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- What's New? -

25th October: major structural work completed

In preparation for the definitive version of McSpotlight (the upcoming CD-ROM) we've been oh so busy redoing the site: check out the new Beyond McDonald's, Kids and Issues pages.

13th October: press backgrounder


McLibel press backgrounder updated to include verdict, appeals etc.

9th October: McLibel pages redone


The section of the site devoted to the McLibel Trial has finally been overhauled and sorted out. Should now be each easier to find exactly how many witnesses appeared, that particularly amusing courtroom exchange or what Richard Rampton prefers for breakfast. (Sorry, this section is not going to be on the mirror sites till we sort out a way of uploading more than one file at a time!)

4th October: McLibel 2 go Stateside


Helen and Dave are off on a week's promotional trip in America. Signing books, speaking to packed-out stadiums, that kind of thing. Plenty of opportunities to go along and say hello or throw tomatoes.

29th September: Campaigns


Preparations for the annual Week of Action Against McDonald's: 12th - 17th October 1997. Print some leaflets and get down to your local Golden Arches.

26th September: Media pages


The McSpotlight media pages have been overhauled and now include an archive of press releases, a press kit for lazy journos and all the usual newspaper, tv, internet, photo and video stuff.

7th September: Appeal


The Two begin Round Two as appeal is lodged with Court of Appeal.

28th August 1997: Press Update ... Press avalanche:


Over 40 (yep that's over FORTY!) press articles into the press sections:

• UPI: Fast-food client claims tea was bleach
• Business Wire: Hospital Workers Union Takes Protest Against McDonald's to Woodhull Hospital; 27 August 1997
• Reuters: McDonald's opens 200th restaurant in Taiwan; 27 August 1997
• Reuters: McDonald's relying more on international stores; 25 August 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Burger chain leaves France as sales fall; 30 July 1997
• UPI: McDonald's to invest $59 million in Peru; 28 July 1997
• Reuters: Some Wal-Mart stores serving McDonald's meals at check-out; 25 July 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Heritage purists in combat at Coliseum; 24 July 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): BSE cull costs 'out of control' - McDonald's buys British beef; 27 June 1997
• Marketing Weekly (UK): McDonald's Win Is Hollow Victory; 26 June 1997
• Marketing Weekly (UK): Big Mac Under Attack; 26 June 1997
• Marketing (UK): McDonald's Trial And Error; 26 June 1997
• Marketing (UK): MCLIBEL TWO HIT BACK AT BURGER GIANT'S KIDS ADS; 26 June 1997
• The Lawyer: McLibel Trial Makes Firm ú3million; 24 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): McLibel Two take protests back to street; 22 June 1997
• Mail on Sunday (UK): Burger Chiefs in Court Threat; 22 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Ruling could damage company's image; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Mine's The Biggest Mac Please; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Two vegans who took on the burger giant; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Renewed calls for libel reform; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): MCJUSTICE IS DONE; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): TWO VEGANS WHO TOOK ON THE BURGER GIANT; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): MCLIBEL VICTORY WITH LITTLE RELISH; 20 June 1997
• Western News: WHAT MADE BURGER GIANT BITE BACK; 20 June 1997
• Western News: WAS IT REALLY MCWORTH IT?; 20 June 1997
• Western News: MCDONALD'S WIN EPIC COURTROOM BATTLE; 20 June 1997
• Western News: SMALL FRIES WHO TOOK ON BIG MACS; 20 June 1997
• Yorkshire Post: Peniless Losers in Court Still Claim Victory Over Mighty McDonald's; 20 June 1997
• The Scotsman: McDonald's Left To Chew Over ú10 Million Legal Bill; 20 June 1997
• The Scotsman: Anarchists Never Fighting To Win; 20 June 1997
• Los Angeles Times (USA): BIG MAC WINS MCLIBEL CASE; 20 June 1997
• The Independent (UK): WHAT A JUDGE SAID ABOUT MCDONALD'S; 20 June 1997
• The Toronto Globe and Mail (Can): A Victory Over McLies; 20 June 1997
• The Daily Mirror (UK): THE ú10M MCBLUNDER; 20 June 1997
• Reuters: Judge Rules Activists Libelled McDonald's; 19 June 1997
• Reuters: Activists Found Guilty of Libel Vs McDonald's; 19 June 1997
• Reuters: Activists Guilty of Libelling McDonald's; 19 June 1997
• Wired Magazine: Eighties survivor cracks the zine scene; 17 June 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Burger chains agree to talks on beef ban; 13 June 1997
• The Economist (UK): McEconomics hails the yuan; 11 April 1997
• The Times (UK): The end of polite resistance8 March 1997
• The Daily Telegraph (UK): Not so Big Mac1 January 1997


August 1997 - Exclusive interviews

Come on down Ronald McDonald - Geoffrey Guilliano sheds the clowns mask for a chat with McSpotlight and Sue Dibb of the UK Food Commission says Ronald is leading kids up the Golden path to ill-health in her exclusive for McSpotlight.

31st July - Press release


National Food Alliance calls for government review of food advertising after McLibel ruling

31st July 1997 - Press update


McDonald's hit with fines and legal costs for polluting English waterway - Reuters 24 July 1997

29th July 1997 - Campaign update


NOMAC go online

19th July - Campaign update


McDonald's admit defeat - no injuction on leaflets - censorship defeated!

• MSC 18th July 1997 - McLibel Victory!
• Associated Press - McDonald's Lets Libel Case Rest
• The Financial Times - McDonald's to Abandon Action
• The Independent - No Second Helping For McDonald's

Meanwhile the wider battle against McDonaldisation continues;


• MSC 17th July 1997 - North London Residents In Uproar Against Proposed McDrive-Thru

14th July - Interviews


Friends of the Earth Director - Charles Secrett - puts McDonald's in the McSpotlight

15th July - Company update


McDonald's offical view on Bell's verdict

14th July - Interviews


Brazil specialist Sue Branford gives an exclusive interview to McSpotlight about her 20 years of experience in the Amazon region.

9th July 97 - Interviews


IUF General Secretary Dan Gallin talks to McSpotlight about McDonald's, unionisation and workers

9th July 97 - Media Update


The Independent - 2nd July 1997 - What can the company do?

4th July 97 - Media Update (Press backlog to clear)


• The Scotish Daily Record - 20th June 1997
• The Canberra Times - 24th June 1997
• The Bangkok Daily Post - 26th June 1997
• South China Morning Post - 20th June 1997
• The Guardian - 18th June 1997
• The Guardian - 20th June 1997
• The Herald - 20th June 1997
• Independent Business Weekly - 27th June 1997

1st July 97 - Open Letter


After the Judgement: An open letter from the McLibel Defendants.

25th June 97 - Judgement


The Judgement begines to appear - loaded in installments the full judgement amounting to some 800 pages is fully accessible.

21st June 97 - Verdict Update


• Chicago Tribune - McDonald's USA local paper gives their opinion

Plus. Judgement page updated with new leaflet "What's Wrong With McJustice?" (in PDF)

20th June 97 - Media Update (can't even get off line now before another one arrives)


• Liberation - French National coverage

Plus. McLibel media press cutting index updated.

20th June 97 - Media Update (here we go!)


• McLibel Support Campaign Press Release 20th June 1997
• The Times - hot off the press
• The Telegraph - indepth post verdict report
• USA Today - "the judge agreed with some of their sharpest criticisms"
• Reuters - "allegations about cruelty to animals, low pay and exploitative advertising were true"
• CNN Online - "some of the criticisms of the fast-food chain were correct"

Plus... If you've been look for a way to send McDonald's your opinions but have been frustrated by their disinterest,
look no further - McSpotlight provides a feedback form to McDonald's corporation. (Use it while it works!).

19th June 97 - Judgement day


• McLibel Support Campaign Press Release 19th June 1997 plus McLibel Verdict backgrounder.

And, available NOW! Justice Bell's summary of his verdict in the McLibel trial.

18th June 97 - Media Update


• 'but at what cost' - Associated Press; 16th June 1997
• Marathon McDonald's Libel Trial Near Climax - Reuters; 15th June 1997
• McDonald's U.S. Marketing Plan in Question - Reuters; 4th June 1997
• Restaurant Kings, or just Silly Burgers? - Observer; 8th June 1997
• 'McDog' Restaurant Chain Challenges McDonald's - Reuters; 8th June 1997
• McDonald's Opens at Seagate Canteen - Reuters; 3rd June 1997
• Writ Large - Legal News in Brief - Guardian; 3rd June 1997

13th June 97 - Media Update


• McLibel Support Campaign Press Release - McLibel Verdict Expected 19th June 1997
• John Lewis drops libel action - see full story.

11th June 97 - People


Two new exclusive interviews to McSpotlight from notable characters involved in McLibel.

• Jeremy Corbyn, British MP
• George Ritzer, author of McDonaldisation of Society

10th June 97 -


Thanks to Freespeech TV, 'The Attack of Big Mac' from Undercurrents2
can now be viewed online using RealVideo or VDOLive.

9th June 97 - Media Update


• Victory for McLibel Two - says the Toronto Star
Plus. McLibel Book Competition week four comences

2nd June 97 - Subvert Update


When is a drive-thru not a drive-thru? Another corporate buster at large.

2nd June 97 - Company Advert


McDonald's discover hitherto underexploited consumer market. Recent sales slump expected to recover. In the hope that you're never too young to have a "Mac Attack," McDonald's has now entered the womb.

30th May 97 - Company Update


McDonald's Company pages updated.
Plus. McLibel related links page split to create seperate McDonald's related links page.

Can't find what you're looking for?
Perhaps the History of What's New? can help.
Every major addition to the site since its launch is listed.


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