The world is gettting smaller.....

[Karina]

.....whether we like it or not......

I am currently studying Sociology/Criminology/Psychology and "Globalization" is a big interest within these areas.

I am intrigued by the spread of what used to be relatively small businesses, and their effect on society as a whole, I need to know what you all think about companies like McDonalds, Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, Texaco, Nestle etc etc, any globalized household names you can think of.

I am not going to preach the negative qualities of these companies but I would sincerely like to know how these have had an impact on the Muslim world, negative, positive, any observations or opinions, please let me know.

Do you enjoy eating a McDonalds without necessarily considering the corporate ethical arguments and debates that it has generated?

Do you realise the third world breast-feeding formula contoversy that errupted not so long ago in respect of Nestle?

Will Coca-Cola own all soft drinks in 2050?

Let me know what you think!!

[جوري]

I didn't know people still ate at mcdonalds?.. I really hate fast food.. I can't say it has affected me.. and I am not much of a soda fan.. I do get annoyed with stabucks though since I love coffee and they have taken over every corner and I simply never drink their coffee although I have had a few moments of weakness when someone would open the door and I get a whiff of that sweet Java.. but generally I'll shop around until I find a suitable coffee house..

companies that handle toiletries and sundries are welcome.. I love cleaning products of all sorts.. and they are generally helpful if you complain about their products.. one time I complained that the deodorant stick I bought smelled worst than B.O and they gave me tons of replacement and coupons I made a mental note that day to complain more often =).. I really like quality assurance of some of these companies..

well that is my two cents.. hope it was of help?

cheers

[snakelegs]

I didn't know people still ate at mcdonalds?.. I really hate fast food..

a great virtue of mcdonalds and other fast food joints is that they have bathrooms! i never eat in them, but don't know what i would do without their bathrooms.
i don't like hamburgers or soda (esp. not cola). i rarely eat out at all, never buy coffee out.
wal-mart is my favourite Hate Object. i live in a fairly small town which gave wal-mart $20 million in corporate welfare to come here and drive out most of the small and medium sized businesses, many of which had been here for years.

[Isambard]

Im meh with McDonalds and Coca-cola mostly cause I enjoy both their products and theres plenty of alternatives.

Only major franchise that irritates me Chapter-Indigo. They have driven out most of the independant bookstores around where I live and in the city and they refuse to carry certain titles or simply dont stock some books.

So I am constantly annoyed when I go to one of their stoes discover the book I want cant be found yet they have plenty 'Generic quick rich scehems' or 'How to be happy' books which appeal to the barely literate.

[guyabano]

when you have kids, you barely can escape McDonalds. This Ronald McDonald Clown get them all, sooner or later. Last time, I made the effort to make homestyle Chicken Nuggets, kind of chicken filet dipped into egg/flower/breadcrumps, but pffff, the reaction of my kids was 'Papa, when do we go back to McDonalds' ?

Plus, noone knows to make better bread then french. I really hate this sweet american sandwish toast bread. There is nothing more then a fresh crusty 'croissant' that you can dip in a big cup of fresh brewed milk coffee !

[Sahabiyaat]

a great virtue of mcdonalds and other fast food joints is that they have bathrooms! i never eat in them, but don't know what i would do without their bathrooms.

haha me too
when i used to go college,we had macdonalds literally next door,lol but becuse of being extremley poor at the tym,the only thing we could afford was a mcflurrrryyy,yum.

[Karina]

Thanks for all replies, been away for a few days hence the delayed response!

I look forward to investigating these areas in so much more detail, something to really get my teeth into at college.

Thanks again everyone