Greens act against McDonald's "poor food"

VILNIUS - Environmentalists have staged several protest actions outside McDonald's restaurants in Lithuania, urging people not to eat the fast food being served there. They are the first in what they call a coordinated campaign against the large U.S. corporation.

The protests, called "McDonald's Litters Your Stomach and Nature," were held outside three restaurants in Vilnius, Kaunas and Klaipeda on Feb. 2. The Lithuanian Green Movement says this is just the beginning of a long-term anti-McDonald's campaign.

Four Green activists and several teenagers gathered outside the restaurant on central Gedimino Avenue in Vilnius brandishing placards saying, "Mamma, McDonald's is shit" and "How's the shitburger?"

They distributed leaflets suggesting that McDonald's food is unhealthy.

But the protest was not only about environmental and health issues. They also drew attention to the fact that the Lithuanian government allows McDonald's to import processed foods without import taxes. This, according to the Greens, deprived the Lithuanian budget of about 600,000 litas ($125,000) over the second half of 2001.

"We are not only environmentalists. We are Lithuanian citizens. Why does our government demand taxes from Lithuanian firms but makes an exception for one of the world's biggest companies? This year, McDonald's is again demanding the right to import without taxes," complained Linas Vainius, deputy chairman of the Lithuanian Green Movement.

They also questioned McDonald's policy of importing beef from Poland. "Lithuanian beef producers have EU quality certificates. Why not buy from them?

The Green Movement has written an open letter to Economy Minister Petras Cesna, in which it protests against privileges given to McDonald's by the Lithuanian government. "Such food industry giants as Kraft Foods International, Mars. Inc. and the other 150 U.S. firms that work in Lithuania do not ask for such exemptions," reads the Greens' appeal.

They also emphasize environmental issues. They accuse the worldwide chain of destroying tropical forests, which are felled to provide space for the company's cultivation areas and pasture. And they slam the U.S. giant for using thousands of tons of unnecessary packaging and plastic dishes.

"It is a pity the average Lithuanian does not care about the situation in poorer countries. But we do. A large part of the Brazilian jungles has been destroyed and turned into fields for cattle because of McDonald's interest in cheap beef," Vainius said.

There were over 500 anti-McDonald's demonstrations in countries around the world last year.

Vainius also said that McDonald's food was fatty, salty and contained harmful chemicals. "McDonald's advertising campaigns target children. During our Feb. 2 action, we distributed 2,000 leaflets about their harmful food. We found that most adult clients at McDonald's actually agreed with us during our demonstration. Parents said they didn't like the food, but that it was the only place where they could bring children.

Children like the McDonald's atmosphere and ask their parents to take them there. I'd like to urge Lithuanian businessmen to establish child-friendly restaurants with healthy cuisine," Vainius said.

McDonald's has not commented on the Greens' protest and is not commenting on questions put to them by The Baltic Times.

Things could change. The Lithuanian government is negotiating with McDonald's, which has no other special privileges, on the import tax exemption issue. And the Economy Ministry has expressed the hope that the corporation will start using Lithuanian beef.

"McDonald's food meets all the quality standards of the European Union. Their food is healthy and good. McDonald's officials visited Lithuanian beef-producing companies this week, and they will use Lithuanian beef soon," Kazimieras Lukauskas, director of the State Food and Veterinary Service, said.

McDonald's has four restaurants in Vilnius, one in Kaunas and one in Klaipeda.