|
Comment on this article |
Email this Article
|
|
News :: |
|
BOYCOTT COSTCO!!!! (english) |
|
by MEXICO SOLIDARITY NETWORK
Email: msn (nospam) mexicosolidarity.org (unverified!) |
09 Dec 2002
|
Dec. 15: Join the TRI-NATIONAL BOYCOTT to COSTCO
COSTCO destroys...
the environment, art, local business and labor rights in Mexico. |
Dec. 15: Join the TRI-NATIONAL BOYCOTT to COSTCO
COSTCO destroys...
the environment, art, local business and labor rights in Mexico.
The US corporation COSTCO, and its Mexican partner Comercial Mexicana, in the last few days have cut down hundreds of trees, many of which were over 100 years old, in order to build two mega-stores, and a parking lot for 1,210 cars, on the grounds of what was the Casino de la Selva Hotel in the center of Cuernavaca, Mexico.
COSTCO have already destroyed 1,400 square meters of murals in addition to the recent destruction of the trees; now they intend to pave the property with tens of thousands of tons of concrete converting what was the largest green area of Cuernavaca (95,000 square meters, equivalent to 23.5 acres) into a concrete slab.
Local vendors would be undercut by this multinational corporation which could potentially threaten thousands of local jobs employed by small and medium-sized local businesses.
A movement against the US-based retailer's
Cuernavaca expansion has grown rapidly since July 2001 as a result of the company's disregard for historic landmarks, the local economy and the environment.
The Mexico Solidarity Network is coordinating with the citizens of Cuernavaca a tri-national boycott: in Mexico, Canada and USA. Defeat of the Costco plans would send a definitive message to transnational corporations that Mexico is not for sale.
DECEMBER 15. Take action in the US. Go to your local COSTCO and let people now about COSTCO'S UNETHICAL PRACTICES ABROAD. Actions are already building in Vancouver, Montreal, San Diego, and Chicago in response to this emergency call from Cuernavaca- JOIN IN - UNETE!
Distribute a flyer at COSTCO stores in your community, at your union local, club, Church, or with family and friends.
Download a flyer here: http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/COSTCO_FLYER.pdf
Find out more about the struggle against COSTCO here:
www.procasino.org (Mexico)
www.mexicosolidarity.org (USA)
*******************************
MORE INFORMATION: COSTCO STRUGGLE in MEXICO
Police Attack anti-Costco Protest in Cuernavaca: August 21st
A protest against the construction of a Costco mega-store in Cuernavaca, Morelos was violently repressed by police on August 21st, 2002.
Around 8:30 pm on August 21st about 450 state and local police attacked a peaceful protest and arrested 32 people, including one American, Charlie Goff.
Bail has been set at US$10,000 for Mr. Goff, director of a prominent Cuernavaca Spanish-language school, US$5000 for Flora Guerrero, Mr. Goff's wife, and US$3000 for most of the other protesters. Analysts note that bail was set in this fashion to give the impression that an American was "leading" the protest, and thus illegally meddling in Mexican affairs. In contrast, the Mexican media has not portrayed Costco's and other American corporations' presence in Mexico as meddling or intrusive.
About 3000 people participated in the this protest.
More protests are planned to demand the
release of the detainees.
This protest was called one day after the city
issued Costco a building permit. Protesters allege that
Costco began clearing the site weeks ago. They say that Costco clearing crews have already damaged the "Jungle Casino", a disheveled park that contains historic murals and architecture and is one of Cuernavaca's cultural landmarks.
The construction would also down 600 trees in the city center. The loss of these trees means habitat destruction for 4 species of endangered birds and would be one more blow to the environment of Cuernavaca, which is suffering from uncontrollable sprawl. Costco's impact would be felt by local vendors who will be clearly undercut by the new store, threatening thousands of local jobs. Protesters say that Cuernavaca already has 10 mega-stores, and that's enough for them |
Please Don't Feed the Trolls
Wikipedia defines an Internet Troll as: "An Internet troll is either a person who sends messages on the Internet hoping to entice other users into angry or fruitless responses, or a message sent by such a person." Boston IMC strives to provide both a grassroots media resource as well as a forum for people to contribute to a meaningful discussion about local issues. Please, when posting comments, be respectful of others and ignore those trying to interrupt or discourage meaningful discourse. Thank you.
-- Boston Indymedia volunteers
Due to on going anti spam work quick comments are currently broken please use the full comment form. We do hope to have quick comments back on line soon.
