Day 284 - 22 Oct 96 - Page 24


     
     1        I have now dealt with quite a bit of the stuff I was going
     2        to deal with.
     3
     4        Going on to McDonald's and Burger King are two of the many
     5        US corporations using lethal poisons to destroy vast areas
     6        of Central American rainforest, first of all, it does not
     7        mean to say that each of them use vast areas; it means that
     8        the many US corporations collectively destroy vast areas
     9        and it clearly situates a collective responsibility.
    10
    11        Now, regarding the lethal poisons which, in any event, we
    12        have adduced evidence about, for example in Dr. Nations'
    13        statement, it has been referred to in the hoof print in the
    14        forest book and so on, and it has not been challenged that
    15        that is one of the methods of -- I think even Sue Branford
    16        mentioned it, I cannot remember now, but that is another
    17        matter.
    18
    19   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Do you have a reference for where Dr. Nations
    20        mentions lethal poisons as a case for destruction
    21        generally?
    22
    23   MR. MORRIS:   It is in his article where he verifies -- I have
    24        got it here.  (Pause)
    25
    26   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  What I suggest you do is keep going and check
    27        that at some time and give it to me.
    28
    29   MR. MORRIS:   Yes.  He actually specifically mentions, I think,
    30        agent orange.
    31
    32   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Very well.  That is one of the things you
    33        spoke about this morning where I am putting a marker down,
    34        I would like to be told in due course and I can add it to
    35        my note.
    36
    37   MR. MORRIS:   But one could argue it is neither here nor there,
    38        but the important thing is whether the forest is cut down,
    39        not the exact method that is used, whether it is by
    40        burning, slashing or poison.
    41
    42   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Adopt my suggestion.  You see, all you need
    43        to do, and if we are going slowly on these things it is in
    44        the hope that when the same situation crops up in another
    45        context you will know what to do.  I have made a marginal
    46        note.  All I need to do, someone to do at some stage, is
    47        say the hoof prints in the forest reference to lethal
    48        poisons is, and give it to me, I put it in my notebook and
    49        that is all that need be done.  You do not need to look at
    50        it. 
    51 
    52   MR. MORRIS:   Yes, okay, thank you.  We would argue that the 
    53        important thing is that the forests are being cut down and
    54        that it matters not greatly, it is very marginal which
    55        particular lethal poison or whether it was burned or cut,
    56        slashed with machetes or even chain saws.
    57
    58   MR. JUSTICE BELL:   Yes.
    59
    60   MR. MORRIS:   It is defamatory enough that forests are being cut

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