[721] in Vegetarian_Support_Group
McDonalds protest (fwd)
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Laurel A Schaider)
Tue Nov 21 19:28:42 1995
To: vsg@MIT.EDU
Date: Tue, 21 Nov 1995 19:27:43 EST
From: Laurel A Schaider <lschaide@MIT.EDU>
From: Susan Schlieve schlsk28 <SCHLSK28@GBVAXA.UWGB.EDU>
Subject: McDonalds protest
To: Multiple recipients of list GRNSCH-L <GRNSCH-L@BROWNVM.BROWN.EDU>
Does everyone know that McDonalds and some other fast-food places get their
beef from the rainforests?
I took a class here at UW-Green Bay where one of my professors who works with
and for the UN got this information. It seems that the US is currently
importing 6% of its beef from tropical rainforest countries; the largest
consumer of this beef is the fast food franchises. Unknown to many Americans,
the USDA and the fast food franchise corporations formed an alliance in the
early 1960-70's. An American named Ludwig purchased several acres of the
rainforest and leased the land for 99 years to many fast food restaurants.
After the cattle is raised on these lands, it is frozen and imported into the
US. But after the carcasses are imported and inspected by the USDA, they are
stamped as US Domestic Beef, rather than foreign beef!!!!!
The beef is then sent onto the US market for sale and consumption. So these
beef have "received US citizenship after being frozen." This loss of the
"imported identity" of beef, has led to confusion and accusations within fast
food franchises. When national hamburger chains were asked what amount of
imported beef they used in their products, most stated they only used US meat.
But with the unclear distinction between foreign and domestic beef, can
McDonalds or other fast food restaurants be sure that their beef is US raised?
It has been proven that McDonalds operated a cattle ranch in Brazil and
generations of these cattle still remain in the rainforest.
Approximately 90% of Latin America beef exports are shipped to the US. This
large amount of exports along with USDA "domestic stamping" of foreign beef has
brought tropical rainforest deforestation problems to our homes and lives.
Well Round River Alliance here at UW-Green Bay is going to do something about
it. On Monday, December 4th, from 11:30-1:30, members of the group and other
concerned citizens are going to picket the Main Street McDonalds (the busiest
McDonalds at the busiest time). We hope by doing this to make other citizens
aware of this consumer crisis. Not many people do know about this situation.
Please spread the word along. We are also hoping to kind of do a "national"
protest. So, rally your troops, friends, concerned citizens, etc. and on the
same day and if possible the same time, picket a McDonalds near you. Remember
we can make a difference and by at least alerting one person of this situation,
we have done some good.
Other groups here in the Green Bay, WI area have been alerted and promise to
help. Please let me know if you are able to do the protest, or if you have any
related information. Send mail back to the list, or to me personally at
schlsk28@gbvaxa.uwgb.edu
Thanks, SUSAN Schlieve concerned citizen and president Round River Alliance
P.S. Most of this information was taken from a report by Emily Jacobs with
information gathered through the help of Dr. V.G.M. Nair.
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