Thomas L. Friedman said in The Lexus and the Olive Tree that no two countries with McDonald's within their borders have ever been in a war since having a McDonald's. Friedman thinks it's because countries that are economically tethered have too much at stake to go to war. The Golden Arches Theory of Conflict Prevention has its critics and its fans, but the overarching premise is that globalization is a sure-fire step towards peace. Friedman may have a point, but something tells me a few McDs cropping up in Iran may not have the desired effect.

Whatever the case, the #1 selling fast food restaurant is taking a landmark step: The firm of around 500,000 strong will be one of the first to offer nationally recognized qualifications. Senior Vice President David Fairhurst had this to say: "We want to ensure that our approach to recruitment, training, and development continues to create real opportunities for social mobility."

Golden Arches image by The Consumerist [cc, 2.0]