The truth about Mc D's
There is something very close to us, that can be a regular part of our lives that is deadly. Infact, this may seem harmless, but it is causing damage to the environment, clogged arteries, and children who seem to be controlled by some kind of red headed clown? Guessed yet? It's Mcdonald's. Come on, we've all eaten there at least once in the past year, but do we realize the kind of damage it does to not only us, but our peers, and our planet.
The environmental damage caused by McDonald's is devastating, and unbelieveavle at the same time. McDonald's annually produces over a million tons of packaging used for just a few minutes before being discarded, and much of it ends up on city streets . Infact, McDonald's uses so much packaging, 700 acres of rainforest must be destroyed annually in order to make their quota for packaging. Another issue on the rainforest and McDonalds is: are they responsible for the destruction of tropical forests to make way for cattle ranching? McDonalds says no. Many people still say yes. So what McDonalds does is sue them, but does this mean that McDonalds is not responsible? If you are still skeptical that McDonald's does infact cause damage to the environment, ask yourself this question: Can any multinational company operating on the same scale as McDonald's scale not contribute to global warming, ozone desruction, and the depletion of many natural habitats.
McDonald's does not only cause extensive damage to the environment, it also damages you. Nutritionists argue that the high fat, low fibre diet promoted by McDonald's is linked to serious diseases such as diabetes, cancer, obesity, and heart disease. Those diseases are now responsible for nearly 3/4 of premature deaths in the western world. Another argument McDonalds and its supporters voice is that McDonald's is entitled to sell junk food in the same way that chocolate or cake manufacturers do. But, should McDonalds be allowed to advertise their products as nutritious? Why do they sponsor sports events when they sell unhealthy products? And what on earth are they doing opening restaurants in hospitals?
My final point about McDonald's is its advertising. McDonald's spends upwards of two billion dollars on advertising every year. Infact, a recent study proved that now the golden arches are now more widely recognized than the Christian Cross worldwide. McDonald's uses methods such as: collectable toys, television advertisments, and promotional schemes in schools. With figures such as the infamous red headed clown Ronald McDonald, McDonalds bombards their main target group: children. It's difficult for a child to see a lanky, red headed clown without thinking of burgers and fries. Many parents strongly object to the influence this has over their own children. Some consumer organizations are calling for a ban on advertising to children as a result of this. However, "mickey D's" argues that their advertising is no worse than anyone elses and that they adhere to all the advertising codes in each country. Why does McDonalds sponsor so many school events and learning programs? Are their children's charities genuine altruism, or is there a more explicit publicity and profit motive.
Hard to believe something that seems to be such a normal part of many teenager's lives is causing so much damage worldwide, isn't it ? Another argument that comes up quite often when people learn of the evils of McDonalds is "but their food tastes soooooo good!", could that be because all of McDonald's food is high sugar and water, it digests quickly, and over time, nutritionists have concluded that it will make you develop a sort of addiction to their food. Think about it, with most of us, driving by McDonald's and smelling their food - we drool, we crave it and our stomach's growl. Addicted? Mabye. Think about it, you're being exploited by McDonald's so that you will buy their product.
What can you do ? Well, if anything in my speech has bothered you, or made you dislike McDonald's, then stop eating there. Infact, spread the word- there is too much ignorance about the evils of McDonalds in the world, and the damage is still happening as I speak.
In conclusion, this speech was not written because i'm a "vegetable munching fanatic" , it's because they philosophy that McDonald's signifies is damaging the planet, and I would like to feel like I did a little something to get in its way.
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