Celebrating the 30th Anniversary of McSpotlight.org

16th February 1996 - 2026

McLibel defendants Helen Steel and Dave Morris at the launch of McSpolight.org 16th February 1996

www.mcspotlight.org

Media release from some former McSpotlight activists and contributors - Please forward widely

McDonald's, McLibel, Spycops

and People Power  

 

' The McSpotlight site, which opened last week, provides a comprehensive guide to the McDonald's 'McLibel' trial: the original leaflet, the writ, the witness statements, the arguments. It is claimed to be 'the most comprehensive source of information on a multinational corporation ever assembled' - and that doesn't sound like an exaggeration. ' - The Guardian, 22.2.1996

"If Web sites are the asteroids of cyberspace, surely McSpotlight is its Death Star." - InterActive Week, 22.7.1996

30 years ago, a motley collection of young enthusiasts came together determined to use the newly established internet to tell the world the truth about McDonald's and corporations in general - and to stand up for people power. The volunteers were inspired by the UK's 'McLibel' court battle, brought by the McDonald's junk food corporation against London Greenpeace activists, which was becoming the longest and one of the most controversial court cases in English history. McDonald's had been hoping to halt the distribution of 'What's Wrong With McDonald's?' leaflets, and criticisms of its business practices generally. However, in response, a global defiance campaign was ensuring that leaflets which had been given out in thousands before the court case were by 1996 being distributed in millions all over the world. The McSpotlight site took the campaign to another level, ensuring that the public had full and easy access to all the news, information and support they needed to judge for themselves.

The pioneering McSpotlight site - launched to great publicity and acclaim - was one of the first of its kind, its design and content painstakingly created and constructed by hand without the benefit of modern templates. Although the operation wound down in 2005 after the McLibel proceedings finally concluded with a victory for the defendants, the site can still be viewed today as a historic presence, archive and legacy. Many of the links are still functioning. Enjoy!

However, the story doesn't end there, because much has happened over the last 20 years, including another huge and lengthy battle between campaigners (including London Greenpeace) and the establishment. This has resulted in what is becoming the longest and most expensive official Public Inquiry in UK history, with the spotlight this time on the Metropolitan Police and the scandal of 40 years of secret undercover police infiltration of campaign groups, including London Greenpeace (LGP). And guess what? - the police and McDonald's were secretly and unlawfully colluding against London Greenpeace, and accessing confidential legal advice being provided 'pro bono' to the McLibel defendants by barrister Keir Starmer (then a radical lawyer, now UK Prime Minister). This collusion was clearly an abuse of legal process and perversion of the course of justice, and is now being pursued at the Public Inquiry. Many of those who were involved in McSpotlight and the McLibel campaign are currently involved in that Public Inquiry. [See all the relevant references below]

The need to challenge the power of corporations is greater than ever. McSpotlight stands as an inspiration and a testament to what has been achieved, and what still needs to be achieved.

What has been achieved over the last 30 years

• As part of the global McLibel information and defiance campaign we achieved the complete public humiliation of McDonald's (at the time probably the world's most prominent multinational corporation), and the defeat of their efforts to suppress criticism
  
• As part of the efforts by London Greenpeace activists and others we achieved the exposure of the scandalous 40 year long secret spycops operation infiltrating LGP and hundreds of other left wing and campaign groups. It is currently the subject of the UK's longest ever Public Inquiry. In particular London Greenpeace activists tracked down and outed spycops who infiltrated London Greenpeace and the McLibel campaign, including police officers Bob Lambert and John Dines.

What is yet to be achieved

• Abolition of McDonald's
  
• Reclaiming of the internet as a public service, with corporate influence and control removed
  
• An anarchist planet, without corporations and Governments, run by and for its peoples based on freedom, sharing and respect for the environment
  
  

Calls to Action

Please support the following groups, campaigns and movements - Let the resistance continue and flourish!

• Liberate the internet: Electronic Frontier Foundation - https://www.eff.org And: Free Software Foundation Europe - https:/fsfe.org
• Oppose police repression: https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.org.uk
• Organise together for grassroots collective people power in every neighbourhood and workplace
• Spread genuine alternative and anarchist ideas -https://www.anarchistfaq.org/afaq/index.html

Above statement by some former McSpotlight activists and contributors

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Key references/milestones/links 1996-2026:

** 16 Feb 1996: Public Launch of McSpotlight by the 'McLibel 2' in Leicester Square
- Video clip of the launch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk&t=2280s [38 - 40mins]                         
- Summary of the launch: https://www.mcspotlight.org/media/launch.html 

** 16 Feb 1997: McSpotlight Ist anniversary Press Release / Overview of the first year
- https://www.mcspotlight.org/media/1st_birthday.html

** June 1997: McLibel trial verdict: 'The £10m McBlunder' 
https://www.mcspotlight.org/media/press/mirror_20jun97.html

** 2005: McLibel proceedings final victory in the European Court: 
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk&t=4670s   'It has been described as the worst corporate PR disaster in history' .. 'They say the resistance will continue'.  [1hr.17min.50secs - end]

** 2005: McLibel documentary (viewed by 29m people)
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk   

** July 2013: London Greenpeace police infiltrator Robert Lambert outed
- C4 programme clips of Lambert being challenged in the street, with his admission of helping produce the What's Wrong With McDonald's? factsheet (subject of the McLibel action). https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WJ2SFqny9So

** Undercover Policing Public Inquiry
- Helen Steel and John Dines: https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2025/mar/02/unmasking-the-spy-cops-how-women-found-the-truth-about-men-who-tricked-them-into-relationships
- The McLibel 2 and and Keir Starmer: https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2024/oct/15/undercover-policeman-admits-spying-on-keir-starmer-when-he-was-a-barrister    
- ITV documentary on women (including Helen Steel) targeted by spycops: https://www.itv.com/watch/the-undercover-police-scandal-love-and-lies-exposed/10a5198/10a5198a0001
- Police and McDonald's collusion and perversion of the course of justice: Statement of Dave Morris to the Public Inquiry: https://www.ucpi.org.uk/publications/dave-morris-t2p2-witness-statement/

** McDonald's continuing controversies:
- McDonald's products link to deforestation in the Amazon: Soya feed for chickens, 2020 report: https://www.theguardian.com/guardianweekly/story/0,,1752430,00.html    And in 2019 using beef from deforested amazonian land: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/sep/17/leading-burger-supplier-sourced-from-amazon-farmer-guilty-of-deforestation
- April 2016 there were 300 protests in 40 countries against McJobs' conditions. https://fightfor15.org/video-massive-global-protests-on-414-because-mcjobs-cost-us-all/
- 2018: McDonald's UK workers' strike over zero hours McJobs: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2018/may/01/mcstrike-mcdonalds-workers-walk-out-over-zero-hours-contracts
- 2023-2025: McDonald's scandal over bullying of UK workers: https://www.theguardian.com/business/2025/jan/07/mcdonalds-workers-legal-action-harassment-claims

** 2025: BBC Radio 4 major documentary series 'The People vs McDonald's'
- https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m002h38n

** February 2026: McSpotlight and McLibel activist testifies to the Public Inquiry about being targeted by spycop: 
- https://campaignopposingpolicesurveillance.com/2026/02/10/ucpi-daily-report-4-feb-2026-grd-evidence/

** 15.2.2026: 25 years of Fast Food Nation, including McLibel
https://observer.co.uk/culture/interviews/article/eric-schlosser-were-still-living-in-fast-food-nation

Dave Morris: Tottenham community activist and anarchist - a 70th anniversary retrospective

A celebration, and a look back at some activities, groups and campaigns over the decades

Footage from event on Saturday 30th March 2024 @ Lordship Hub N17 6NU

Films, Desert Island Discs, photo-display, speeches / music, info table - Hosted by the Friends of Lordship Rec

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2-8pm   Photo display [See photos at the end of this post]     

3-4pm   Dave's Desert Island Discs - https://vimeo.com/934535511?share=copy

4-5pm   Open Mic for speeches/contributions -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBXEADFu8BA&t=12s   

5-6pm   Sing song - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7_ahnuel3mM   

6-8pm   Film Show - extracts from documentaries reflecting some activities/movements involved with eg. Glastonbury 1971, Torness protests, Stop ‘The City’, Poll Tax, McLibel, Sound Bites, Kingsnorth Climate Camp, Haringey Civic Centre occupation, HFRA/Community Action/housing, Lordship Rec, National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces, Spycops - -https://vimeo.com/934531278?share=copy

[See recording below, and full links for each film at the end]

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Desert Island Discs interview session: 

On Vimeo* - https://vimeo.com/934535511?share=copy

Contributions, thoughts and anecdotes from friends and comrades:

Piano / sax / singalong:

Film show session with Dave's thoughts:

On Vimeo* - https://vimeo.com/934531278?share=copy

*You might be asked to sign up for a Vimeo paid-for account, but do not need to do that to watch the films. You may need to input your email address though.

[See below for links to the full films]

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Dave's Film Show List

The extracts used at Dave's film show session - reflecting some activities/movements involved with. Feel free to watch any of the documentary films in full.

--------  Glastonbury 1971: 

Play all to the very end (4.10s)

--------  Torness anti-nuclear power protests:

https://movingimage.nls.uk/film/8500   Play from 13.50secs to 15.40s    and 17.50 - 20.06secs...  

--------  Stop ‘The City’:

Play from start to 1.42s..  then 2.30-3.30s.  Then 4.30-5.50s. Then 7.20-8.45s...

--------  Poll Tax, especially Trafalgar Square Defendants Campaign:

Haringey overview (Tony Wood interview)  Play all (7.06s)

--------  McLibel Trial / Campaign:

The McLibel documentary, 2005  

Film is set so it can only be watched on the YouTube site and not here, so click on this link: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk

Play from start to 4.41secs..   then 1hr to 1.05.55secs     Then 1.17.20secs to end

--------  Sound Bites vegan cookery video:

Play 9m-14m  - including my son Charlie and Tottenham kids with Benjamin Zephaniah.

--------  Kingsnorth climate camp:

[Note: the first link was missed out in the film showing session at Dave's 70th]

Great overview  (total 3.40 secs)  SHOW ALL

Show - I help protestors to defy the policing operation..  Start at 1.20s and play to 3.30s

--------  HFRA/Community Action:

Community Action part 1 .. Play from start to 7.24secs....

--------  Haringey Civic Centre occupation:...

In the chamber (use this)..  Play from Start to 2mins. Then 4min to 5.30m.

--------  Give Our Kids a Future demonstration:

0-1.35s    Then 6.00-10.26 (end)

--------  Our Tottenham - the launch

The launch. Play from start up to 3.23secs...  

--------  Friends of Lordship Rec:

[Note: the first link was missed out in the film showing session at Dave's 70th]

Our film!  Play from start to 1.38s. Then 2.25 - 6.15secs.. then 13.20secs to 15.10secs...  

BBC Countryfile piece.  Play from start to 6.10sec

--------  Michelle's resilient orchards on ITV

Play all - 2.36secs..

--------  Spycops Inquiry:

https://www.itv.com/news/london/2023-06-29/police-units-spying-not-justified-and-squad-should-have-been-closed-down   News report. 

Play all..  3.51secs.  Dave briefly interviewed.

Photographs of photo displays at the event:

London Greenpeace, McLibel, Poll Tax and local Community Action - Dave Morris reflects on nearly 50 years of activism (March 2023)

Dave Morris was invited by the Co-Directors of Greenpeace UK to do a talk/discussion on 30th March 2023 at their HQ. It was attended by 30 Greenpeace office staff and at least another 25 online.  He was asked to speak about his experiences and thoughts about the McLibel case and campaign, about London Greenpeace (which had been set up in 1971, 6 years before Greenpeace UK), and about his nearly 50 years as a community activist - mainly in Haringey.  

He was invited as Greenpeace UK are reviewing their priorities as an organisation and as part of that considering the importance of community organising and action, including by their local support groups. They also want to be more involved in and supportive of current wider movements.

Dave speaks for about 15 mins, followed by 45 minutes of questions and discussion. He was able to distribute paper copies of the original, inspirational Greenpeace Broadsheet produced by Peace News in 1971, a 4pp History of London Greenpeace, and information about the Friends of Parks movement across the UK (as he is currently the Chair of the National Federation of Parks and Green Spaces). A free youtube link to the McLibel 2005 documentary was circulated beforehand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V58kK4r26yk 

Wed. 28 January: Local film showing: McLibel in N17

UPDATE - Link to film and leaflet

The victorious McLibel Campaign, 1985-2005 

The film described below was shown on BBC2 soon after being made; before that it was shown in some cinemas. It has also been shown on TV in many countries…

You can now see the full film online:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sBpbaVJo9gE

and also find the 2005 LEAFLET here 

      

- The Tottenham postman & gardener who took on the McDonald’s corporation. And won. 

Bruce Castle Museum, Lordship Lane, London N17 8NU
Entry free. Doors open at 7pm. Show starts 7.30pm.
Special guests: The 'McLibel Two'

February 2015 marks 10 years since this infamous and historic marathon of a legal battle concluded at the European Court of Human Rights. The McLibel case had been a David and Goliath story of two people, Tottenham residents Helen Steel and Dave Morris. The defendants refused to be silenced by libel threats, and had to represent themselves throughout what became the longest trial in English legal history. At the same time a grass-roots global defiance campaign turned the spotlight on junk food, exploitation of workers, unethical targeting of children, environmentally-unfriendly business practices, the cruelty of factory farming - and attempts at censorship. The leaflets that the corporation tried to suppress became probably the widest circulated in history.

This documentary film made during the case tells the incredible story.. the filmed testimony of witnesses and experts, exposure of controversial practices, revealing footage of secret meetings with McDonald's US Board members, McSpies unmasked, the growing protests, McProfits down...

Helen and Dave - the McLibel Two - introduce the film and look back on the case and the victorious campaign....

The award-winning full-length documentary was shown on BBC and has been seen by over 20 million people around the world
More info on the film: www.spannerfilms.net More info on the case/campaign: www.mcspotlight.org

See also: RaHN Pamphlet: 

 'McWorld On Trial' - by Helen Steel and Dave Morris (the 'McLibel' defendants)

The inside story of the inspirational global campaign against McDonald's 1985-2005, including the titanic legal battle during the longest trial in English history.

And previously on this blog: 

McDonald's and McLibel - the successful humiliation of a multinational [1985-2005] - by the McLibel Support Campaign.

McLibel police spies revelations: defendant speaks out

Report of last RaHN meeting, 13th November 2013

Radical History Network of N.E. London (slightly edited for blog)

RaHN activities:
- A brief history of RaHN was given for the benefit of the new faces present [early years].
- We then looked at and approved the notes from the last meeting, including the detailed write up of the RaHN discussion about community action for north east London's green spaces.
- We noted the advanced plans for a new booklet on the radical history of campaigning to protect and improve local green spaces.

- An updated version of the 'McLibel: DIY Justice' pamphlet was circulated ['McWorld On Trial' - by Helen Steel and Dave Morris (the 'McLibel' defendants): The inside story of the inspirational global campaign against McDonald's 1985-2005, including the titanic legal battle during the longest trial in English history.]. It describes the inside story of the successful legal and publicity battle against McDonald's 1985-2005, is now available to be distributed by RaHN and can be viewed [here].

- Alan Woodward's archive: RaHN members present agreed to a proposal that the bulk of Alan's documents go to the Bishopsgate Institute for archiving and public display. This would be for at least 10 years, in lieu of a suitable venue being found for them in Haringey. Alan was a founder and a co-convenor of the RaHN.
- There was a report on the Anarchist Bookfair. Up to 4,000 people attended. Alex helped coordinate a History Zone for the first time at this event, in its 30th year - this zone included an exhibition of radical art, and discussions about WW1 mutinies, the Solidarnosc union movement in Poland, anarchist movement activities in London in the 1960s, and London's Hospital Occupations over the last 40 years. RaHN did a stall, which had a wide range of cheap or free RaHN pamphlets and leaflets and was pretty busy all day.
- RaHN blog/website: [continuing].
- Future meetings: We discussed what subjects people would like to discuss and debate in the coming 12 months. It was agreed that the next meeting would be about 'Radical Youth Movements', with the following other subjects suggested - Political Policing; Decent Homes For All; 1983/4 Miners Strike; Radical Childcare; Resistance to World War 1.

The main subject of discussion and debate was:
North East London's Waterways
- A people’s history of campaigning for access to drinking water, recreation water and navigation systems

Summary: Now available: RaHN on Waterways, a 2-page leaflet.

THE NEW RIVER
- The New River is neither new or a river, but is an artificial fresh water course built in the 17th Century to get water for drinking etc. into London from Hertfordshire.
- There had been riots and protests in the 16th Century over water shortages, and over 'theft' of water supplies.
- The New River Company (NRC) was financed by private entrepreneurs who wanted to make money out of Londoners' needs for fresh water - at the time people had to get it from rivers and wells. By 1638 the NRC supplied 10% of London homes. Other companies were also set up to compete, using other sources of supplies. Eventually the NRC became one of the 3 richest companies in the UK. The NRC was an early pioneer of capitalism, industrialisation and the privatisation of formerly public resources.
- Demand (including for drinking, washing, industry and sewers) outstripped supply as London grew.
- Conduits were set up in 'the city' for water distribution, with apprentices hired to collect and distribute. They were an independent and radical lot, and often seen as defenders of public rights. There were protests over ensuring adequate water levels in these conduits and public access to the water.
- Laws were passed to try to keep water purity. The idea persisted among the public that all supplies should be free and for all to use. People accessed the NR along its route, defying laws against this and even a specially-created NRC police force. Some were jailed. Continuous public pressure eventually led to the establishment of public baths and laundries everywhere.
- The London County Council was established in 1889 and bought out the NRC in 1903 to turn the New River into a public resource. Unfortunately it is now run by Thames Water after the UK Government's 1989 Water Act allowed the sell-off of many parts of the UK's water supplies to the private sector.
- However, thanks to all the public pressure, campaigns and direct action to access fresh water over the last 400 years, people still feel that the water supplies belong to all. But this will have to continue to be fought for, here and all over the world, as private companies only care about the profits they can make from our basic needs.

WALTHAMSTOW MARSHES AND LEA VALLEY
- Walthamstow marshes is part of the Lea Valley - see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lea_Valley [See below for some general background details about the Lea Valley as a whole].**
- Not a lot of the natural marshes are left.
- Originally there was a 'lamas' rotation grazing system. Local people tended to rely on grazing rights.
- Rich people bought up the rights to take and sell produce, e.g. the valuable hay crop.
- The developing navigation systems didn't affect the marshes as much as the growth of the railways did as they cut off access from communities.
- Water in the Lea reservoirs supplies a sixth of London's water. It is said that the Lea reservoirs are one of the 2 main human-made objects that can be seen from space (along with the Great Wall of China).
- Original medieval uses of the river included fish, mills (corn and beer etc), willows, water cress etc.
- The Lea was shallow and shifting so pack horses tended to be used rather than boats.
- In 1423 laws were enacted to protect water levels. In 1613 a drinking water system was agreed by Parliament (much still in place).
- Mid-1800s saw the spread of fencing off of whole areas, some Lamas rights removed and marshes fragmented. Walthamstow Commoners (many were wealthy cattle owners though) elected committee to meet up with landowners at the Ferry Boat Inn pub to demand compensation. Millers and bargees often had disputes over navigation options and changes.
- Gradually people were thrown off the land throughout the industrial revolution. Many workers employed tended to be nomadic (Gypsies and Irish).
- Marshes developed more for recreation (e.g. Tottenham and Hackney marshes for football pitches), and much of the land was sold off for housing.
- Profit and greed may have triumphed but people have always wanted access to the marshes.
- Users and campaign groups continue to speak out. There was a week-long tent occupation to try to halt a temporary Olympic facility being constructed which has damaged the spot. Recently the groups have formed a new 'Across The Marshes' network. www.saveleytonmarsh.wordpress.com The Save Lea Marshes group campaigns for Leyton Marsh to be fully restored; for the reinstatement of East Marsh as a green open space; to Keep Hackney and Walthamstow Marshes free from enclosed commercial purposes that damage the land and prevent free open access for people to enjoy; to keep a watching brief and actively lobby against all possible threats to the current land designation as Metropolitan Open Space and particularly the local listed Sites of Scientific and Special Interest (SSSIs).

** The valley of the River Lea has been used as a transport corridor, a source of sand and gravel, an industrial area, a water supply for London, and a recreational area. The upper section of the valley is mainly rural, becoming a wide floodplain, and then an increasingly urban transport corridor as it enters London via Enfield Lock, Brimsdown, Ponders End, Edmonton, Tottenham, Tottenham Hale, Clapton, Lea Bridge, Leyton, Hackney Wick, Old Ford, Bow, Stratford, West Ham, Bromley, Canning Town and Leamouth. The river was crossed at several points by fords or ferries, which were eventually replaced by bridges e.g. at Stratford a stone causeway on the Roman road to Colchester was supplemented by bridge in 1100. In 1745 the valley was crossed at Clapton by Lea Bridge.

The valley became very important for London's water supply, as the source of the water transported by the New River aqueduct, but also as the location for the Lee Valley Reservoir Chain, stretching from Enfield through Tottenham and Walthamstow. Much early industrialisation was a result of the availability of water power for numerous mills. In the 20th century the combination of transport, wide expanses of flat land and electricity from riverside and canal-side plants led to expansion of industries. Much industry has now gone, replaced by warehousing and retail parks.

North of Cheshunt the Lea Valley, particularly around Nazeing, is associated with market gardening, nurseries and garden centres. The industry once dominated the area from Ponders End, north through Enfield Lock, Waltham Cross and Cheshunt. In the 1930s the valley contained the largest concentration of greenhouses in the world. In 1948 a commentator described how glasshouses, originally established on the 'warm brickearth soils' of Tottenham and Edmonton in the 1880s, had been progressively driven north into the often poorer soils further north by the growth of London. Today, in most parts south of Cheshunt greenhouses have been replaced by residential areas.

Today Lee Valley Park occupies large areas of the valley. An extensive area of open land, built up using rubble from the Blitz, is Hackney Marshes. By contrast, Walthamstow Marshes is retained as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

LONDON'S CANALS AND BOATERS
- Canal boat owners pay licenses ('MOTs') to British Waterways.
- Have been lots of disputes over access to moorings (official and unofficial sites).
- London Boaters - http://www.londonboaters.org/ - formed in 2008 to defend boat-dwellers' existence and 250yr old way of life. Has 200-400 members and produce a newsletter. Their position is: "The boating community is diverse and vibrant with a vast range of unique skills and knowledge. Recognising this potential, London Boaters initially arranged social events and boat based training sessions to harness this knowledge and unite the community. The London Boaters community has been strengthened by a recent British Waterways mooring proposal that threatens the community’s existence. London Boaters has grown in terms of numbers, dedication and community collaboration since the announcement of the proposal. This website aims to act as a community resource for boaters from all sides of the canal towpath to protect the life we love."
- There is a great unregulated tradition of moorings and nomadism. There used to be boaters' pubs and schools.
- Many moorings are occupied/squatted unofficially (not illegal).
- In 1980s the British Waterways charity was buying up river beds and some tow paths aiming for their privatisation. Campaigns successfully defended boaters' rights, and 1995 Act was passed to safeguard this. But some tow paths charge fees as they are no longer common land.
- 7,000 boaters nationally have no moorings. Now a National Boaters and Bargees Travellers Association is forming.
- The relevant authorities often fail to properly maintain facilities for boaters, e.g..drinking water taps.
- During Olympics many boaters were outrageously corralled as 'threat to national security'.

OTHER POINTS
- Friends of Lordship Rec had successfully campaigned for the recent restoration of the River Moselle in Tottenham, and Friends Groups in Haringey collaborated to produce a walk guide celebrating the borough-wide but mostly underground river. There is now pressure on the Council and Thames Water to improve water quality - they and Councils throughout London need to be pressurised to deal with the water pollution in all London's rivers caused by sewer misconnections from domestic, public and commercial buildings.
- The former Lebus furniture factory on the Lea at Tottenham Hale was the largest in Europe and used the river for transport
- Campaigns for access to water and waterways mirror similar struggles over green spaces
- There's a myth that 'common land' meant and still means guaranteed free access or use by all - in reality it was generally owned by 'middle-men' with their own rights and agendas. So we still have to claim and fight for 'ownership' and protect it from development etc.
- Its generally public pressure/protest/direct action, not 'rights', which protect the public interest effectively in the long term. All the spaces, resources and services we value are under constant threat of privatisation or closure, so we need to continue the fight.

McLibel police spies revelations: defendant speaks out

McLibel leaflet was co-written by undercover police officer Bob Lambert - McDonald's sued green activists in long-running David v Goliath legal battle, but police role only now exposed: http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/jun/21/mclibel-leaflet-police-bob-lambert-mcdonalds

The educational campaign against McDonald's 'and all they stand for', was initiated in the 1980s by London Greenpeace - an independent libertarian environmental collective of around 25 activists. The campaign developed into a global defiance movement in the 1990s when the transnational corporation tried to suppress their critics. Leaflets being given out in thousands in the '80s ended up being distributed in millions in over two dozen languages - a fantastic demonstration of people power which has helped ensure the public are aware that there are alternatives to a society based on profiteering, consumerism and the corporate exploitation of people, animals and the environment.

The libel case brought against two of us from London Greenpeace led to the longest running trial of any kind in English history. Denied legal aid we represented ourselves, cross-examining dozens of McDonalds executives and representatives, and bringing forward scores of our own witnesses and experts to testify. The corporation's business practices were put on trial before the world and some damning judgements were made against them after the 313-day trial and 23-day appeal.

This was achieved despite the odds overwhelmingly stacked against us in the legal system and up against McDonald's massive and relentless advertising and propaganda machine.

We now know that other shadowy forces were also trying to undermine our efforts in the most disgusting, but ultimately futile ways. The Metropolitan Police and McDonald's both sent infiltrators into our open group, and 3 of them scandalously conducted long-term sexual 'relationships' with activists in order to get information on the group's campaigns. This failed to disrupt the ever-growing campaigning, but caused massive personal damage to those abused in this way.

All over the world police and secret agents infiltrate opposition movements in order to protect the rich and powerful, but as we have seen in so many countries recently people power and the pursuit of truth and justice is unstoppable, even faced with the most repressive and unacceptable stasi-like tactics.

Dave Morris, McLibel defendant and campaigner

The book by Paul Lewis and Rob Evans about the undercover policing of protest is to be published on Monday.

See also earlier post here, 13/9/09: McDonald's and McLibel - the successful humiliation…...

Undercover police officer handing out leaflets against McDonalds, October 1986:
From Undercover by Rob Evans and Paul Lewis (2013)

McDonald's and McLibel - the successful humiliation of a multinational [1985-2005] - by the McLibel Support Campaign.

The global campaign against McDonald's
Food is central to our everyday lives, yet we have virtually no control over its production and distribution. The food industry is dominated by multinational companies who for their own profits exploit consumers, workers, the world's natural resources and billions of farmed animals. The way we eat, and even the way we think about food is being manipulated by these powerful institutions and their sophisticated marketing campaigns.

To understand the reality behind the propaganda, some organisations in the 1980s began to focus on McDonald's - one of the most powerful, influential and well-known global companies.

Despite its strenuous efforts, McDonald's was and still is widely despised, and its 'reputation' - along with that of the food industry in general began to sink ever further when put under the public spotlight....

In 1985 London Greenpeace launched annual protests on October 16th [UN World Food Day]. These were protests 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. The October 16th international protests grew rapidly, despite - and maybe even because of - McDonald's notoriously unsuccessful legal efforts to silence their critics with libel writs (see below). For example, in the years immediately following the successful McLibel battle:

** In 1999, the only year in which there was systematic monitoring of where the protests took place, there were recorded 425 protests and pickets in 345 towns in 23 countries: Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Portugal, Romania, Scotland, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, USA.
** In 2000, there were widespread and large protests throughout Italy - at one store in Rome 300 demonstrators succeeded in getting it closed for the day.
** In 2002 for the first time, McDonald's workers joined in the Day of Action - there were walkouts and other forms of protests in many countries co-ordinated by McDonald's Workers Resistance (an international network of McDonald's workers - see www.mwr.org.uk).

Over 3 million 'What's Wrong With McDonald's?' leaflets were handed out in the UK alone from 1990-1997, and versions are now distributed worldwide in over 27 languages.

See the 'What's Wrong With McDonald's?' leaflet at: http://www.mcspotlight.org/campaigns/current/wwwmd-uk.pdf


General opposition to McDonald's

As well as the mass distribution of leaflets by thousands of local activists around the world, especially on the annual October 16th Anti-McDonald's Day, the global campaign against McDonald's involved a wide range of people and tactics. Fore example, a snapshot from the late 1990s includes:

- many determined residents' campaigns against new stores, including a successful 552-day occupation of a proposed McDonald's site by residents of Hinchley Wood, S.E. England, campaigns against drive-thrus in Canada, and protest blockades in Voronezh (S. Russia)
- mass anti-McDonald's protests by french farmers, including a 30,000-strong demo
- efforts by McDonald’s workers to organise together to stand up to their bosses (eg. in the UK, France, Russia and Canada), including the creation of the McDonald's Workers Resistance http://mwr.org.uk
- a global upsurge of concern over the alarming increase in obesity, heart disease and a range of other serious health problems in industrialised countries. McDonald's identified as a main culprit. This has included a lawsuit against US junk food corporations McDonald's, KFC, Burger King, and Wendys on behalf of millions of customers mislead by the systematic and unethical promotion of unhealthy food products
- there has been growing pressure for bans and restrictions on advertising to children, controversies over McDonald's sponsorship of the United Nations Childrens Fund, and over their involvement in schools and hospitals
- an ongoing international scandal over extreme labour exploitation in China for the production of McDonald's 'happy meal' toys
- McDonald's USA sued and forced to apologise and pay out millions of dollars for deceiving their customers by not revealing beef extract was a content of their supposedly vegetarian french fries
- growing concern throughout Europe, Japan, Australia, US and Canada about the threat to human health posed by beef-related diseases (such as BSE) and genetically-modified animal feed
- food poisoning scandals in South America (Argentina and Chile)
- protests against McDonald's mass use of refrigeration chemicals linked to global warming
- controversies over McDonald's hypocritical 'concern' professed over animal cruelty and general corporate responsibility
- McDonald’s increasingly identified by a wide range of protestors worldwide as a symbol of modern capitalism
- recent falls in their global profits and corporate closure of many stores, with US Executives admitting that recent years have been the "most challenging" in McDonald's 50-year history


The McLibel case

The McLibel trial was described by commentators as 'the worst Corporate PR disaster in history'. McDonald's Corporation issued writs against North London residents Helen Steel and Dave Morris (the McLibel 2) on 20th September 1990 alleging the company had been libelled in the London Greenpeace factsheet "What's Wrong With McDonald's? Everything they don’t want you to know". The McLibel trial began on 28th June 1994, and on June 19th 1997 - after a trial lasting 313 days (the longest trial ever in England) - Mr Justice Bell ruled that McDonald's marketing has "pretended to a positive nutritional benefit which their food (high in fat & salt etc) did not match"; that McDonald's "exploit children" with their advertising strategy; are "culpably responsible for animal cruelty"; and "pay low wages, helping to depress wages in the catering trade."

On March 31st 1999 the Court of Appeal added to those damning findings. Lord Justices Pill, May and Keane ruled that it was fair comment to say that McDonald's employees worldwide "do badly in terms of pay and conditions", and true that "if one eats enough McDonald's food, one's diet may well become high in fat etc., with the very real risk of heart disease." However the Courts ruled that the McLibel 2 had still libelled McDonald's over some points and outrageously ordered them to pay £40,000 damages to the $35 billion-dollar company. The McLibel 2 refused to pay a penny.

On February 15th 2005 the European Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg ruled that the McLibel trial had breached Article 6 [right to a fair trial] and Article 10 [right to freedom of expression] of the Human Rights Convention. This ruling only underlines the significance of the above rulings made against McDonald's, which were made despite all the odds stacked against the defendants.

Background info on the whole incredible case and campaign:
- by visiting www.mcspotlight.org
- McLibel film (as shown on BBC) and DVD: www.spannerfilms.net


The McLibel 2 interviewed - Helen Steel and David Morris talk about their fifteen year legal battle with McDonalds
From the Alternative Press Review

The McLibel case began in 1990 when the McDonald’s Corporation issued libel writs against people involved with London Greenpeace (an anarchist environmental group which pre-dated the more well-known Greenpeace). McDonald’s demanded an apology and the withdrawal of the group’s anti-McDonald’s leaflets. The leaflet brought together criticisms of McDonald’s business practices made by different movements in relation to the environment, workers rights, cash crops, nutrition, advertising to children and exploitation of animals. It used McDonald’s as a high profile company to take an overall look at the effect of multinational corporations on society.

The McLibel trial itself lasted from 1994 to 1997, with an appeal in 1999. Despite all the odds stacked against the McLibel Two (burden of proof on them, no jury, no legal aid, McDonald’s spending £10m on the case, etc.) they succeeded on many points. The courts ruled that McDonald’s marketing has “pretended to a positive nutritional benefit which their food (high in fat and salt, etc.) did not match”; that McDonald’s “exploit children with their advertising strategy; are “culpably responsible for animal cruelty”; and “pay low wages, helping to depress wages in the catering trade”; that it was fair comment to say that McDonald’s employees worldwide “do badly in terms of pay and conditions”; and true that “if one eats enough McDonald’s food, one’s diet may well become high in fat, etc., with the very real risk of heart disease.”

Incredibly, despite these damning rulings made against the company the McLibel Two were ordered to pay £40,000 to McDonald’s. The McLibel Two refused to pay a penny.

On 15th February 2005 the European Court of Human Rights declared that the case was in breach of the right to a fair trial and right to freedom of expression.

Q. What implications for freedom of speech and the right to protest do you think the outcome of this case will have?

Although we won the case in Europe the ruling actually fudged most of the issues we had argued, and as a result may not have that much impact on freedom of speech. What has had and will have a far greater impact is the mass defiance campaign which has shown that oppressive laws can be rendered unworkable if people defy them.

Early on in the legal proceedings the McLibel Support Campaign (MSC) was set up and run by volunteers on a shoestring from someone’s bedroom, and through open collective meetings. The MSC called for many international days of action against McDonald’s throughout the trial and immediately after the verdict. Thousands of people signed a pledge to say that whatever happened in the court proceedings they would defy the company’s censorship efforts.

Two days after the judge had given his mixed ruling in 1997, and ordered us to pay McDonald’s damages, protests took place at over 500 UK stores and elsewhere around the world. Around three million leaflets had been distributed in the UK alone since the writs were served. This showed McDonald’s that it was futile to attempt to use the legal system to silence people, and they then abandoned their original claim for costs and an injunction to prevent leafleting. They have also never attempted to enforce the damages.

The MSC also ensured that the detailed information about McDonald’s that was emerging from internal company documents and cross examination during the trial was publicized around the world. This acted as another layer of protection for freedom of speech. The pioneering mcspotlight website was set up in 1996 as a library of information on the case and the company—it has been accessed over 100 million times since.

The MSC was also responsible for most of the media publicity, and the networking with wider movements. It offered support to residents opposing local McDonald’s stores, workers standing up to the company, parents challenging McDonald’s sponsorship in schools, etc. A sister group in Nottingham, the Veggies collective, helped coordinate the growing mass leafleting and protests, as well as sending people down to London throughout the trial to provide practical support.
Overall the case spectacularly backfired for McDonald’s. They had issued legal proceedings as part of a long running and largely successful strategy of legal threats to their critics. Instead, this time the campaign had turned the tables and put the company on trial—all their business practices received massive scrutiny during the trial, and the leafleting mushroomed. They haven’t issued libel writs in the UK since, and other companies have been warned not to ‘do a McLibel.’

Q. What else helped you fight the case?

Our background as activists involved in diverse struggles (such as in supporting the miners strike, the anti-poll tax movement, environmental direct action, local campaigns, etc.) gave us a lot of experience and inspiration to draw on. There’s a myth created by the media that we fought this case alone. In fact, it was a collective effort—we could not have fought this long battle without a network of personal support from friends, babysitters (Dave is a single parent), and a whole range of volunteers helping in different ways. That, and the overwhelming support and encouragement we received from all directions. Regarding the court case, so many people volunteered their time and efforts as witnesses, experts, researchers, in-court helpers and legal advisers, etc.

Where we were ‘on our own’ was in speaking in court and finding our way round the 40,000 pages of documents. However, although this was exhausting, it was very empowering to be able to challenge corporate executives face to face, without them being able to walk away.

Q. Where there dilemmas you faced as anarchists involved in such a high-profile case and campaign?

Dilemmas included: how to participate in court procedures without recognizing their right to dictate what the public can say; and having to focus on McDonald’s yet wanting to avoid being drawn into a ‘boycott McDonald’s’ line. We also made a commitment to avoid any ‘anti-Americanism’.

The campaign, in trying to maintain media coverage, tended to focus on the more extreme practices of capitalism and the legal system, rather than their very existence. The establishment media was superficial, inaccurate and largely uninterested in the campaign as a whole, yet we relied on it to publicise the case. In many ways we were lucky it was McDonald’s that sued us, thus guaranteeing a high profile. We were uncomfortable with the idiotic focus on us as a ‘heroic duo’, but speaking to the media was the only way we could ensure getting quotes in the press about some of the issues and the campaigning.

Despite these dilemmas we feel that the wider McLibel campaign contributed to the growth of the contemporary anti-capitalist movement in a number of ways: the long-running, high-profile, yet radical grass-roots nature of the campaign; the focus on the overall effects of a global industry (food) rather than just one aspect of it; the success in defying censorship; and the calls, albeit vague, for resistance and alternatives to the current system.

Q. McDonalds say the world has moved on since this trial and the company has changed—do you think this is true?

No. McDonald’s, in common with other multinational corporations, exists to make profits for the benefit of their shareholders and directors—to that end they continue to exploit workers, children and other consumers, the environment and animals.

In the years since the trial finished McDonald’s profits have dropped, at least partly due to the increasing public awareness of the unhealthy nature of junk food and increased risks of obesity, heart disease and cancer as a result of this type of diet. McDonald’s have introduced so-called ‘healthy’ options to their menus, but this is not because of their concern for the public’s health, it is merely an attempt to capture customers who wouldn’t eat their usual fare.

The reality is that McDonald’s trumpet every minor change and use it as an opportunity for PR and greenwash: fundamentally, the whole system remains the same.
What advice would you give to anti-capitalist leaflet writers about avoiding libel cases?

People should be free to distribute any criticisms which they feel are justified—just as they must have the freedom to organize, demonstrate and campaign against oppression and injustice. Such freedoms have to be continuously exercised and fought for—especially in the current repressive climate. What we publish should be based not on libel laws, but on whether we believe the statements to be true. Our concerns should be who we are trying communicate to while making our publications as accurate and understandable as we can. We will only gain the respect and trust of the public when they can see that what we write is reliable and not invented to suit our own purposes—as happens all too often with the mainstream media and politicians, etc.

Q. What sort of advice would you give to people who are facing legal threats?

We would always encourage people to stand up to bullies—whether corporations, governments, police or whatever—and refuse to be intimidated by legal or other threats. But it’s essential to get organized, to refuse to be marginalized or criminalized, and to constantly engage with wider opposition movements and the public in general. Any movements for change can expect to have to resist and overcome repression. We need to work out how best to transform court cases into arenas around which public debate and struggles can be stimulated and mobilized. ‘Natural justice’ and ‘civil society’ are stronger than we all realize. The rulings of supposedly powerful legal, state and corporate institutions can be successfully opposed.

Q. What do you plan to do now?

The McLibel legal battle is over now but the struggle continues for a society run by and for the benefit of everyone. We are both active in a wide range of activities and campaigns in our local community and with the Haringey Solidarity Group. We intend to continue as a small part of the much wider movement for a better world.


For more info on the case and campaign see www.mcspotlight.org
For more info on the McLibel film see www.spannerfilms.net