Day 278 - 11 Jul 96 - Page 05

     
     1
     2   Q.   That is your answer is it?
     3        A.  Yes.
     4
     5   Q.   It is not in "Hoof Prints on the Forest", it is not in
     6        "Jungleburger"?
     7        A.  There is something in "Hoof Prints on the Forest" about
     8        using lethal poisons, yes.  245T.
     9
    10   Q.   Then I think it is only fair that you should get a chance
    11        to look at the references to McDonald's which one finds in
    12        "Hoof Prints on the Forest".  It is at tab 8 of your first
    13        kingfisher file.  This is published 34 in 1985, I think,
    14        and if the index is accurate the first reference to
    15        McDonald's is on page 57?
    16        A.  I know there is a chart in here about interests in
    17        various companies that have interests in cattle ranching in
    18        Latin American countries and that McDonald's is on the list
    19        of those companies.
    20
    Q.   Would you look, please, at the bottom of page 57, the last
    22        three lines -- sorry, "Many US fast food companies have
    23        exported franchises to Latin American countries.  By the
    24        end of the 1970's McDonald's corporation of Oakwood,
    25        Illinois, were serving Big Macs in franchises in Brazil,
    26        Costa Rica, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Nicaragua and
    27        Panama."  Then there is a bit about the style of decoration
    28        in Panama City.  There is nothing there about McDonald's
    29        cutting down the rainforest with lethal poisons is there?
    30        A.  No, there is a whole chapter in here about how the
    31        rainforests get destroyed and it does talk about using
    32        lethal poisons, which is what I am talking about.
    33
    34   MR. JUSTICE BELL:  Take your time to find it because it may be
    35        important.  So I would like you to refer me to what you
    36        have in mind.
    37
    38   MR. MORRIS:  If the index is there.  I am sure it is noted in
    39        the index.
    40        A.  Can I just clarify something?  I am not saying that the
         chapter about using lethal poisons names McDonald's.  I am
    42        just saying that that was my understanding, that lethal
    43        poisons were one of the methods used by which deforestation
    44        took place and that McDonald's were implicated in using
    45        beef from ex-rainforest land and had involvement in it.
    46
    47   MR. RAMPTON:  So you are not saying that you had read anywhere
    48        that McDonald's is one of those that uses lethal poisons to
    49        destroy vast areas of rainforest are you?
    50        A.  I haven't said that, no.
    51
    52   Q.   No, the leaflet says that, Miss Steel?
    53        A.  Yes, I know the leaflet says that.
    54
    55   Q.   That is all right, then, we can leave it.  In fact "Hoof
    56        Prints on the Forest" effectively exonerates McDonald's
    57        even from the exportation, or rather the importation, into
    58        the United States of Central American beef does it not, if
    59        you look at pages 94 and 95?
    60        A.  Can you just hold on, please?  On page 63 there is a