Day 284 - 22 Oct 96 - Page 29


     
     1        stick up a flag when I think that may have happened, to
     2        mention it.
     3
     4   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Yes, I think it would be tidier if you do it
     5        at the beginning or end of a session.
     6
     7   MR. RAMPTON:   I will, just as I have done.
     8
     9   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Yes, Mr. Morris?
    10
    11   MR. MORRIS:  If I just point out it does not say that McDonald's
    12        used vast areas of Central American ---
    13
    14   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   I am not taking that as argument by
    15        Mr. Rampton.
    16
    17   MR. MORRIS:   It says many US corporations use --
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  It was just an attempt to straighten out a
    20        principle.  Yes, you got down to the question of argument
    21        as to whether fast food packaging materials referred to
    22        McDonald's and you have given me your argument on that.
    23
    24   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  I just wanted to say one thing on that
    25        last subject.  I don't think it relates to McDonald's, but
    26        if it was thought it did relate to the earlier part, it
    27        would relate to the many US corporations issue, so (a) it
    28        would be related to a direct collective process, but also
    29        it would relate to the general demand for fast food
    30        packaging materials which McDonald's, as the largest fast
    31        food company in the world and because of their use of
    32        significant amounts of packaging, as an example to others,
    33        would be setting a standard for others to copy and follow
    34        and emulate.
    35
    36        So in terms of meaning, if it was to relate to earlier on,
    37        the same arguments over the global demand and promotion of
    38        such food and the packaging it comes in, would relate to
    39        McDonald's in the same way as the destruction of Central
    40        American forests.  It was not considered to be, or we did
    41        not consider it to be an issue in the case, but common
    42        sense would surely apply and the meaning would certainly
    43        apply, but it is a collective responsibility, not only in a
    44        direct way such as that sentence indicates that destruction
    45        of forest may be both a direct and indirect responsibility
    46        of an industry, of which McDonald's is part.  And the same
    47        would apply to the packaging, if that is what you decide
    48        the meaning is.
    49
    50        If I can just refer to a few bits and pieces in 
    51        Mr. Rampton's opening speech, not because it is necessarily 
    52        the best place to do it, but because I have it in front of 
    53        me, to get it out the way.  It is just he does mention soya
    54        on page 49.  The leaflet says the plaintiffs also have an
    55        indirect responsibility for destruction of rainforests and
    56        for the creation of hunger and poverty of third world
    57        countries because they encourage the people of those
    58        countries to use the land and grow the grain for cattle.
    59        He then goes on to say:  Which the plaintiffs then import
    60        to the USA to make into hamburgers.  So that issue is dealt

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