Comment Here a are some real facts on J. Bove (Score 2) 655
Wow. Talk about a lopsided presentation of "facts". I do hope mine will be more objective.
Who is Jose Bove? He's a Roquefort (a kind of cheese) producer and a union leader who emerged as quite a popular figure thanks to his fight against the dangers coming from the industrialization of food production and, more generally, against the economy-driven globalization.
What did he do? He and ten other unionists dismantled a Mac Donald's restaurant that was being built in his hometown of Millau. There was no damage done to anyone during this action.
And more importantly, why did they do it? After France refusing to import steroid containing beef from the USA, the USA answered by increasing taxes on some French products, including Roquefort cheese. Bove, as a Roquefort producer, suffered directly from this tax increase, but discovered that there wasn't anyone, politician or institution, he could appeal to as it all occurred within the frame of the GATT. Because of this, he resorted to vandalism against what is seen (in France) as the symbol of the american presence in: Mc Donald's.
So, the questions raised by Bove's actions are those of the lack of power of governments in front of global institutions as the WTO and the growing influence of transnational corporations on our societies. They have nothing to do with anti-americanism or mindless violence.
As a sidenote, I happen to live near the place where the Mc Donald's bombing you're mentionning took place. The terrorists who led this attack belong to a local movement, called Armee Revolutionnaire Bretonne, which has no ties whatsoever with Bove's union. Please check your information before posting such accusations.
Who is Jose Bove? He's a Roquefort (a kind of cheese) producer and a union leader who emerged as quite a popular figure thanks to his fight against the dangers coming from the industrialization of food production and, more generally, against the economy-driven globalization.
What did he do? He and ten other unionists dismantled a Mac Donald's restaurant that was being built in his hometown of Millau. There was no damage done to anyone during this action.
And more importantly, why did they do it? After France refusing to import steroid containing beef from the USA, the USA answered by increasing taxes on some French products, including Roquefort cheese. Bove, as a Roquefort producer, suffered directly from this tax increase, but discovered that there wasn't anyone, politician or institution, he could appeal to as it all occurred within the frame of the GATT. Because of this, he resorted to vandalism against what is seen (in France) as the symbol of the american presence in: Mc Donald's.
So, the questions raised by Bove's actions are those of the lack of power of governments in front of global institutions as the WTO and the growing influence of transnational corporations on our societies. They have nothing to do with anti-americanism or mindless violence.
As a sidenote, I happen to live near the place where the Mc Donald's bombing you're mentionning took place. The terrorists who led this attack belong to a local movement, called Armee Revolutionnaire Bretonne, which has no ties whatsoever with Bove's union. Please check your information before posting such accusations.
