The World Is Not for Sale: Farmers Against Junk Food by Jose BoveOn August 12, 1999 Jose Bove and a group of protesters destroyed a half-built McDonald's restaurant in Millau, France.
Bove and his confederates engaged in this bit of vandalism to bring attention to the encroaching dangers of globalization. According to Bove corporations like McDonald's endangered local farmers, local culture, and the health and wealth of French citizens. Bove's attack on McDonald's brought international recognition to progressive criticisms of non-democratic global trade organizations.
In addition to being a long-time activist for progressive causes Bove is also a farmer. In 1999 the United States placed a punitive tariff on the import of Rocquefort cheese because Europe didn't want to import American beef full of hormones and other artificial chemicals. Bove made his living from raising the sheep that provided the milk that made Rocquefort cheese. He saw McDonald's (a beneficiary of the imported beef deal) as directly affecting his livelihood. He and his fellow farmers destroyed the half-constructed building to bring attention to this injustice.
Bove has led a colorful and political life. He is currently a member of the European Parliament, representing Europe Écologie.
Why this is progressive/liberal: The progressive criticism of organizations like the WTO, NAFTA, and the IMF is that they are anti-democratic. The WTO negotiated the deal on importing hormone-laden beef into Europe, not the citizens of Europe. This book tells the story of Bove's symbolic strike against McDonald's and explains why it's important to fight against corporate control of local political decisions.
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