Day 245 - 07 May 96 - Page 60
1 are your words. I have said before I have no problem if
2 people want to make criticisms of McDonald's that are valid
3 and correct and capable of being substantiated. That is
4 free speech. That is a democratic society. I have no
5 problem with that at all.
6
7 Who is to say what would have happened -- we are
8 hypothesising now -- what would have happened if we had
9 gone forward and had something printed currently a year
10 ago, or 2 years making these other allegations, I do not
11 know.
12
13 Q. Veggies are still distributing the fact sheet. You have
14 several copies in your publication bundles spanning over
15 several years and you have not taken any action against
16 them since you asked for these minor changes?
17 A. We have not, that is correct.
18
19 Q. Do you not accept that that is effectively giving the green
20 light to campaigners to distribute that leaflet?
21 A. No, it is not, no.
22
23 MR. MORRIS: Can I just hand up a copy of the leaflet you saw
24 before?
25
26 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Are you on the same point or another point?
27
28 MR. MORRIS: Can we finish this. It will not take long. There
29 is one for the witness if he wants. This is dated
30 December. It says "December 1991" on the bottom right-hand
31 corner of the back page.
32
33 This is the final amended version of the London Greenpeace
34 fact sheet as distributed by Veggies with the amendments to
35 the rainforest section and something about the words
36 "torture and murder" changed to "slaughter and butchery".
37 It has an addition about CFCs specifically on it.
38
39 Mr. Preston, you are aware that this leaflet has been
40 widely distributed because it is in your publication
41 bundles in this case, yes?
42 A. Am I aware this has been out? Yes.
43
44 Q. Yes, and you are saying that there is a close connection
45 between London Greenpeace and these other groups in
46 distributing similar information; is that correct.
47
48 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think before you ask questions, or you can
49 do it by asking questions, point out to me chapter and
50 verse where the modifications, the differences are.
51
52 MR. MORRIS: Can I do that then. The front cover is identical.
53 If you open it out this way, that way, the first page is
54 identical.
55
56 MS. STEEL: I think the only things that have been changed are
57 the words,"Why is it wrong for the beef industry to destroy
58 rainforests" instead of, "why is it wrong for McDonald's to
59 destroy rainforests".
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