HOLLYWOOD, Calif. – Sir Paul McCartney, probably the world's most famous vegetarian and animal activist, will be honored at the 21st Genesis Awards on Saturday, March 24, 2007 at the Beverly Hilton in Beverly Hills, CA. Presented by The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the Genesis Awards will recognize Sir Paul for his long-standing commitment to animal advocacy, as demonstrated by his recent high-profile role in the campaign to end the annual Canadian seal hunt.
McCartney will receive the first Gretchen Wyler Award, named in honor of the founder of the annual Genesis Awards, which acknowledges members of the news and entertainment media for their coverage of animal-protection issues. The Wyler Award is given to a celebrity or public figure who has made news on behalf of animals.
"Sir Paul is most deserving of The Wyler Award," says Beverly Kaskey, Director of The Hollywood Office of The HSUS and Executive Producer of The Genesis Awards. "Paul's always been ahead of the curve when it comes to speaking out about the welfare of animals. For over 30 years, he's promoted compassion for animals to millions by simply talking about the humane reasons for his being a vegetarian, and he was doing it long before those issues had the widespread following they have today."
But Sir Paul's animal advocacy doesn't end there. Among many other campaigns, he has actively supported the fight to end fox hunting in the U.K., the slaughter of horses in California for overseas consumption and, in 2006, he visited the Canadian ice floes to draw worldwide attention to the brutality of the annual seal hunt.
No stranger to the Genesis Awards, McCartney received the Doris Day Music Award in 1994 for Looking For Changes, a passionate denunciation of animal testing.
"It's a great, great honor for me to be given this award and I'm especially thrilled because I'm the first recipient of the Wyler Award – that's some honor," says Sir Paul, who is accepting his award via video. "My personal involvement with animal issues came many years ago when Linda and I made the connection between the roast lamb we were having for lunch and the baby lambs playing in the fields outside our window. From that day to this, I've been committed to vegetarianism and the welfare of animals."
McCartney adds: "Last year's trip to Canada to see the seal pups was shocking, when I realized those beautiful animals would soon be clubbed to death. Unfortunately, the practice still goes on, but I think with enough support, one of these days we will stop it."
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The Humane Society of the United States is the nation's largest animal protection organization – backed by 10 million Americans, or one of every 30. For more than a half-century, The HSUS has been fighting for the protection of all animals through advocacy, education, and hands-on programs. Celebrating animals and confronting cruelty -- On the web at www.humanesociety.org.
