Day 001 - 28 Jun 94 - Page 30


     
     1         -- my Lord, that leaflet is at page 293 of the same
              bundle -- "which we will be handing out outside their head
     2        office on October 16th.  Feel free to use it to make your
              own leaflet for your local picket.  Everything in the
     3        leaflet is true and is based on books, articles and
              research.  However, it does contain statements similar to
     4        those McDonald's are suing us over, such as those about
              exploitation and workers, being anti-Union, the poor
     5        nutritional value of their food, the torture and murder of
              animals and the destruction of rainforests for cattle
     6        ranching, wastage of paper for packaging", etc. etc.
 
     7        "We stand by everything said in the leaflet.  We urge
              others to do the same and to refuse to bow to
     8        intimidation.  If you are very worried different leaflets
              are obtainable from Veggie Catering Company" - and I will
     9        not give the address or telephone number - "costs £9 per
              thousand plus £3 for postage and packing.  These leaflets
    10        were  made after threats by McDonald's.  Since the
              amendments were made we have received no further
    11        complaints by McDonald's although the leaflet does contain
              similar material to that which McDonald's are suing us
    12        over. You could try writing your own, whichever you feel
              most happy handing out.  It does not matter.  The
    13        important thing is that the campaign against them [that is
              McDonald's] Continues.  We will not be intimidated by
    14        multinationals or others in power. They only make people
              more angry, more determined to oppose their practices".
    15
              My Lord, this document your Lordship may easily conclude,
    16        was written by the defendants.  They are the "we" and the
              "us" who are the only defendants left in the libel action
    17        at this stage.  They have reasserted the truth of the
              words complained of; they have admitted what they have
    18        since published contains a similar statement about
              McDonald's.  Perhaps one could leave the publication at
    19        that.
 
    20        My Lord, perhaps also one can say this.  Then, my Lord,
              after the adjournment I will go briefly to the defence and
    21        counterclaim, then take your Lordship not through a
              summary of the evidence but merely an indication of what
    22        we see the important issues to be.  I will only say this,
              that having seen those few documents to which I have
    23        referred your Lordship, your Lordship might be persuaded
              (as the plaintiffs contend) there is indeed a pressing
    24        need for the fact to be recognised in public in a public
              court in this country.
    25
              If it be a fact that the defendants' allegations are a 
    26        tissue of falsehood, there should be an injunction to 
              restrain their repetition in perpetuity. 
    27
              Would that be a convenient moment?
    28
         MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Yes.  We will resume at 2 o'clock.
    29   (1.00 pm)
 
    30                       (Short Adjournment)
 

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