Based on email report from McLibel Support Campaign / London Greenpeace
Wednesday October 16th 2002 was the 18th annual Worldwide Anti-McDonald's Day [UN World Food Day] - a protest against the promotion of junk food, the unethical targeting of children, exploitation of workers, animal cruelty, damage to the environment and the global domination of corporations over our lives.This year we had reports of local protests on October 16th (and during that week) all around the globe, from Australia to Mexico, Russia to South Africa, Brazil, USA and throughout Eastern and Western Europe - including Ireland and the UK (where we had direct knowledge of protests outside over 45 stores - but the full figure is certainly much higher). This was mainly leafletting and pickets, but also included marches, distribution of free vegetarian food, in-store dumping of collected company litter, showings of the 'McLibel' documentary, public meetings, painted slogans on adverts and store fronts, and lock glueings. There was substantial media coverage (including filming for 2 major TV documentaries to be broadcast in France and South Korea).
This report is a brief and also incomplete summary. More detailed reports may appear on McSpotlight and also www.indymedia.org (with branches in dozens of countries).
FOR THE Ist TIME McDONALD'S OWN WORKERS JOINED THE DAY OF ACTION
The growing international network of McDonald's employees - the McDonald's Workers Resistance, established in 2000 - had called for McDonald's workers around the world to take joint action on the same day, October 16th. This was a brave call considering the global corporation's track record in suppressing any independent workers rights, activity or organisation - backed up with threats of sackings. In the week before, Helen Steel and Dave Morris (the McLibel 2) and a representative of MWR attended an international conference in Holland called by the International Union of Foodworkers. Trade Union delegations from about 15 countries from many corners of the world swopped experiences with trying to recruit and support McDonald's workers - the general picture was a great deal of effort but little success against company opposition. Underground resistance networks appear to be one way to fight back.On the day itself, according to reports received, action included: strikes in stores in Paris and Norfolk; a stoppage in Moscow; attempted strike at a store in New Zealand and London, England; a walkout in Nottingham; collective resignations in Glasgow; many acts of absenteeism, defiance and disruption by individuals and small groups of workers in many countries including the US, Ireland, Australia, Canada, Denmark, Madrid and Germany. In addition there were solidarity actions by protestors in support of McDonald's workers in the North of Ireland, Germany, Australia, Scotland, Sweden, Serbia and England and especially in Italy (including a blockade in Milan).
MWR had said: ' It will be the first ever co-ordinated, international, worker-led mobilisation by the McDonalds workforce. October 16th was chosen because since the mid-1980s it has been the date of world anti-McDonalds day. So, simultaneous to our actions, people who do not work for McDonalds but are opposed to its labour practices, cruelty to animals and destructive environmental impact, will also be engaged in actions at McDonalds restaurants all over the world. We hope that all actions can be mutually supportive. '
If you would like to know more about MWR, including full reports of Oct 16th, please visit http://mwr.org.uk
Some examples of the many reports received:
LUGARNO, SWITZERLANDOn wed. oct. 16th a group of activists organised a protest against McDonald's in our little town lugano in Ticino, Switzerland. It was a little-big succes because more than 100 people took part. We occupied the arcade in front of McDonald's. We stayed there for 15 minutes with banners, leaflets, eating carrots, shouting slogans and singing songs... The police didn't arrive and we occupied the street as far as the next fast food: Burger King. At the end the little parade was dispersed in Piazza Dante, a little square. There wasn't violence and the police didn^t intervene even if the demonstration had not been authorized. All the media have spoken well about it.
MEXICO CITY - MEXICOA group of about 80 people identifying themselves as members of the "Collective Front of Anarchist Vegetarians" were arrested Wednesday after a march through downtown Mexico City, where they protested outside restaurants and spray-painted slogans on a McDonald's outlet.
The 65 men and 15 women handed out anti-meat leaflets and blocked traffic briefly before they were arrested, Mexico City police told government news agency Notimex. None of them resisted arrest, and they were taken to a nearby police station while prosecutors decided whether to press charges against them.
Earlier this year, community activists in Oaxaca City led a series of protests against the planned opening of a McDonald's restaurant in the 450-year-old colonial main square there.
CHICAGO, USAOn Oct 16th 3-5pm anti-McDonald's activists were joined by Rogers Park 'Food Not Bombs' group (who serve otherwise wasted vegan food to those who are hungry). There was a TV crew from Korea.
For more information on this campaign see McSpotlight Website.
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