Day 292 - 01 Nov 96 - Page 23
1 not have McDonald's supply sources from round the world but
2 we know they are supplied from North America and Europe.
3 USA and Canada, for example, there is much logging and
4 clear cutting of natural forest. In the Czech republic,
5 forests are being cut down faster than they can be
6 regenerated, not naturally regenerated but regenerated as
7 mono-cultures, but in any event they are not being
8 regenerated in any form as fast as they are being cut
9 down. Finland and Sweden, very little ancient forest
10 remains, hundreds of species which are dependent on forest
11 eco-systems are endangered by modern forestry methods, and
12 in the UK since the Second World War over 40 percent of
13 what little ancient woodland existed then has been felled,
14 largely being replaced by conifer plantations which, of
15 course, could not compare with the biological diversity in
16 forests and also lead to the acidification of water
17 courses. No doubt, one of the problems identified by
18 McDonald's in that leaflet about pollution.
19
20 He explained how the scale of world pulp production had
21 "increased by five times over the last 40 years, and was
22 the major use of timber from managed forests." The last 40
23 years being significant, of course, because that is when
24 the rise of the fast food industry has occurred. Obviously
25 there has been a generally developing society towards
26 wasteful packaging, and we would say the food industry has
27 certainly played its part in that irresponsible generation
28 of wasteful packaging.
29
30 He was also concerned with the effects of pulp production
31 due to the highly polluting milling processes, and we have
32 heard, although it has been ruled out as an issue, about
33 the use of chlorine damaging the environment, chlorine and
34 dioxine related chemicals in production.
35
36 MR JUSTICE BELL: I ruled that that was not relevant and you are
37 stuck with that.
38
39 MR. MORRIS: For good or worse, we still believe it is
40 relevant.
41
42 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I have made a ruling which is binding. So
43 that is one matter not only need you not address me on, but
44 you must not. Just pause a moment. The topics which
45 I ruled were not admissible, and I suggest you have a quick
46 look over the weekend, were the possible adverse effects on
47 the environment of pulp processing to make paper and of
48 incineration to dispose of waste paper or paper board. The
49 date of my ruling was 15th December 1995. (Pause).
50
51 MR. MORRIS: Going back to Mr. Hopkins. In order to protect
52 forests the first priority is to reduce paper consumption,
53 especially in rich countries which consume vast
54 quantities. He said that significant quantities existed of
55 alternative plant sources of paper fibre, for example,
56 cannafe, hemp, bagasse, cotton waste, and it was often of
57 better quality than wood pulp.
58
59 Now, Mr. Mallinson, for McDonald's... (Pause) We say that
60 although he was called for McDonald's, and I have got the
