French climate change activists blockade McDonald’s

The group of around 70 young people was made up of mainly lycée (high school) students, aged around 17 on average. United under the Bordeaux-based eco-movement Youth for Climate France, the group compared the restaurant on the city’s rue Saint-Catherine to an “ecological crime scene”.

MAGNIFIQUE : on a obtenu la fermeture anticipée du plus grand @McDonalds de #Bordeaux après plus de 8h de blocage. On est maintenant encore plus chaud pour aller enflammer le 20 septembre et la semaine de mobilisation qui suivra. #ClimateAction #ClimateStrike #youthforclimate pic.twitter.com/Cu40mcbzJQ

— Youth For Climate France (@Youth4Climatefr) July 14, 2019

The protesters blockaded the doors and self-service machines with “do not cross” red-and-white tape, and held up the slogan banner as they sat down to block the entrance further.

The group denounced the American fast food giant as a “symbol of over-consumption, waste, and intensive farming”.

#Bordeaux : Environ 70 jeunes du mouvement écologiste Youth for Climate France ont bloqué un restaurant #McDonald's à Bordeaux (Gironde) pendant plusieurs heures pour dénoncer ce «symbole de la surconsommation, du gaspillage et de l'élevage intensif». #tatianadsa pic.twitter.com/ftwiubC9Zw

— 24hInfos (@24hInfos) July 14, 2019

The blockade is the latest initiative from the movement, which also took part in recent youth climate marches.

It also participated in recent “light off” protests and the “clean walks” project - which focused respectively on turning off corporate lights, and picking up waste.

Co-organiser Aricie Bartelmé said: “We are realising that marches have good participation, but they are no longer enough. We must diversify in our actions.”

Christian Luttman, manager of the Bordeaux McDonald’s site, said: “We can only agree with saving the planet. And McDonald’s is making real efforts. Our customers include many young people, so we know it is in our interest to listen to them.”