Day 285 - 23 Oct 96 - Page 38


     
     1        come on to the detail in terms of what happens on the
     2        ground in central and Latin America.
     3
     4        The overall conclusion about the policies is that in any
     5        event they are completely incapable of stopping the damage
     6        to the tropical forests and rainforests, even if they were
     7        watertight, hundred percent monitored, imposed, whatever,
     8        because the damage is done by McDonald's promotion of the
     9        global demand for beef products, which is the cause of
    10        tropical forest destruction in Central and Latin America.
    11        Can I just sit down?   (Pause)
    12
    13        Just one extra point is that their witnesses on this
    14        subject were not credible, contradictory.  In particular,
    15        Mr. Oakley, for example, was kind of all over the place on
    16        the subject and I did give some reference, I think, to --
    17        and the other witnesses I have pointed out some of the
    18        contradictions and inadequacies of their evidence and
    19        seemingly their ability to know their job as regarding
    20        this particular matter.
    21
    22        Can I just say that we have come to a natural break.  And
    23        I would like to break today, if we can.
    24
    25   MR JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  Well, I do not mind that.  My only
    26        anxiety is, you know, what the time schedule is.  I think
    27        I said this morning you have got six weeks and I was
    28        forgetting that we started a week later than anticipated.
    29        But all I will repeat is, I am in your hands.  If it is
    30        better to stop at twenty to four so that you do better or
    31        we do not waste time just by staying in court for half an
    32        hour, well and good.  Keep your eye on the overall
    33        schedule, that is all.
    34
    35   MR. MORRIS:   Yes.  Can I say, and it is not facetious, but I
    36        am conscious that it is important that obviously you are
    37        taking quite extensive notes which is obviously very
    38        important, but we cannot afford to buy the transcripts
    39        except for on specific days, but if the plaintiffs did
    40        provide transcripts to the court, I am not suggesting they
    41        should, it would be helpful.  We would feel able to check
    42        if we had them.
    43
    44   MR JUSTICE BELL:  My objection, when I considered this on two
    45        occasions in July, I think it was, of last year, I said
    46        I would feel uncomfortable having anything in print other
    47        than anything, of course, which I prepared myself for my
    48        own purposes which one party rather than the other had.
    49        If you say to me, categorically, "We do not mind you
    50        having a transcript of our submissions even though we do
    51        not have it ourselves", after all you have made the
    52        submissions and Miss Steel will make some in due course, I 
    53        will take it, provided McDonald's are prepared to provide
    54        it.  But having said that, it is a matter completely for
    55        the parties.  I am getting what I hope is a very good note
    56        of the points you make and I particularly have taken down
    57        every single reference you have given me on such and such
    58        a day, page, line, et cetera.
    59
    60   MR. MORRIS:   Right.  Yes, but obviously...

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