Day 002 - 29 Jun 94 - Page 44
1 everything really, how we organise our society. That can
only really be encouraged considering the state of the
2 world at the moment.
3 Mr. Rampton made a comment about the last point on the
leaflet about the London Greenpeace. He said something
4 like it was not true or something -- it was not an
accurate description. I do not know what point he was
5 making on that, but I do not want him to come back on that
because I have not really made my point on that. That is
6 something that may come up in evidence or whatever
publication.
7
It is our, it will be our, I suppose -- maybe it is my
8 personal view that there is nothing to be ashamed of in
criticising a social system as a whole such as
9 capitalism. I am a radical environmentalist. If you are
an environmentalist, obviously, you are going to be
10 concerned about the causes of environmental problems.
Obviously, USA corporations, in general, must come high up
11 on the list. It is not just USA corporations; it is
multi-nationals generally. I can say on behalf of both
12 defendants there is no anti-American feeling of any kind
whatsoever. The problem is multi-nationals and
13 corporations.
14 If I can just gather my thoughts?
15 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Just sit down. Have you come towards the
end of what you want to say?
16
MR. MORRIS: I have some further points to make. I want to
17 talk about the counterclaim specifically. I am coming to
the end but I am gathering my thoughts.
18
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Sit down for a moment, gather your thoughts,
19 then start again. (Pause)
20 MR. MORRIS: Just one point on those criticisms of McDonald's
Corporation and multinationals in general, is the point
21 that has already been made, that it is only by criticism
that changes and improvements, or whatever, can be made,
22 and that if McDonald's manages to satisfy the judge,
yourself, that they have made some changes since 1989 in
23 terms of recycling paper, we are still saying that is not
material to the periods of libel. Therefore, it would be
24 not relevant to the claim, but certainly environmentalists
should take the credit for continuing the pressure on
25 those that are responsible, for example, for environment/index.html">litter or
packaging materials, or whatever, conditions of animals.
26
I believe the McDonald's Corporation has just brought
27 their animal welfare policy in the United States. I am
sure that is only because of continuous pressure and
28 criticism they have received on that subject.
29 I just want to go through the counterclaim. First of all,
on 14th March, McDonald's issued a national press
30 statement attacking London Greenpeace and the defendants.
I will not read out the extracts from that. They issued a
