About Me
McDonald's make a lot of people angry for a lot of different reasons.
NUTRITION
Nutritionists, for example, argue that the type of high fat, low fibre diet promoted by McDonald's is linked to serious diseases such as cancer, heart disease, obesity and diabetes. The sort of diseases that are now responsible for nearly three-quarters of premature deaths in the western world. McDonald's respond that the scientific evidence is not conclusive and that their food can be a valuable part of a balanced diet.Some people say McDonald's are entitled to sell junk food in exactly the same way that chocolate or cream cake manufacturers do: if people want to buy it that's their decision. But should McDonald's be allowed to advertise their products as nutritious? Why do they sponsor sports events when they sell unhealthy products? And what on earth are they doing opening restaurants in hospitals?
ENVIRONMENT
Conservationists have often focussed on McDonald's as an industry leader promoting business practices detrimental to the environment. And yet the company spends a fortune promoting itself as environmentally friendly. What's the story?One of the most well-known and sensitive questions about McDonald's is: are they responsible for the destruction of tropical forests to make way for cattle ranching? McDonald's say no. Many people say yes. So McDonald's sue them. Not so many people say yes anymore, but does this mean McDonald's aren't responsible?They annually produce over a million tons of packaging, used for just a few minutes before being discarded. What environmental effect does the production and disposal of all this have? Is their record on recycling and recycled products as green as they make out? Are they responsible for litter on the streets, or is that the fault of the customer who drops it? Can any multinational company operating on McDonald's scale not contribute to global warming, ozone destruction, depletion of mineral resources and the destruction of natural habitats?
ADVERTISING
McDonald's spend over two billion dollars each year on advertising: the Golden Arches are now more recognised than the Christian Cross. Using collectable toys, television adverts, promotional schemes in schools and figures such as Ronald McDonald the company bombards their main target group: children. Many parents object strongly to the influence this has over their own children.McDonald's argue that their advertising is no worse than anyone else's and that they adhere to all the advertising codes in each country. But others argue it still amounts to cynical exploitation of children - some consumer organisations are calling for a ban on advertising to children. Why do McDonald's sponsor so many school events and learning programmes? Are their Children's Charities genuine philanthropy or is there a more explicit publicity and profit motive?
EMPLOYMENT
The Corporation has pioneered a global, highly standardised and fast production-line system, geared to maximum turnover of products and profits. McDonald's now employ more than a million mostly young people around the world: some say a million people who might otherwise be out of work, others however consider that they are in fact a net destroyer of jobs by using low wages and the huge size of their business to undercut local food outlets and thereby force them out of business. Is McDonald's a great job opportunity or are they taking advantage of high unemployment to exploit the most vulnerable people in society, working them very hard for very little money? Complaints from employees range from discrimination and lack of rights, to understaffing, few breaks and illegal hours, to poor safety conditions and kitchens flooded with sewage, and the sale of food that has been dropped on the floor. This type of low-paid work has even been termed 'McJobs'.Trade Unionists don't like McDonald's either. The company is notorious for the vehemence with which they try to crush any unionisation attempt. They argue that all their workers are happy and that any problems can be worked out directly without the need for interference from a third party, but are they in fact just desperate to prevent any efforts by the workers to improve wages and conditions?
ANIMALS
Vegetarians and animal welfare campaigners aren't too keen on McDonald's - for obvious reasons. As the world's largest user of beef they are responsible for the slaughter of hundreds of thousands of cows per year. In Europe alone they use half a million chickens every week, all from windowless factory farms. All such animals suffer great cruelty during their unnatural, painful and short lives, many being kept inside with no access to fresh air and sunshine, and no freedom of movement - how can such cruelty be measured? Is it acceptable for the food industry to exploit animals at all? Again, McDonald's argue that they stick to the letter of the law and if there are any problems it is a matter for government. They also claim to be concerned with animal welfare.
EXPANSION
In 1996 McDonald's opened in India for the first time: a country where the majority of the population is vegetarian and the cow is sacred. Just one example of the inexorable spread of western multinationals into every corner of the globe. A spread which is creating a globalised system in which wealth is drained out of local economies into the hands of a very few, very rich elite. Can people challenge the undermining of long-lived and stable cultures, and regional diversity? Self-sufficient and sustainable farming is replaced by cash crops and agribusiness under control of multinationals - but how are people fighting back?
FREE SPEECH
So, it seems as though lots of people are opposed to the way McDonald's go about their business. So there is a big global debate going on about them right? Wrong. McDonald's know full well how important their public image is and how damaging it would be to them if any of the allegations started becoming well-known amongst their customers. So they use their financial clout to influence the media, and legal powers to intimidate people into not speaking out, directly threatening free speech. The list of media organisations who have been sued in the past is daunting, and the number of publications suppressed or pulped is frightening. But what are the lessons of the successful and ever-growing anti-McDonald's campaign for those also determined to challenge those institutions which currently dominate society?
CAPITALISM
Nobody is arguing that the huge and growing global environmental and social crisis is entirely the fault of one high-profile burger chain, or even just the whole food industry. McDonald's are of course simply a particularly arrogant, shiny and self-important example of a system which values profits at the expense of anything else. Even if McDonald's were to close down tomorrow someone else would simply slip straight into their position. There is a much more fundamental problem than Big Macs and French Fries: capitalism. But what about anti-capitalist beliefs like socialism and anarchism? Is it possible to create a world run by ordinary people themselves, without multinationals and governments - a world based on sharing, freedom and respect for all life?
The Above Was Stolen From www.mcspotlight.com
FORMER CLOWN BASHES BIG MACS
Geoffrey Giuliano - a former Ronald McDonald - launched his own brand of Big Mac attack. And it was directed at his old employers, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada. "Meat is murder," the ex-hamburger clown told a crowd of about 150 animal-rights activists demonstrating in front of a McDonald's restaurant at 192A Bloor St. W.
A vegetarian since the 1970s, Giuliano lashed out at the burger giant for "the senseless killing of animals for food."
Sold out "tell the readers of the Sun Ronald McDonald says it's naughty to eat meat," he said. Giuliano, 36, played the popular clown in Toronto from 1980 to 1982. A graduate of "Ronald McDonald University" - the chain's training school - he was one of several Ronalds working throughout the world. "I sold out when I was Ronald and I'm deeply sorry for that," said Giulano, who is now a successful rock biographer living in Upstate New York
Giuliano also played the Magical Mystical Burger King for Burger King restaurants in the Northeastern U.S. in 1978-79 and is currently working on a book titled Confessions of a Corporate Clown. He made $50,000 a year, had a private chef, limo service, and an office with a personal secretary during his tenure as Ronald McDonald.
"McDonald's let me go because they said I wasn't "McDonaldized" enough," said Giuliano. "Which really means I didn't toe the corporate line." McDonald's spokesman Simon Halls told the Sun Giulano is entitled to his opinion. "We're proud of everything we're doing," said Halls.
The Sunday Sun, Toronto Robert Benzie, July 1, 1990
SENDING OUT THE CLOWNS
Geoffrey Giuliano has gone straight. The former Ronald McDonald clown says that, after years of "deceiving thousands of innocent, trusting children," he has thrown in his rubber nose and striped socks to promote the joys of vegetarianism. Not only did Giuliano spend time as a member of what he calls "the McDonalds' corporate juggernaut," but also says he is ashamed to admit to a stint posing as "the Marvelous Magical Burger King," which involved performing a children's magic show celebrating the glories of meat-eating for McDonalds'-rival Burger King Corp. Now, the former clown is telling all in his memoirs, Confessions of a Corporate Clown. And as part of what he describes as his effort to make amends for past sins, Giuliano is developing a magic show he plans to take to schools and vegetarian food fairs. He added, "This show is my way of saying sorry for selling out so blatantly to concerns who make their millions off the murder of countless animals and the exploitation of children for their own ends." A lot to beef about!
MaClean's Magazine, Canada
September 10, 1990 EX-RONALD McDONALD TURNS IN HIS BURGERS
An author and vegetarian activist welcomed a producer and two broadcasating technicians from the hit television show "A Current Affair" to Lockport this week. "Affair" producer Andrea Spiegel, cameraman Doug Meltzer and sound engineer Everette Wong went to Beatles biographer Geoffrey Giuliano's mansion to interview the author about his vegetarian philosophy and plans for a campaign he's involved with.
Giuliano, a former Ronald McDonald clown for McDonalds of Canada, has taken off his big red shoes and commited himself to a life of speaking for his cause. In addition to his life as Ronald, Giuliano is well known for his popular biographies of the Beatles. As Meltzer had the film rolling in the backyard of the stately home, Giuliano and Spiegel discussed vegetarianism.
"These days, people are becoming increasingly aware and conscious of what they put into their bodies," Giuliano said. "People need to be educated. That's my goal," Giuliano said. He said "non-violence" is an approach that can be successful in many cases. "As many people are Christians, I urge them to remember the Bible says 'Thou shall not kill.' There's no sub-clause that says it's okay to kill animals for food," Giuliano said.
Spieget and her "Affair" crew drove out to the country with Giuliano to get film footage of cows grazing in a field. Vegetarians are encouraged to eat milk products that come from cows, he said. "Butter, milk, yogurt, cheeses and ice cream. These things come from the cow and are an important part of a vegetarian diet," Giuliano said. "Current Affair" first became interested in the Giuliano story when contacted by the author's agent.
"If I was just a vegetarian, they wouldn't have wanted the story. But since I worked as Ronald, the show's producers wanted it," Giuliano. Spiegel said she and the other crew were happy to "get away" from New York City and New Jersey, where most of the show's officials are based.
Union-Sun & Journal, Western New York
Brandon Stickney
June 8, 1991 RONALD McDONALD BECOMES A VEGGIE
Meat's murder says Mac star
BURGER clown Ronald McDonald has shocked his old bosses - by becoming a VEGETARIAN.
Now US star Geoffrey Giuliano, who played Ronald on McDonalds TV ads, rescues cows from the slaughterhouse and has pledged to wage a one-man war against eating meat. The 36-year-old kids' favorite declared: "Meat is murder! Man can get along very happily on fruit, vegetables and whole grains. "I brainwashed youngsters into doing wrong - eating burgers. "I want to say sorry to children everywhere for selling out to concerns who make millions by murdering innocent animals."
Geoffrey beat 600 other clowns to get the first Ronald job in Canada in the early 80s. He had his own TV show and earned about L40,000 a year.
When he decided to quit, he claimed, McDonalds called a crisis board meeting. Now Geoffrey spends his time running a "cow protection community" on his estate in Western New York, where animals are allowed to grow old gracefully. McDonalds, the world's biggest fast-food chain refused comment.
Daily Mirror, London
September 1991
Mcdonalds Manager:Il tell you how it REALLY is!
The story you are about to read is true. Any reference to people, dead or alive(don't worry, they're all still alive!)is not a coincidence and is fully intended by the author. If you recognize yourself anywhere in this story...good, that's the point.3 years ago, I was in need of a second job. I loved my job at the grocery store (Schnucks), but I simply did not get enough hours. Being a part of the union is great...if you've worked there for 5 years. The hours are guaranteed to the people that have been there...which I guess I can understand. So anyway, my rent was high and I had tons of bills to pay, so I set out to look for a second job. I strolled into the McDonalds down the street and was enticed by an application promising "competitive wages, flexible hours, free uniforms, and insurance". I was convinced: McDonalds was the job for me. I walked up to the counter and asked for a manager so that I could set up an interview. After a 3 minute conversation, I was hired...in fact, he told me I could start the very next morning. That should have set off a warning bell in my brain, but I figured maybe I was just that charming and they couldn't wait to have me there. I shouldn't have been so flattered. I soon figured out that if you could fill out an application...hell, if you couldn't even speak English but you could have someone else fill out an application for you, you were hired.By the time I figured out how much McDonalds sucked, I was trapped. I had already quit Schnucks because the pay was better and McDonalds seemed to hold such a bright future for me. They say its love that is blind...but you should never underestimate the blinding glow of the golden arches. They'll suck you in every time.So by now you're probably getting impatient. You're probably thinking, get to the point, dammit. Why is your job so bad? Where do I begin? I could write a whole novel, but I will just tell you the main points.After about 6 months, I was promoted to management. I was very excited...I was only 18. That's when things really got bad. I figured out that while things may have sucked as a crew person, management was a whole other world filled with secret problems.McDonalds is very crooked, and they treat their employees like shit. Have you ever worked a 10 hour day without a break? I do it all the time, along with lots of the crew people...and I'm 8 months pregnant now. I have no choice...they'll fire me. I need a job, and its hard to find one when you're pregnant. I plan on leaving as soon as I have my baby, but first I will expose them for how they really are. If I make even one person change their mind about applying there, its worth it. This is a McDonalds in Saint Charles, Missouri, in case you are wondering. We are not corporate, we are franchised, and my owner has several other stores. If you live in another state, it may be okay there, but here in the heart of Missouri...there is no hope. The stores that my owner does not own are owned by...guess who...his family members.Are you a parent? Do you have a teenage child? You might be surprised to know that half of the managers at my store purchase drugs, alcohol, and cigarettes for your kid, and then let them do these things in the freezer or behind the dumpster. Do you have a fifteen year old child? You probably think we take great care of them, what with the strict labor laws and all. Ha! Just yesterday, a girl was in tears because she told the other manager she was off. He said, "I don't care, go clean the crew room." She said, "I can't, I'm fifteen, I can only work 8 hours." He made her stay an extra 30 minutes...and guess what her job was for that last half hour...cooking french fries, something else fifteen year olds aren't allowed to do! These violations of the labor laws often go unnoticed because the managers alter the time punches and add the time to another day.Wondering where your son or daughter picked up that filthy language
or developed that perverted sense of humor? Their wonderful managers at McDonalds taught them. You should hear the things I've heard my fellow managers tell teens: "I like when guys cum all over my face, you'll like it too when you get older." "This is how you put this part in the shake machine, move your hand like you're jacking off, which I'm sure you do alot of." All sorts of things like this are said every day, by MY managers (I'm a swing and they're salary, so even though we're all managers, they're still above me)to kids.So now maybe you're asking yourself, does this girl try to do anything about problems in the store? Who does she go to? I don't tell anybody. I gave up on that months ago.We had several Mexicans working there, and they were fabulous workers, as they did 10 times more work in half the time it took the Americans. You would think their hard work would be reflected in their paychecks, but no. Their lazy ass coworkers were all paid $1.00-$1.50 more per hour, because everyone assumed the Mexicans were too stupid to realize it, I guess. Well, one day I found out they were illegal. They had no green cards, and somehow, I assumed by accident, we had hired them. So I told my store manager, and he continued to let them work there. Then I went to the owner. They were great workers and I loved having them there, but there was no way we could let illegal people work for us.Finally, they were fired, and my store manager was actually mad at me. I didn't realize it was in my job description to lie and do the wrong thing, but apparently that is just part of being a manager at McDonalds.But it doesn't stop there. 40 year old managers sexually harass teenage girls...and sometimes boys...on a daily basis. Everyone steals money. We sell chicken that's sat in the cabinet for hours. Nobody ever washes their hands, and they drop food on the floor and pick it for fear that they'll get yelled at for not meeting drive thru times (90 seconds per order).The owner blames everything on the managers. If someone quits, its my fault. If a customer is crazy, its my fault. The customer is ALWAYS right. I've had customers throw stuff at me and threaten to kick my ass, and my owner actually got mad because I called the cops on one of these customers. Crew raises are 5, 10, or 15cents twice a year. Managers can get up to a quarter or 50cents, I forget. So much for competitive wages. Over half of the employees are on welfare. Insurance is called McCrew Care, and you're better off getting Medicaid or something because the insurance sucks. Oh and the free uniforms...apparently you don't get those if you're pregnant. My owner told me to do some situps and then he asked if I knew how I got pregnant. I should have told him I didn't, and could he please explain it to me.I could go on for hours, but the bottom line is: MCDONALDS SUCKS. I could have told you about the ways it personally affects me and the abuse I endure every week, but I tried to make it so that you know how everyone-crew people, parents, and even customers are affected. If you like working long hours without breaks in a hostile environment where you are treated like a piece of shit, then its the job for you. Otherwise...I hear Taco Bell is hiring. Make a run for the border, or even better, to tech school or college.
Fast food is just not worth it.
