Peter’s vision was both exquisitely simple and radically innovative - to harness the outrage and determination of the world's public as a force for protection, solidarity and change on the human rights front.

He inspired so many of us. He organized our first campaign and then got the organization going. He campaigned tirelessly and could never be satisfied with our accomplishments.

He came to Amnesty International Canada’s Annual General meeting in Ottawa in 1986. There, once again, he fueled our conviction that each of us has both the ability and the responsibility to be part of a common action to help people who are suffering human rights violations.

His impact on the protection of human rights around the world is incalculable. For Peter, Amnesty was, is and always will be about people helping people--the core of the sophisticated organization he founded is as simple and fundamental as that.

There is no more appropriate way to honour his passing than to take the time, today, or in the days to come, to write a short, but still-ever-powerful Amnesty International appeal letter, and urge others to do the same.

28 Februrary 2005