*UPDATE ON BLUE MOUNTAINS, AUSTRALIA, ANTI-MCDONALD'S CAMPAIGN*
The Mountains Against McDonald's (MAM) group staged a very successful rally
and concert on 8 December outside the Council chambers where a decision on
the proposed McDonald's will be taken next week. Despite the busy time of
the year and unpromising weather, an estimated 700 local people attended
during the afternoon.
The rally was titled '100 Voices', being built around 100 people speaking
against the McDonald's development for one minute each. As well there were
song, poetry and other performances specially devised for the occasion.
Contributions sent by influential environmentalists (including David
Suzuki) politicians and others who were unable to attend, were read out by
speakers. A former chief judge of the court where any appeal by McDonald's
against an adverse decision would be heard, expressed the view that he
would have found against the development for a whole raft of legal reasons.
The crowd was a wide cross section with people from a range of social and
ethnic groups, and the feeling of the day was very positive and optimistic.
One of the most impressive aspects was the number of children who spoke
against the incursion of McDonald's into their community. Some had
composed special songs and poems. A Japanese exchange student (of whom
there are many in the area) spoke movingly about the encroachment of fast
food chains in her own country, and pleaded that it not happen in this
beautiful area.
Among the messages of support was one from the mayor of Port Douglas, a
beautiful resort in North Queensland which was recently chosen by US
President Bill Clinton for a few days' rest and recreation. Port Douglas
too is under threat from a McDonald's development, and the Mayor expressed
strong solidarity with the efforts of the upper Blue Mountains to keep
McDonald's out.
On the night of the Council decision, MAM is staging a picnic outside the
Council Chambers to which it hopes all residents and business people
opposed to McDonald's will come as a demonstration to Council of the extent
of opposition in the community.
Because of the popularity of the Blue Mountains, which receives over 3m
visitors a year, the battle is attracting national attention, and the
Australian media are likely to give major coverage to the decision
whichever way it goes.
MAM believes it is part of a worldwide trend to resistance from local
communities, particularly in great beauty spots, against the incursion of
fast food chains like McDonald's. MAM invites expressions of support from
sympathetic communities around the world.
Contact information:
Gillian Appleton <gap...@pnc.com.au>.
Another contact for opposition in the Blue Mountains is:
Brandon Raynor
EarthSave (New South Wales)
15 Albert Road
Bullaburra
NSW 2779
Australia
Tel +61-47-592460
Fax +61-47-586904
E-mail: earth...@pnc.com.au
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