Latest news with #JohnRobbins
New York Times
2 days ago
- Health
- New York Times
John Robbins, Author of ‘Diet for a New America,' Dies at 77
John Robbins, an heir to the Baskin-Robbins ice cream empire who rejected the family business to advocate plant-based nutrition, environmentalism and animal rights, died on June 11 at his home in Soquel, Calif., near Santa Cruz. He was 77. His son and collaborator, Ocean Robbins, said that the cause was complications of post-polio syndrome, which resulted in muscle weakness and other symptoms nearly seven decades after he contracted polio as a boy. Mr. Robbins was best known for his book 'Diet for a New America,' published in 1987. The book, which is said to have sold more than a million copies, drew a link between the heavy consumption of animal-based products and the increased risk of chronic illnesses like heart disease and obesity; examined the environmental damage caused by factory farming; and raised ethical concerns about the treatment of animals in confined conditions. The book's message, Mr. Robbins wrote, was 'that the healthiest, tastiest and most nourishing way to eat is also the most economical, the most compassionate and least polluting.' The Washington Post columnist Colman McCarthy in 1988 compared 'Diet for a New America' and its impact on the way we think about food to Rachel Carson's classic 'Silent Spring' (1962), which warned how the unlimited use of agricultural pesticides like DDT had contaminated the soil and water and threatened the health of wildlife and humans, and which helped spur the modern environmental movement. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Bestselling Author and Food Revolution Network President John Robbins Has Passed Away
A Pioneer Who Changed the Way the World Thinks About Food Leaves a Lasting Legacy SANTA CRUZ, Calif., June 14, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--John Robbins, bestselling author, activist, and co-founder of Food Revolution Network (FRN), has passed away from complications of post-polio syndrome. A trailblazer for ethical, healthy, and sustainable food systems, Robbins' work sparked a worldwide movement that continues to shape policy, science, and public consciousness. His bestselling 1987 book Diet for a New America exposed the health, environmental, and ethical costs of industrialized animal agriculture. Robbins went on to author several more bestsellers, including The Food Revolution and Reclaiming Our Health, reaching millions and inspiring a global shift toward conscious eating. Turning away from a path of inherited wealth as the presumed heir to the Baskin-Robbins empire, Robbins chose to champion a life of integrity. His activism extended beyond books: he served on nonprofit boards, spoke on global stages, and received numerous accolades, including the Rachel Carson Award and the Green America Lifetime Achievement Award. Despite contracting polio at age five, Robbins defied medical expectations to become a marathoner, yogi, and triathlete. Diagnosed in 2019 with Post-Polio Syndrome, he continued to live vibrantly—a testament to the diet and lifestyle he advocated. Robbins' legacy lives on through the million-member Food Revolution Network and the newly formed nonprofit, Food Revolution Alliance (FRA), both dedicated to promoting healthy, ethical, and sustainable food for all. "My father was my mentor, my colleague, and my treasured friend," said Ocean Robbins, FRN CEO. "His love, courage, and wisdom touched countless lives. Now, we carry his torch forward." A family statement added: "John met life's challenges with resilience and with love. Even in the face of pain, he never stopped growing, learning, or seeking to make a difference in the lives of others. His presence and his purpose continue to guide and inspire us every day." To learn more, please visit: To honor his legacy, donations may be made to the Food Revolution Alliance at View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Sierra Kohlruss, Chief Operating OfficerEmail: media@ Website: Sign in to access your portfolio
BBC News
04-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
West Yorkshire's deputy mayor calls for bigger police budgets
West Yorkshire's deputy mayor for policing says the chancellor needs to give forces across the country more money if they are to halve violence against women and girls. Labour's Alison Lowe has been answering questions on Message the Mayor on BBC Radio Leeds. She has also been talking about crossbow laws, tackling anti-social behaviour, and "unacceptable" delays into domestic abuse-related our takeaways from the interview below or listen to the full interview here. Police forces have £500m funding gap "Over the next three years, that is the national deficit for policing - irrespective of the money the government are giving us. And that's because of the cuts that have happened, and the underfunding."Last week, the West Yorkshire's Chief Constable John Robbins signed a letter to The Times, saying years of cuts had left forces overstretched and working in "broken" buildings with "outdated" technology. Death review timescales are unrealistic "I just don't think six months is enough. We should be saying it is a minimum of 12 months, just to manage some of those expectations of the families."The deputy mayor was asked about today's BBC News story, which suggests just 1% of reviews into domestic abuse-related deaths are being completed within six months - the target set by the says the government is creating a new "oversight board", to help speed up the process of reviewing these reports. Crossbows should be licensed - like guns "I'm hoping they (the government) equate crossbows with guns. So you can't get a crossbow unless you go through a process, you're registered, you're licensed, all the rest of it."Lowe says she doesn't know why anyone would want a crossbow and personally thinks they should be banned altogether - but recognises a "tiny number" of people use them for April, two people were injured in a crossbow attack along the route of the popular Otley Run pub crawl in Leeds. Tackling anti-social behaviour takes time "West Yorkshire Police have got 60 courses, all age appropriate, from [school] years one to 13."They teach children about how to stay safe, about how anti-social behaviour can impact them and about how they can become perpetrators or victims."But the deputy mayor says investing in lessons in schools today is a "long-term culture choice", and it could be 10 years before people see big benefits. Fly-tipping is a massive issue "It's a huge issue and it does lead to crime in communities, because where you've got a bit of green space that's been desecrated by fly tipping it means more people dump stuff, crime happens, kids start congregating and fires get lit."Concerns have been raised recently that the closure of rubbish tips, in places such as Birstall and Bradford, will lead to more waste being dumped at the side of the road.
