Pat Thomas

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Biographical Information

"I was the health editor and then editor of the Ecologist magazine – the world's oldest and most influential environmental magazine – until it ceased printing in June 2009. During my time there I spearheaded its campaigns, acted as its public face in the media and helped established the Ecologist Film Unit with our film partners Ecostorm...

"During 2010/11 I was a Campaign Manager at Compassion in World Farming – heading up a very public campaign - Cows Belong in Fields – against Nocton Dairies, the UK's first mega-dairy, where thousands of cows will be kept indoors with little or no access to pasture. The Cows Belong in Fields campaign won the Observer Ethical Award 2011 in the publicly voted category of campaign/campaigner of the year. During this time I also hosted the second series of the radio programme Deep Fried Planet on London's Resonance FM.

"Currently I am involved in sustainability and web-based projects with Neal's Yard Remedies, one of the UK's leading organic health and beauty companies... Before all this, over 2009/10, I was the Campaign Director for Sir Paul McCartney’s Meat Free Monday campaign. I was responsible for establishing the campaign as a serious voice in sustainable eating and bringing its message of meat-reduction to a mfmwider audience. The campaign won a Vegetarian Society SpecialMcCartney at the European Parliament Achievement Award in 2009 for its work in promoting a reduced-meat diet. In December 2009 Sir Paul and the campaign led a panel of campaigners and scientists speaking at hearing on meat-reduction at the European Parliament – the first time a celebrity of Sir Paul’s calibre had been invited to speak at such an important political forum. The hearing was broadcast around the world on TV and web and received global media coverage.

"Early in 2010 I was a featured speaker at several London premiers of the film Food Inc. Working with the Soil Association, the film’s UK sponsors, my role was to introduce the film, to provide a UK context and to answer questions from the audience about food production and sustainable eating. this coincided with the release of my book Stuffed: Positive Action to Prevent a Global Food Crisis. Written in a lively and accessible style, Stuffed presents a global perspective on food production and agriculture and proposes a sustainable and fairly traded path we can follow to secure food for all and protection for the planet.

"Around that time I also researched and wrote a report for Friends of the Earth: Healthy Planet Eating, as well as editing the report, From Forest to Fork... During 2006 I worked with Stella McCartney on the launch of her 'Care' range of organic cosmetics and advised the Ethical Fashion Forum on sources of quality organic cosmetics. In 2007 I was a presenter at a low-carbon eco event hosted by Sky TV. 2007 also saw the publication of A Slice of Organic Life (Dorling Kindersley), edited by Sheherazade Goldsmith, to which I contributed several chapters.

"Prior to all this I was the editor of one of the UK’s most popular consumer health newsletters, Proof!, and long-time contributing editor to its sister publication What Doctors Don’t Tell You and was, in addition, well-known as a campaigner for maternity rights and normal birth."

Her book Stuffed had a preface by Michael Pollan, (The Omnivores dilemma, and In defense of Food) and with contributing essays by respected experts, Monty Don, Geetie Singh, Jeanette Orrey, Rob Hopkins, Carolyn Steel, Peter Melchett, Patrick Holden, Vandana Shiva and Eric Schlosser.