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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsMcDonalds CEO gets nutrition lecture from 9-year-old Canadian girl
By: Bruce Horovitz USA Today, Published on Fri May 24 2013
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McDonalds needs kids more than todays kids need McDonalds.
Perhaps no one knows that better than CEO Don Thompson, who was seriously put on the hot seat by a 9-year-old girl at Thursdays annual shareholders meeting in Oak Brook, Ill.
For a few moments, Hannah Robertson whose mother, Kia, is a kids nutritional activist and creator of an interactive childrens game on nutrition called Today I Ate a Rainbow stood and lectured the CEO of one of the worlds biggest brands.
There are things in life that arent fair like when your pet dies, said Hannah, whose voice never wavered. I dont think its fair when big companies try to trick kids into eating food. It isnt fair that so many kids my age are getting sick, she said blaming McDonalds for unfairly targeting kids with advertisements for food that isnt good for them. ..........................(more)
The complete piece is at: http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/05/24/dont_you_want_kids_to_be_healthy_mcdonalds_ceo_gets_nutrition_lecture_from_9yearold_girl.html
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)who clearly is involved in "home schooling" her daughter (when it comes to healthy nutrition).
An excellent voice of protest, since she is both representative of McDonald's business client/target and an "innocent child" (from the mouths of babes). Her voice will be heard more clearly and effectively than most others could ever hope for.
But, why does the nutritionist, mother, own McDonald's stock? It is kind of like being a peace activist, who owns stock in Halliburton.
Big Blue Marble
(5,092 posts)Activists often use this tactic to speak truth to power.
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)It is not a bad strategy, in fact it may be a necessary tactic, for those who want to voice minority opinions, but still, it somehow, sits uncomfortably in my gut.
I assume too, that this woman is aware of the inherent conflict in giving money to a corporation, whose behavior you believe to be detrimental to the health of the community, just to gain access to the stock-holder's meeting. I'm sure she has weighed those interests and made a good choice. I really did not mean to question her motives or methodology.
But, once, during the build-up to invading Iraq, a colleague of mine, who had expressed anti-war sentiment, told me that she had transferred much of her retirement investment funds to Halliburton. I was shocked. Perhaps it was a good financial decision for one to make in our dog eat dog society but it smacked of mercenary opportunism to me. I couldn't look at that woman the same, afterward.
Big Blue Marble
(5,092 posts)If one is going to save money to provide for future resources.
the ethical question becomes where do you keep it? Even credit unions
are not perfect. It it is an ethical conundrum we each have to sort out
for ourselves.
I have concluded it may be more important how we personally choose to
spend our monies. At least to some extent, we have more choice in our
outflows than our inflows and investments.
iemitsu
(3,888 posts)have even given any thought to the ethics behind investments and spending. Every transaction we are involved in has some impact.
Big Blue Marble
(5,092 posts)Rex
(65,616 posts)nt.