Albert Schweitzer Medal
In 1951, Albert Schweitzer gave AWI permission to strike a medal in his honor, to be presented for outstanding achievement in the advancement of animal welfare. In granting his permission, Schweitzer wrote, “I would never have believed that my philosophy, which incorporates in our ethics a compassionate attitude toward all creatures, would be noticed and recognized in my lifetime.”
In 1954, a gold replica of the medal was presented to Schweitzer by Charles Joy in Oslo, Norway, where he had gone to accept the Nobel Peace Prize. Since first being awarded in 1954, AWI's Albert Schweitzer Medal has become the highest form of recognition in the animal protection movement. International figures such as Dr. Jane Goodall, Rachel Carson, Astrid Lindgren and Senator Robert Dole have received this honor for their work on behalf of animals.
To spread his message of compassion to children, AWI published The Boy Who Loved All Living Things: The Imaginary Childhood Journal of Albert Schweitzer, written and illustrated by Sheila Hamanaka. Inspired by Schweitzer’s youth, the book teaches young children that animals are friends who should be treated with the utmost respect.
Read more about this topic: Animal Welfare Institute