BRITAIN: 'McLibel' added to dictionary

The word "McLibel" has been added to Macmillan's online dictionary, defined as "a British court action for libel (the illegal act of writing false statements about someone) filed by the McDonald's corporation against environmental activists". In 1994, McDonald's issued a libel writ against two environmental activists who had been distributing leaflets accusing McDonald's of exploiting its workers and damaging the environment. Eventually they were ordered to pay £40,000 in damages. After several appeals, the European Court of Human Rights in 2005 ruled in favour of the McLibel Two and awarded compensation of almost £47,000. The famous case has become symbolic of the fight for free speech in the face of powerful corporations.

From Green Left Weekly, November 23, 2005.

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From GLW issue 650