Day 274 - 04 Jul 96 - Page 43


     
     1        just did the branch in their own area.
     2
     3   Q.   Finally, Miss Laporte, it was agreed that during the week
     4        of 16th October 1990, and particularly on 16th, McDonald's
     5        should be "hit hard".  Do you see that?
     6        A.  I can see it.
     7
     8   Q.   That would have been, would it not, I am not suggesting you
     9        remember those words, but that would have been the mood of
    10        those present at this time during this meeting would it
    11        not?
    12        A.  No, not necessarily.  It may have been -- if on 16th
    13        October -- you know, it was expected that a number of
    14        McDonald's branches would be leafleted outside, then maybe
    15        some statement equivalent to "hit hard".  I mean, I do not
    16        actually agree with that statement there, but maybe
    17        something to that effect was said.  Yes, if, say, you know,
    18        20 stores of McDonald's were being leafleted in London.
    19        But I do not know about it was agreed, because we obviously
    20        cannot coordinate the whole of England, or Paul or me or --
    21        sorry.
    22
    23   Q.   The idea of prompting other groups to do a similar sort of
    24        thing is to get into action a nationwide protest, if you
    25        like, which you did not yourselves have the resources to
    26        organise.  That is the idea of it is it not?
    27        A.  That was something that was present in my mind, yes.
    28
    29   Q.   As part of original London Greenpeace anti-McDonald's
    30        campaign?
    31        A.  Well, the London Greenpeace anti-McDonald's campaign
    32        involved the various individuals in the group who had an
    33        interest in, who had read the leaflet, believed it to be
    34        true, and wanted it to be handed out and everyone to hear
    35        the information.
    36
    37   Q.   Yes.  I am sorry, the more people that got that sort of
    38        information from London Greenpeace, and other like-minded
    39        groups, the better so far as you were concerned; that is
    40        right is it not?
    41        A.  Yes, for myself, yes, I wanted everyone to know what I
    42        knew about McDonald's, yes.
    43
    44   Q.   And that is what all this is about, this world action,
    45        world day of action, against McDonald's is it not?
    46        A.  Well, I think by that time it was more of a kind of,
    47        just more like a habit.  It is something that we, you know,
    48        that we called for, that, you know, was called for once a
    49        year.  It was more out of habit by then, I feel, for me.
    50
    51   Q.   But there is nobody in the group who said, 'Well, look,
    52        this has become rather silly, it is a bad habit, it is a
    53        waste of time and money, let us stop', was there?
    54        A.  Well, there was, I mean, Dave did not really like so
    55        much time being put, you know, put into McDonald's
    56        campaigns.  There was various people in the group and a lot
    57        of time was put into the anti-McDonald's campaign.  I mean,
    58        Dave thought we should move on.  Various people thought
    59        maybe we should move on, maybe start a campaign on
    60        multinational in general.  That was my feeling at time.  I

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