-farming threatens to undermine the UK dairy industry. We are celebrating both the win and the public momentum behind it that says unambiguously that factory farming is cruel, unsustainable and unacceptable.

On the decision to share the award with local campaigners, Ms Thomas added:

Nocton was a local campaign with national implications. Defeating the mega-dairy took genuine teamwork and we were happy to provide local support and are grateful for the support that we received in return from local people and groups, particularly CAFFO. It was clear to us from the beginning that the proprietors of Nocton Dairies had dangerously underestimated the knowledge and persistence of local residents and the weight of public pressure. Any community that is faced with the spectre of a mega-dairy on its doorstep can learn from the example that CAFFO set. As for Compassion, we are tremendously proud that we managed to manifest our campaign title by proving that cows really do belong in fields.

Celebrity supporters of the Cows Belong in Fields include:- Joanna Lumley, Jo Brand, William Roache, Mary McCartney, Bill Oddie, Liza Goddard, Caroline Lucas MP, Zac Goldsmith MP, Marc Abrahams, Kate Ford. Requests for interviews through Compassion in World Farming Press Office.

1. Compassion in World Farming was founded over 40 years ago in 1967 by a British farmer who became horrified by the development of modern, intensive factory farming. Today we campaign peacefully to end factory farming. We believe that the biggest cause of animal cruelty on the planet deserves a focused, specialised approach so we only work on farm animal welfare.
2. Other awards that Compassion in World Farming has won include:

• 2009: The Chicken Out! website won the award for Best Use of Interactive in this years Broadcast Digital Awards
• 2007: Compassion in World Farming won theBBC Radio 4Food and Farming Award in 2007 for the best food campaigner/educator
• 2007: Compassion in World Farming was given theRSPCASpecial Investigation Award in 2007 for its investigation on the long distance transport of calves from the UK to continental Europe and for investigating the intensive farming of laying hens in the egg industry in Europe.

1. Campaign Against Factory Farming Operations (CAFFO) was formed to fight against the proposed mega dairy at Nocton, Lincolnshire. The group comprises more than 200 local campaigners from several of the villages adjoining the site of the proposed mega dairy.