to think that the McDonalds protest is a bloody stupid idea that will not get anyone onside?

[PyongyangKipperbang]

Protester are blockading Maccies distribution centres to try and get them to commit to be fully plant based by 2025.

Now I cansee the argument about meat production affecting the environment but.......McDonalds sell what people want to eat! They are a business and are not going to agree to do something that could decimate their customer base!

And this kind of protest just pisses people off, if you want to take the kids for a maccies on the way home from shopping because you cba to cook then finding out that they have no food in then you are hardly going to feel very well disposed to the people who have caused it are you?

I fancy a big mac now lol

And.....why not, as PP have said, do something meaningful instead of this pitchfork waving at the panto villain?

It's usually easier to take than make.
Eg. Force already established business to change offering vs make your own with exactly what you want and get customers in.

Frankly, there is just not enough vegans to make large plant based chain of fast food viable and you need prime premises, because it quite impulse buy. It coul potentially work with very small outlets, but there are lovely independents for that usually.

I’m veggie and think this is nuts. Mcds is meaty... it won’t change and if it does it won’t be for a looooong time.
Also there are plant based /veggie chains, and they’re hugely successful, more so in USA.
And plant based alternatives are luuuuush, sorry if people have tried and not enjoyed but you must be cooking them wrong or going to the wrong places. If you’re in Cardiff go to Anna Loka- voted one of the best places to eat in Cardiff and it’s 100% vegan.
But no, mcds won’t be plant based now if ever ...

Always puzzles me why people think eating dogs is some terrible sin, but eating cows, pigs and horses is all good. Ok, dogs as a species have a historical bond of sorts with humans (though that doesn't stop Westerners eating horses, which also have a bond). But fundamentally they are all intelligent mammals and I'm sure they all suffer equally. Just seems weird that people condemn some Chinese people and Koreans for occasionally eat dog meat while you stuff meat from a calf or lamb in your mouth.

Frankly they can fuck off with their 'plant based' nonsense. I don't mind a nice home-cooked vegetarian meal that makes no pretence at tasting like meat, but all these 'plant-based' meat/dairy substitute things are chock-full of absolute rubbish that humans are not designed to eat.

Yes.

I'm no fan of Maccy Ds but I'm on their side in this. Why single them out? Are they going to do a similar protest against every single restaurant chain that serves meat? What about supermarkets that sell meat?

Animal rights groups do lots of protest elsewhere, this will have got media attention because it’s McDonald’s.

You could ask that about all protests. But they bring attention to an issue. The number of vegetarians and vegans are increasing so things are changing for the better in my opinion.

So why target a company that sell products to suit all those who wish to be customers. Why not instead raise awareness and support for businesses who are already only selling the plant based products?

No one gets het up if there are vegetarian or vegan options on menus and it's great if people want to follow those diets but why make the purpose of the protest stopping others from having a choice?

@supermoonrising

Always puzzles me why people think eating dogs is some terrible sin, but eating cows, pigs and horses is all good. Ok, dogs as a species have a historical bond of sorts with humans (though that doesn't stop Westerners eating horses, which also have a bond). But fundamentally they are all intelligent mammals and I'm sure they all suffer equally. Just seems weird that people condemn some Chinese people and Koreans for occasionally eat dog meat while you stuff meat from a calf or lamb in your mouth.

And that is why I said, much to my sisters horror, that as a meat eater I couldnt morally refuse to eat any species. She is an animal lover, keeps pets but also eats meat. Cats, dogs etc are "different" apparently. I dont see it myself but ......

Always puzzles me why people think eating dogs is some terrible sin, but eating cows, pigs and horses is all good

I would eat a rog. I would eat the posters here if I had half a chance😂 I also eat rabits. Which is bit "omg" for many people.
Basicaly. I would eat anything. Except vegan cheese in restaurants again

So why target a company that sell products to suit all those who wish to be customers. Why not instead raise awareness and support for businesses who are already only selling the plant based products?

Very good point

Of course the point of the protest is exposure. They're not trying to close down McDonald's or gain sympathetic comments from the Internet. It's about keeping the issue in the public eye. 100 years ago ninety percent of people would have laughed at the idea of "animal rights". Now it's virtually as natural a concept as human rights. Things change, but slowly.

I think for many people difference is that some animals are commonly named. Especially after people etc. 🤔
Dogs, cats, parrots. They all have sentimental names. And cuddles. It's much rarer to have cuddly 150kg pig at home😂

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Years ago the wife of a friend of my father had a Vietnamese Pot Bellied Pig as a pet. Didnt last long (big surprise...) but she was a fuckwit!

Why not instead raise awareness and support for businesses who are already only selling the plant based products?

Some groups do this. But Animal Rebellion don’t focus their efforts in that way. And it’s their right to protest peacefully.

@PegPeople
No one gets het up if there are vegetarian or vegan options on menus and it's great if people want to follow those diets but why make the purpose of the protest stopping others from having a choice?

It's primarily about getting media coverage. 100 people standing in a field waving placards in favour of Muggles VegeBites won't make the evening news headlines.

@SchrodingersImmigrant

Always puzzles me why people think eating dogs is some terrible sin, but eating cows, pigs and horses is all good

I would eat a rog. I would eat the posters here if I had half a chance😂 I also eat rabits. Which is bit "omg" for many people.
Basicaly. I would eat anything. Except vegan cheese in restaurants again

My grandparents old neighbours once came round and asked where they could buy rabbits

They were directed to the pet store but no, they wanted rabbits that they would breed to kill and eat.

Fair play to them. I couldn’t do it

@ivykaty44 raise awareness of vegetarianism? Ok I’ll give them that, they’ve succeeded. But they’ve also succeeded in pissing people off and causing people to be less likely to consider their view point. I neither support nor listen to people that annoy me, that goes for the majority of people.

Every choice has some victim.

Isn't this the truth and most of us are ignorant about the victims of our choices. Typing your outrage on a mobile phone? Feel virtuous about your electric car? Cobalt is used to make the batteries for your phone and car, the cobalt mines in the DRC use child labour, there is no health and safety and some of them die. Choices.

I haven't eaten meat or McDonald's for about 30 years but this kind of protest is irritating and counterproductive. Of course the protestors are idiots, they can't seriously think a burger chain can become exclusively plant based in 4 years and survive.

I will not have a word said against Linda McCartney sausages, they're my favourite. They taste fine if your memory of meat is over 30 years old.

Some groups do this. But Animal Rebellion don’t focus their efforts in that way. And it’s their right to protest peacefully.

And the rights of those who are now not able to do their jobs come secondary? Hopefully these workers will still be paid but don't you think it's selfish to prevent them from just trying to do a job?

There’s a word for authoritarian groups which try to impose their extremist ideology on the rest of society by force or the threat of violence : Fascists.

I will be having a sausage & egg McMuffin for breakfast tomorrow in solidarity with McDonald’s and its hard working staff. If the vegan fascists allow them to serve me, that is...

@BronwenFrideswide

They are also living in cloud cuckoo land if they think they can feed the entire world on plant based food only, the shortages and starvation would be off the fucking scale.

Don't be ridiculous

It takes far more crops grain & water to feed animals to make meat than it does to make food for humans

And the rights of those who are now not able to do their jobs come secondary? Hopefully these workers will still be paid but don't you think it's selfish to prevent them from just trying to do a job?

I believe in peaceful protest. I’m a vegan, so no, I don’t think it’s selfish to raise awareness for animal rights.

McDonald’s is an incredibly clever company that goes where the profit is. If there was enough demand for more veggie/vegan options, you can bet they’d go there. If I was an environmental activist I’d concentrate on changing people’s mindsets.

PegPeople

deforestation, climate change due to eating meat

it affects macdonalds profits, but thats not really the protesters aim, its targeting macdonalds as its a world wide big brand and wants to get in the media - and that includes mums net - job done

YANBU