Member-only story
Closing Branches in Russia Won’t Make McDonalds An Ethical Company
The Burger Giant’s Level Of Hypocrisy Is Mindblowing
McDonalds have finally closed their branches in Russia, following international condemnation.
Many other companies had already cut ties with Russia following their invasion of Ukraine. McDonalds were dragging their feet.
This led to a huge outcry against McDonalds and accusations that they were behaving unethically. Imagine that — McDonalds behaving unethically? Surely not?!
Millennials will not remember the ‘McLibel Trial’ of the 1990’s where McDonalds sued two campaigners, Helen Steel and Dave Morris, for distributing leaflets which criticised the multinational’s practices.
They won’t remember it, but they should know about it. It’s an important part of our legal and cultural history.
The high-profile libel case, which lasted almost ten years, became the longest-running legal case in UK history. It was ruled by the European Court of Human Rights to have denied Helen and Dave a fair trial and to have breached their right to freedom of expression, contrary to Articles 6 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights.
