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Asterix and Globalization Emmanuelle Trombé from France Photo: Sandy Peters "What is beyond this action is more than a stand against the so-called "mal-bouffe" (junk food), represented by McDonalds. José Bové fights more broadly against globalization and the hegemony of multinational companies and liberalism."   In February, 2001, thousands of farmers and visitors gathered in Paris. For the first time, McDonalds had a stand in the fair. Although McDonalds claims that 80 to 90% of the products used in its fast food restaurants are produced in France, its presence at the agriculture fair is perceived as a provocation by farmers' trade unions, in particular the Confederation Paysanne led by José Bové. José Bové's actions against McDonalds (He drove his tractor into the restaurant.) are still in everybody's mind. Indeed, he became famous for dismantling a McDonald outlet in Millau, a small city in the south of France. What is beyond this action is more than a stand against the so-called "mal-bouffe" (junk food), represented by McDonalds. José Bové fights more broadly against globalization and the hegemony of multinational companies and liberallism. He actively participated in the demonstrations against WTO (World Trade Organization) in Seattle, in November 1999, and is responsible for the destruction of transgenic crops, all over the world. Slogans at his protests such as "Recycle the Rich," "Legalize the World," "Non à McMerde" (No to McShit) are self explanatory. His criminal records are impressive. He is facing several criminal charges in France (two months of imprisonment for having confined public servants, three months for the McDonalds restaurant wreckage, three months for destroying transgenic crops). José Bové is indeed often named Asterix, after the famous Gallic comic hero fighting against the Roman occupiers and symbolizing French pride.   However, his stands and actions are generally well received. In 2000, according to a poll, 45 percent of the French either sympathized with or supported him, 37% were indifferent and only 4 percent were hostile. José Bové is indeed often named Asterix, after the famous Gallic comic hero fighting against the Roman occupiers and symbolizing French pride. His popularity also extends outside France, since he was ranked by Business Week among the 50 European leaders at the forefront of change. Return to: Resisting Globalization and Preserving Our Cultures What is Globalization? | Home Page TOPICS Online Magazine ©1997-2008 - Sandy and Thomas Peters topics.mag@gmail.com