Day 245 - 07 May 96 - Page 68


     
     1   MS. STEEL:   I know but they do relate.
     2
     3   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes, but stick on one and then go to the
     4        other I suggest.
     5
     6   MS. STEEL: (To the witness): When people make these criticisms,
     7        can you not understand that they might want to campaign
     8        against McDonald's because they believe that McDonald's is
     9        doing those things and they do not like the fact that
    10        McDonald's is doing them?
    11        A.  I believe they have a right to campaign against
    12        McDonald's if they wish but not for the wrong reasons, not
    13        for things we did not do.  I think we have a right to
    14        defend ourselves and we should do.
    15
    16   Q.   If people do not believe in what they are criticising
    17        McDonald's for, why should they want to criticise
    18        McDonald's?
    19        A.  I have no idea.  You have to ask them.
    20
    21   Q.   There is no reason, is there?
    22        A.  You will have to ask them
    23
    24   Q.   The reason people criticise McDonald's is because they
    25        believe the criticisms are true?
    26        A.  I do not know whether that is universally so or not.
    27
    28   Q.   You would accept that it could be so?
    29        A.  It could be so.
    30
    31   Q.   Right.  And that it could be so in relation to myself and
    32        Mr. Morris?
    33        A.  No, not given the aims and objectives of London
    34        Greenpeace, that which is written by yourselves.
    35
    36   Q.   If I just say it is not written by ourselves, but if we
    37        look at what it says.  All it says is ----
    38        A.  Where are we going now?
    39
    40   Q.   When you talk about:  "Smashing a multi-national that
    41        epitomises everything we despise, a junk culture, the
    42        deadly banality of capitalism", that that is about the
    43        effects of basically a company being motivated by profit,
    44        and profit alone, to the extent that it basically does not
    45        care about exploitation of people, animals and the
    46        environment?
    47        A.  Well, that is just not true.
    48
    49   Q.   No, but the point I am putting to you is that that is the
    50        reason why people want to criticise McDonald's because they 
    51        think that they are putting profit before people, animals 
    52        and the environment? 
    53        A.  It could be a reason, but it is not true.
    54
    55   Q.   You have said in your statement that despite the fact that
    56        you have provided us with numerous documents and witness
    57        statements refuting, you say, their allegations, refuting
    58        the allegations in the fact sheet, the Defendants
    59        throughout the litigation have persistently reaffirmed the
    60        allegations made in the leaflet.

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