Cruelty to animals, destruction of the planet and exploitation of workers are three good reasons not to eat at McDonalds or other fast food chains such as Burger King and KFC. On a more personal level, the food has unhealthy levels of fats, sugar and salt, along with chemical additives that can cause ill-health and hyperactivity in children. This was the message handed out to those passing by the Leicester Square branch of the burger chain over Sunday lunchtime, London's contribution to the 21st Global Day of Action Against McDonalds (which actually is on 16 October every year.)
Outside McDonalds
Handing out leaflets
One of the pictures shows a protestor handing out leaflets, and in the background the entire squad of police covering the event. I understand that they told the man from McDonalds who complained to them that people had a right to demonstrate, and that it was their duty to uphold that right, so long as it was exercised within the law.
Many passers by took an interest in what was going on, some obviously approved while others stopped to argue with the demonstrators. Many of those passing were tourists, and quite a few posed for pictures in front of the banners. Some took the leaflets with them into McD's to read with their burger, and perhaps they will think more about the issues raised.
There are regular demonstrations against McDonalds in central London - check the web for details.
For the obsessively literal I'd better point out that my pictures do not show every single person taking part in the action. While I was present, around 10-15 were there and more may have turned up after I'd gone off after 45 minutes to photograph another event elsewhere in London. You can actually get a slightly wider view of the action by looking at my own website, which shortly will have a few more images from the event.
Many passers by took an interest in what was going on, some obviously approved while others stopped to argue with the demonstrators. Many of those passing were tourists, and quite a few posed for pictures in front of the banners. Some took the leaflets with them into McD's to read with their burger, and perhaps they will think more about the issues raised.
There are regular demonstrations against McDonalds in central London - check the web for details.
For the obsessively literal I'd better point out that my pictures do not show every single person taking part in the action. While I was present, around 10-15 were there and more may have turned up after I'd gone off after 45 minutes to photograph another event elsewhere in London. You can actually get a slightly wider view of the action by looking at my own website, which shortly will have a few more images from the event.
e-mail:
Homepage:
Comments
Hide the following 6 comments
Sorry to be picky, but...
17.10.2006 12:55
I count two!
m
Exactly so!
17.10.2006 15:57
There are now more pictures at
Regards,
Peter
Peter Marshall
e-mail:
petermarshall@cix.co.uk
Homepage:
http://mylondondiary.co.uk
Still wondering...
18.10.2006 13:48
"...do not show every single person taking part in the action. While I was present, around 10-15 were there and more may have turned up after I'd gone "
By that I thought you meant that your photos didn't show everyone who took part in the protest, or did you manage to get the 'entire squad' to hand out leaflets for you? If you did, please let us know how!!
I checked the link, and yes, there are more photos, but still only the same two coppers!
You do know that two of them don't actually make up an 'entire squad', don't you?
M
you are being silly!
18.10.2006 21:52
x
peeb
Ahhh!
19.10.2006 14:46
The reason I was picking up on this is because the number of exagerations that plague this site - how many times do you read that '500 angry protesters attended the rally, but there were 1,500 police, who brutally beat up the pensioners with batons', when in fact there were a dozen protesters, the same number of coppers, and all that really happened were that the police stopped two of the protesters climbing up the side of a building to hang their banner.
OK, that might be an exageration in itself, but I think you get the point.
Rant over! Thanks for listening.
M
M
well.......
25.04.2007 10:51
elle
e-mail:
elle_luvin_it@hotmail.com