McLibel case in Strasbourg court
re-poster | 02.09.2004 16:03 | Health | Repression
"McLibel 2 vs UK Government
European Court, Strasbourg - 7th Sept
The McLibel 2 (Helen Steel, 39 & Dave Morris, 50) will be attending the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on 7th September 2004. The ECHR have declared admissible their claim that the long running 'McLibel trial' breached their Article 6 right to a fair trial and Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
The European case, known as Steel and Morris vs UK was launched on 20th September 2000, exactly 10 years after the McDonald’s Corporation served writs on the McLibel 2 in an attempt to prevent the distribution of leaflets criticising the company. The McLibel trial became the longest case in English legal history, lasting 313-days, in which the McLibel 2 represented themselves against McDonald's. The trial and a 23-day appeal in 1999, resulted in a 'mixed verdict' in which damning rulings were made against McDonald’s core business practices. Despite the rulings, no sanctions were ordered against McDonald's, yet the McLibel 2 were ordered to pay the company damages [See 'Background' below]. They have refused to pay a single penny.
The McLibel 2 are asserting that English libel laws and libel court procedures are incompatible with the convention. The main arguments in Europe will be:
- Multinational corporations, should have no right to sue for libel as it is in the overriding public interest that they be subjected to unfettered scrutiny and criticism (as applies to governmental organisations), since they have such huge power and influence over people's lives and the environment. If there is a right to sue, it should be a defence for a defendant to show 'reasonable belief' in the words complained of, or that the issues are of public importance. [Article 10]
- The McLibel case was unfair due to several factors, including the level of proof required, and the imbalance of financial and legal resources as between the two sides - the defendants were denied legal aid and had to defend themselves against McDonald's who spent an estimated £10m.[Article 6]
The McLibel Applicants and the UK Government have already lodged hundreds of pages of written arguments on these issues. The McLibel 2 are seeking to defend the public's right to criticise companies whose business practices affect people's lives, health and the environment. They also seek an end to oppressive, unfair and archaic defamation laws and procedures in general, and in the McLibel case in particular. If they win, the UK government would be declared to be in breach of Convention, and could be required to amend or scrap some of these laws and procedures.
' The end of our long legal road is at last in sight. Having largely beaten McDonald's, we are challenging the notoriously oppressive and unfair UK laws. Multinational corporations should not be able to use the courts to try to suppress public debate and criticism. '
' But whatever happens in Strasbourg, the McLibel campaign has already proved that determined and widespread grass roots protests and defiance can undermine those who try to silence their critics, and also render oppressive laws unworkable. The continually growing opposition to McDonald's and all it stands for is a vindication of all the efforts of those around the world who have been exposing and challenging the corporation's business practices.' - Helen Steel and Dave Morris - the McLibel applicants."
[Please note that the Applicants will be travelling and therefore unavailable for comment from Sunday 5th until the hearing on 7th Sept. The case number is Application 68416/01 and will be heard during the morning].
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"McLIBEL BACKGROUND
McDonald's Corporation issued writs against the McLibel 2 on 20th September 1990 alleging they had been libelled in the London Greenpeace factsheet "What's Wrong WithMcDonald's? Everything they don’t want you to know". The McLibel trial began 10 years ago on 28th June 1994, and on June 19th 1997, after a trial lasting 313 days (the longest trial ever in England), Mr Justice Bell ruled that McDonald's marketing has "pretended to a positive nutritional benefit which their food (high in fat & salt etc) did not match"; that McDonald's "exploit children" with their advertising strategy; are "culpably responsible for animal cruelty"; and "pay low wages, helping to depress wages in the catering trade."
On March 31st 1999 the Court of Appeal added to those damning findings. Lord Justices Pill, May and Keane ruled that it was fair comment to say that McDonald's employees worldwide "do badly in terms of pay and conditions", and true that "if one eats enough McDonald's food, one's diet may well become high in fat etc., with the very real risk of heart disease." However the Courts ruled that the McLibel 2 had still libelled McDonald's over some points and outrageously ordered them to pay £40,000damages to the $35 billion-dollar company. The McLibel 2 have refused to pay a penny.
McDonald's, described by commentators at the end of the McLibel trial as being responsible for 'the worst Corporate PR disaster in history', continues to be an ever-growing focus for controversy and opposition around the world."
Background info on the case, verdict and appeal is available by visiting www.mcspotlight.org
European Court, Strasbourg - 7th Sept
The McLibel 2 (Helen Steel, 39 & Dave Morris, 50) will be attending the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg on 7th September 2004. The ECHR have declared admissible their claim that the long running 'McLibel trial' breached their Article 6 right to a fair trial and Article 10 right to freedom of expression.
The European case, known as Steel and Morris vs UK was launched on 20th September 2000, exactly 10 years after the McDonald’s Corporation served writs on the McLibel 2 in an attempt to prevent the distribution of leaflets criticising the company. The McLibel trial became the longest case in English legal history, lasting 313-days, in which the McLibel 2 represented themselves against McDonald's. The trial and a 23-day appeal in 1999, resulted in a 'mixed verdict' in which damning rulings were made against McDonald’s core business practices. Despite the rulings, no sanctions were ordered against McDonald's, yet the McLibel 2 were ordered to pay the company damages [See 'Background' below]. They have refused to pay a single penny.
The McLibel 2 are asserting that English libel laws and libel court procedures are incompatible with the convention. The main arguments in Europe will be:
- Multinational corporations, should have no right to sue for libel as it is in the overriding public interest that they be subjected to unfettered scrutiny and criticism (as applies to governmental organisations), since they have such huge power and influence over people's lives and the environment. If there is a right to sue, it should be a defence for a defendant to show 'reasonable belief' in the words complained of, or that the issues are of public importance. [Article 10]
- The McLibel case was unfair due to several factors, including the level of proof required, and the imbalance of financial and legal resources as between the two sides - the defendants were denied legal aid and had to defend themselves against McDonald's who spent an estimated £10m.[Article 6]
The McLibel Applicants and the UK Government have already lodged hundreds of pages of written arguments on these issues. The McLibel 2 are seeking to defend the public's right to criticise companies whose business practices affect people's lives, health and the environment. They also seek an end to oppressive, unfair and archaic defamation laws and procedures in general, and in the McLibel case in particular. If they win, the UK government would be declared to be in breach of Convention, and could be required to amend or scrap some of these laws and procedures.
' The end of our long legal road is at last in sight. Having largely beaten McDonald's, we are challenging the notoriously oppressive and unfair UK laws. Multinational corporations should not be able to use the courts to try to suppress public debate and criticism. '
' But whatever happens in Strasbourg, the McLibel campaign has already proved that determined and widespread grass roots protests and defiance can undermine those who try to silence their critics, and also render oppressive laws unworkable. The continually growing opposition to McDonald's and all it stands for is a vindication of all the efforts of those around the world who have been exposing and challenging the corporation's business practices.' - Helen Steel and Dave Morris - the McLibel applicants."
[Please note that the Applicants will be travelling and therefore unavailable for comment from Sunday 5th until the hearing on 7th Sept. The case number is Application 68416/01 and will be heard during the morning].
_______________________________________________________________________________________
"McLIBEL BACKGROUND
McDonald's Corporation issued writs against the McLibel 2 on 20th September 1990 alleging they had been libelled in the London Greenpeace factsheet "What's Wrong WithMcDonald's? Everything they don’t want you to know". The McLibel trial began 10 years ago on 28th June 1994, and on June 19th 1997, after a trial lasting 313 days (the longest trial ever in England), Mr Justice Bell ruled that McDonald's marketing has "pretended to a positive nutritional benefit which their food (high in fat & salt etc) did not match"; that McDonald's "exploit children" with their advertising strategy; are "culpably responsible for animal cruelty"; and "pay low wages, helping to depress wages in the catering trade."
On March 31st 1999 the Court of Appeal added to those damning findings. Lord Justices Pill, May and Keane ruled that it was fair comment to say that McDonald's employees worldwide "do badly in terms of pay and conditions", and true that "if one eats enough McDonald's food, one's diet may well become high in fat etc., with the very real risk of heart disease." However the Courts ruled that the McLibel 2 had still libelled McDonald's over some points and outrageously ordered them to pay £40,000damages to the $35 billion-dollar company. The McLibel 2 have refused to pay a penny.
McDonald's, described by commentators at the end of the McLibel trial as being responsible for 'the worst Corporate PR disaster in history', continues to be an ever-growing focus for controversy and opposition around the world."
Background info on the case, verdict and appeal is available by visiting www.mcspotlight.org
re-poster
e-mail:
mclibel@globalnet.co.uk
Homepage:
http://www.mcspotlight.org
Comments
Hide the following 4 comments
Worldwide anti McD day
02.09.2004 21:01
Why not, might even make the press!
What's wrong with McDonald's, as if you need telling!
anyone organising anything that people might like to come along to?
Locations and contacts, posted here?
Mick Muffin
ooops!
02.09.2004 21:04
SATURDAY OCTOBER 16th
for those who did not follow the link.
McLibel support campaign
Mick Muffin
McRampart
03.09.2004 05:16
Also screening (if we can obtain copies in time)
* McLibel Two Worlds Collide
* McSpotlight the video
* Consumption
* plus loads of other amusing shorts.
Films starts 8pm - ENTRY FREE AS USUAL
There will be appropriate food and drink available (do you want fries with that?) PLUS a late night JAM SESSION (so bring your instruments) as we'll have the stage and PA setup for the big gig on Saturday [4th Sept : Gertrude + God Like Animals + The Rub]
SUPER S I Z E M E !
2004 - Directed by Morgan Spurlock - Sundance Award Winner -
America is the fattest country in the world with 100 million overweight people and 400,000 individuals dying each year from obesity related ailments. Now even children are eating too much and exercising too little. Eric Schlosser first brought our attention to this matter with his bestselling muckracker Fast Food Nation. He identified McDonald's as the chief villain with its cradle-to-grave marketing strategy that starts off manipulating children through playgrounds, toys, and the Ronald McDonald clown. The nightmare of brainwashed toddlers eating junk food and drinking sodas on a regular basis is enough to make anyone sick.
The fast food mania in America just made Morgan Spurlock mad, and so he decided to make a documentary using himself as a guinea pig. He ate three meals a day only at McDonald's for 30 days. He also geot all of his desserts and snacks from the Golden Arches. He didn't eat or drink anything that didn't come from McDonalds. He even bought all of his water from McDonalds. He also changed other aspects of his lifestyle. He used a pedometer to reduce his activity level to one that is closer to the average American. Thus, he took cabs and drove a car when he usually would have walked. He also stopped taking vitamins. He ate everything available on the menu at least once. So he didn't just eat Double Quarter Pounders. He also only supersized when he was asked if he wanted to do so.
He hired a team of doctors to monitor the impact of this experiment on his body. The result is catastrophic: he gains over 25 pounds eating 5,000 calories a day and trashed his liver to the point of seriously jeopardizing his future health and well-being. Other side-effects of the junk food binge include chest pains, depression, headaches, sugar/caffeine crashes, heart palpitations and sexual dysfunction. His cholesterol, weight, triglycerides, blood sugar, blood pressure all went up. But what was really scary was that he seemed to be becoming addicted to the food. He claimed he had headaches that didn't stop until he ate at McDonalds again (probably due to caffeine
Spurlock presents interviews with the U.S Surgeon General; a professor of law at George Washington University involved in a law suit brought against McDonald's by two overweight women; John Robbins, author of Diet for a New America; Don Gorske, a Big Mac enthusiast who eats 700 of them a year; and Bruce Howlett who undergoes gastric-bypass surgery. Spurlock also looks at the connections between the junk food industry and high school lunch programs, food addictions, and the low priority given to physical education programs at a time when so many children are overweight. Although not as expansive or as hard-hitting as Schlosser's book, this feisty documentary makes its points very effectively. It could serve as aversion therapy for many who have chosen to make junk food their choice when they eat out.
MCLIBEL - TWO WORLDS COLLIDE
- 1997 53min - One Off Productions (Spanner Films)
The inside story of the postman and the gardener who took on the McDonald's Corporation
Filmed over three years, McLibel: Two Worlds Collide follows Helen Steel and Dave Morris as the anonymous campaigners turn into unlikely global heroes. Struggling to defend themselbes in the longest trial in English history, they face infiltration by spies, secret meetings with corporate executives, 40,000 pages of background reading and a visit from Ronald McDonald.
Using interviews with witnesses and reconstructions of key moment in court, the film examines the main issues in the trial - nutrition, animals, advertising, employment, the environment - and the implications for freedom of speech. McLibel is not about hamburgers. It is about the remorseless power of multinational corporations.
THE MCSPOTLIGHT VIDEO
- 1997 9 mins -
First off, if you don't know what McSpotlight is, it's a very very big website. Most of it's content (20,000 plus pages) were hand coded by amatures during the McLibel Trial. This film is a 9 minute romp through the issues, highlights, making-of, and possible consequences for what was at the time, the Internet's most contentious activist website. Volunteers who helped to construct the massive library of information about McDonald's and their ilk explain; how it was made (for no money), why they (accidentally) gave up their lives to the undertaking, the precautions taken to ensure that it will never be stopped, how it can compliment traditional campaigning tactics and precisely why it is 'The Final Nail in McDonald's Global Censorship Strategy'. Fast, furious, famous, (occasionally) funny, a Moby soundtrack and hardly any incomprehensible nerdy-computer-geek words. Apparently.
ram
Real download site for McLibel documentary
03.09.2004 13:09
Second, get a website downloader, i use Offline Explorer Enterprise 3 (metaproducts)
Save the target
Copy and share with friends and fellows
Download their other offerings, Narmada damning-India, Global Warming-Alaska
Send them more money
The six point programme to Activist Documentary Emancipation, above...
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