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In September
1990, writs were served on Helen Steel and Dave Morris for distributing a six-page "Factsheet" published by London Greenpeace. What charges were made in that allegedly libelous brochure? It claimed McDonald's is guilty of:
STARVING THE POOR by using large land masses in poor countries
for cattle ranching or growing grain to feed animals to be
eaten in the West, according to the pamphlet, which also stated McDonald's promotion of meat products wastes
great amounts of food resources. The tract claimed 145 million
tons of grain fed to livestock produces only 21 million tons of
meat and by-products.
DESTROYING THE EARTH Many of the world's
forests are rapidly being destroyed, it claimed, by
multinational companies, including McDonald's. The
brochure said McDonald's admitted using beef reared on
ex-rainforest land, preventing the regeneration of forests.
And, according to the pamphlet, every year McDonald's uses thousands of
tons of unnecessary packaging, much of which ends up littering
streets or polluting the land by being buried in landfill
sites.
RUINING YOUR HEALTH Although McDonald's promotes their food as
"healthy," the circular claims
it is high in fat, sugar and salt, and low in fibre and
vitamins. A diet of this type is linked with a greater risk of
heart disease, cancer, diabetes and other diseases. It said
McDonald's food also contains many chemical additives, some of
which may cause ill health and hyperactivity in children.
MURDERING ANIMALS The burger chain menus, according to the
pamphlet, are based on the torture and murder of millions of
animals. It claimed most are intensively farmed, with no access to fresh
air and sunshine and no freedom of movement.
Their deaths are barbaric and "humane slaughter" is a myth, it
said.
EXPLOITING THEIR STAFF Workers in the burger chains are paid
low wages and the company does not pay overtime rates, the
brochure claimed. According to the brochure, pressure to keep profits high and wage costs
low results in staff having to work harder and faster. As a
consequence, accidents, particularly burns, are common, it
stated.
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