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Date: July 21, 1995
From:Oras Tynkkynen, GreenLife Society Finland
HATE SIN, NOT THE SINNER - Gandhi in action in the 90's
The multinational corporate bastards are wreaking havoc around the
world, and as enlightened earthdefenders we ought to fight against them,
right? Think again. One successful campaign from Finland tells a different
story of Gandhi in action.
McDonald's, one of the biggest companies in the world, celebrated its
40th birthday on 15th of April. In just four decades it has grown from one
family restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois, to about 15,000 outlets in nearly
80 countries. For McDonald's, the 15th of April was a day of recalling
past successes.
The same day activists around the world told a different story - a story of
40 years of environmental destruction, massacre of animals, exploiting
workers and ruining people's health. Actions opposing McDonald's - some
quite vehement - took place that day in several countries.
GreenLife Society Finland, the Finnish branch of GreenLife Society
International, organized also fast food action in Finland. But there was
something that made the Finnish action stand out from the mass of anti-
McDonald's actions around the world. To get a clear view what made it
different, we have to get more than 125 years back in time.
FROM INDIA, WITH LOVE
Mohandas Gandhi was born in Gujarat, India in 1869. He studied in
England and moved to South Africa at the age of 24. There he worked as
a lawyer and got an insight into apartheid. He got involved in civil rights
activities and soon became the leader of the South African Indian
community. He was arrested several times. When he got back to India in
1915, he was already a renowned popular leader. He led his country to
freedom without violence and showed the way to independence to many
other colonies.
Gandhi, nicknamed "Mahatma" or "the great soul", was the first person to
implement non-violence - or satyagraha as he used to call it - in large
scale. Millions of Indians fought the British rule, not with arms, but with
love. When the rulers hit them, they turned their cheeks. It was something
extraordinary - something which had no comparison in the history of
mankind. To choose peace instead of violence, love instead of hate...
Most of you are probably very familiar with Gandhi and his thoughts, so
there is no need to explain them further. The question is: how to
implement non-violence in our work for a better world? Is there anything
Gandhi's thoughts can teach us when we try save the environment in the
90's?
FAST FOOD IS OK, DESTRUCTION IS NOT
Last autumn we got irritated by the huge quantities of waste ending to
landfills from fast food restaurants. We were also frightened by the
incredible plans of the three major Finnish hamburger chains to triple the
number of their restaurants. That is why we launched a major fast food
campaign in Finland this spring.
When we thought the thing over, we noticed that the problem with the
fast food isn't really the fast food in itself, but the way the companies
operate. It is not our problem if people eat their food fast. Actually there
are many good points in favour of fast food - it is cheap, convenient and,
of course, fast. The problem is that the companies don't care for the
environment, workers, animal rights or customers' health.
So what to do? Let's recall what Gandhi said: "Love your enemy." The
usual thing would be to oppose the companies because they are the bad
guys and we the good. But if we want to stop the destruction they are
causing, why oppose them? Shouldn't we instead try to work together
with them to change their behaviour?
Thus we decided not to work AGAINST McDonald's or anything else,
but to work FOR sustainable and responsible fast food - a huge difference
in attitude. Instead of opposing the companies and making their workers
afraid of losing their jobs, we presented a vision of sustainable fast food -
something we could all share. So instead of building a huge wall between
"them" and "us", we were both on the same side.
So we launched our campaign. We did a lot background work, produced
a detailed fast food report, leaflets, press releases and post cards and
organized a demonstration in front of the first McDonald's in Finland. We
had meetings with the representatives of the companies in question.
The benefits of our approach are great. We have better chances to affect
the companies when we say that we, too, are trying to develop their
business further. We don't want to harm their business, but make it
sustainable. They can't dismiss us saying the usual thing ("they are just a
bunch of anarchist opposing everything"). If they are not willing to
change, people will start to question why. Why are THEY against
environmental protection and animal rights? The campaign is also a lot
easier to "sell" to the media and people because it is positive and
constructive.
And indeed, the campaign was a success, well received among activists,
journalists, business executives, restaurant workers and ordinary people
alike.
DIFFERENT SHADES OF GREEN
Probably many of you reading this article will now question what I have
said. How can you negotiate with McDonald's, the multi-billion company
with its professional PR and law people? Can we always negotiate with
people, or should we rather choose a side, work for good and against all
evil?
Believe it or not, all company executives are humans, and some of them
even quite humane. They tend to have values that are different from ours,
but we all share a vision of a better planet for our children. Nobody wants
environmental destruction, starvation or suffering. Many of the business
people just don't see what are the consequences of their work.
I admit that there is a slight danger in this approach. When you discuss
with people with a different kind of ideology you might end up checking
your own. You might have to give up the opinion that you are always
right. You might even start to understand the way "the others" are
thinking. You don't have to sell your soul to the devil. You don't have
give up your ethics. But yes, you will have to be ready to argue for it.
For years I have been negotiating with different company representatives
and public officials. During these discussions I have learned a lot about
life and people. We should not look for things that separate us, but rather
the ones that unite us. The way I think is not always "the right", but there
are many others that can be as well grounded.
Despite all this, I haven't had to abandon my basic ideology. No one can
say that our demands to the fast food companies are not radical or
revolutionary.
I think the approach we have been using means avoiding needless
juxtapositions. Through dialogue it tries to make friends among the
"enemies". But first and foremost it means understanding that there are no
"good" and "bad" people, no black and white, just different shades of grey
- or should I say green...
Oras Tynkkynen
GreenLife Society Finland
Rautatienkatu 14 A 27
33100 Tampere
FINLAND
Fax: +358-31-212 7257
E-mail: greenlife@freenet.hut.fi
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