How McDonald's Can Improve the Doraemon Chinese Zodiac Series

Background:
News article from the Straits Times, Singapore:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_475296.html

"FAST-FOOD giant McDonald's has stirred up a controversy by omitting pig characters from its latest toy promotions.

The pig soft toy was expected to have been part of a 12-character Doraemon set depicting the animals of the Chinese zodiac calendar. Customers wanting the toy would have to pay $2 on top of making a food purchase.

But McDonald's decided not to include the pig toy to avoid offending Muslim customers, and had a Doraemon Cupid toy in its place instead.

The move has upset Chinese customers keen on collecting all 12 toys in the series . . ."

===================

To: McDonald's Singapore

Alex Yeo, Managing Director (Singapore)

Linda Ming, Director of Communications (Singapore)

How McDonald's Can Improve the Doraemon Chinese Zodiac Series


We, the undersigned, strongly and wholeheartedly urge McDonald's to consider minor revisions to the Chinese animal zodiac that is currently being promoted through the Doraemon series:  

1. Rat -- the rat should be removed because rats carry the bubonic plague and a number of other diseases.  

2. Ox -- the ox should be removed because Hindus revere the ox. In fact, McDonald's should stop selling beef burgers all together because this is highly offensive to Hindus and Buddhists. Beef products should not even be sold because cattle carry mad cow disease.  

3. Tiger --
the tiger should be removed because the tiger is an endangered species. Children should not be taught to objectify what is considered the most endangered of endangered species. The tiger is also a part of our national crest. This can be considered a seditious act. As the tiger is a symbol of Malaysia, we are also offending Malaysians.  

4. Rabbit --
the rabbit should be removed because rabbits reproduce like wildfire. They contradict our national policies regarding family planning.    

5. Dragon --
the dragon should be removed because it is a mythical animal; it does not really exist. To include a fictitious animal among real animals would only confuse children. Children would start asking awkward questions such as : Do dragons really exist? Do dragons live in heaven? Can children of different religious faiths call a dragon a dragon or is the word "dragon" reserved only for English-speaking peoples?  

6. Snake -- the snake should be removed because snakes are traditionally considered evil animals in many cultures across the world. In the Book of Genesis, the Fall of Adam and Eve was caused by the Serpent. To include the snake would be to offend Christians. Such a venomous animal should not be portrayed as cute and cuddly.  

7. Horse --
the horse should be removed because the horse is used in horse-racing. This will only encourage children to develop a life-long gambling habit.  

8. Sheep -- the sheep should be removed because Muslims use the sheep in sacrificial rituals during Eid al-Adha known as "korban". Including the sheep would be offensive to Muslims. In addition, the phrase "black sheep" is used to denote an outcast, a bad member of the family. This will cause children who are born in the year of the sheep to develop low self-esteem.  

9. Money -- the monkey should be removed the monkey is worshipped as a god by two major cultures, Chinese and Indians. Lord Hanuman is the monkey god to Hindus. Sun Wu Kong is the monkey god to the Chinese.  

10. Rooster
-- the rooster should be removed because chickens carry bird flu, which has caused the deaths of thousands of people across the world. As a consideration of public health, McDonald's should drop all chicken products such as McChicken and chicken nuggets from the menu.    

11. Dog
-- the dog should be removed because including the dog would offend cat lovers, as the cat, an equally lovable housepet, is not part of the zodiac.  

12. Pig
-- the pig should be removed because it offends Muslims, even though Islamic scholars and ordinary Muslims in Singapore say that they were neither consulted nor offended. But it's good to see that this was done as a pre-emptive strike before anybody voices their concerns. In the future, should McDonald's once again return to selling Winnie the Pooh soft toys, please remove Piglet from the line-up. And Tigger.     

Other than that, the other animals of the Chinese zodiac are fine.
 

We sincerely hope that McDonald's will consider our suggestions. McDonald's should be sensitive to Singapore's multi-cultural and multi-religious environment. After all, we would not want what is happening in Malaysia to happen in Singapore.  

I call upon all Doraemon fans worldwide to join me in signing this petition.

Thank you.  

Pan Cuogang (Mr)
President, FIDO (Federation of International Doraemon Organizations)
Background:
News article from the Straits Times, Singapore:
http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/Singapore/Story/STIStory_475296.html

"FAST-FOOD giant McDonald's has stirred up a controversy by omitting pig characters from its latest toy promotions.

The pig soft toy was expected to have been part of a 12-character Doraemon set depicting the animals of the Chinese zodiac calendar. Customers wanting the toy would have to pay $2 on top of making a food purchase.

But McDonald's decided not to include the pig toy to avoid offending Muslim customers, and had a Doraemon Cupid toy in its place instead.

The move has upset Chinese customers keen on collecting all 12 toys in the series . . ."

===================

Alex Yeo, Managing Director (Singapore)

Linda Ming, Director of Communications (Singapore)

How McDonald's Can Improve the Doraemon Chinese Zodiac Series

We, the undersigned, strongly and wholeheartedly urge McDonald's to consider minor revisions to the Chinese animal zodiac that is currently being promoted through the Doraemon series:  

1. Rat -- the rat should be removed because rats carry the bubonic plague and a number of other diseases.  

2. Ox -- the ox should be removed because Hindus revere the ox. In fact, McDonald's should stop selling beef burgers all together because this is highly offensive to Hindus and Buddhists. Beef products should not even be sold because cattle carry mad cow disease.  

3. Tiger --
the tiger should be removed because the tiger is an endangered species. Children should not be taught to objectify what is considered the most endangered of endangered species. The tiger is also a part of our national crest. This can be considered a seditious act. As the tiger is a symbol of Malaysia, we are also offending Malaysians.  

4. Rabbit --
the rabbit should be removed because rabbits reproduce like wildfire. They contradict our national policies regarding family planning.    

5. Dragon --
the dragon should be removed because it is a mythical animal; it does not really exist. To include a fictitious animal among real animals would only confuse children. Children would start asking awkward questions such as : Do dragons really exist? Do dragons live in heaven? Can children of different religious faiths call a dragon a dragon or is the word "dragon" reserved only for English-speaking peoples?  

6. Snake -- the snake should be removed because snakes are traditionally considered evil animals in many cultures across the world. In the Book of Genesis, the Fall of Adam and Eve was caused by the Serpent. To include the snake would be to offend Christians. Such a venomous animal should not be portrayed as cute and cuddly.  

7. Horse --
the horse should be removed because the horse is used in horse-racing. This will only encourage children to develop a life-long gambling habit.  

8. Sheep -- the sheep should be removed because Muslims use the sheep in sacrificial rituals during Eid al-Adha known as "korban". Including the sheep would be offensive to Muslims. In addition, the phrase "black sheep" is used to denote an outcast, a bad member of the family. This will cause children who are born in the year of the sheep to develop low self-esteem.  

9. Money -- the monkey should be removed the monkey is worshipped as a god by two major cultures, Chinese and Indians. Lord Hanuman is the monkey god to Hindus. Sun Wu Kong is the monkey god to the Chinese.  

10. Rooster
-- the rooster should be removed because chickens carry bird flu, which has caused the deaths of thousands of people across the world. As a consideration of public health, McDonald's should drop all chicken products such as McChicken and chicken nuggets from the menu.    

11. Dog
-- the dog should be removed because including the dog would offend cat lovers, as the cat, an equally lovable housepet, is not part of the zodiac.  

12. Pig
-- the pig should be removed because it offends Muslims, even though Islamic scholars and ordinary Muslims in Singapore say that they were neither consulted nor offended. But it's good to see that this was done as a pre-emptive strike before anybody voices their concerns. In the future, should McDonald's once again return to selling Winnie the Pooh soft toys, please remove Piglet from the line-up. And Tigger.     

Other than that, the other animals of the Chinese zodiac are fine.
 

We sincerely hope that McDonald's will consider our suggestions. McDonald's should be sensitive to Singapore's multi-cultural and multi-religious environment. After all, we would not want what is happening in Malaysia to happen in Singapore.  

I call upon all Doraemon fans worldwide to join me in signing this petition.

Thank you.  

Pan Cuogang (Mr)
President, FIDO (Federation of International Doraemon Organizations)
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