h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I guess few people outside of Sweden know that the popular author of children's books Astrid Lindgren was also politically active.

Among many other things, she fought for animal rights. At her 80th birthday she wrote a letter to the Swedish prime minister asking him to forbid the tiny cages that poultry was kept in at the time (600 cm²). The prime minister visited her with flowers in hand and promised to do so by creating a Lex Lindgren.

Then followed nine years of inquiries until finally, in 1996, the law was dismissed.

Astrid Lindgren was very embittered by this and raged 'you don't take back birthday presents once they're given!'