Moms Across America Stand Up To New School-Yard Bully
Posted on February 2, 2006 by webteam
Local opposition to Wal-Mart usually surrounds traffic and environmental concerns. The giant retailer’s impact on children is never discussed in planning and zoning board meeting’s across the country. That’s why a new campaign born in Michigan is so unique. Moms vs. Wal-Mart acknowledges the problems surrounding Wal-Mart’s business model, but they have decided to focus on Wal-Mart’s impact on children.
“Moms vs. Wal-Mart” has launched a national campaign asking Wal-Mart CEO, Lee Scott, to adopt a more family-friendly corporate policy: Wal-Mart Stores, Inc, will not build any future stores next to schools. On the “Moms vs. Wal-Mart” website, www.momsvswalmart.org, viewers can read the letter to Mr. Scott and “sign on.” Visitors to the site can also link to the sites of the 19 grass-roots groups from 11 states that make up the coalition. “New groups are joining every day. We are finding Wal-Mart’s choice to build in residential areas and school zones to be a national epidemic,” states Kristin Judge, campaign organizer.
Why is Wal-Mart, who battles to win more moms as shoppers, turning off the very customers they are trying to court? The motivation for these unusual activists is what parents say is the irresponsible locations Wal-Mart is choosing to build stores. “Moms vs. Wal-Mart” groups consist of mothers, fathers, grandparents and students who are asking Wal-Mart to choose safer, more commercial areas to build Supercenters. The well documented increase in traffic and crime associated with Wal-Mart Supercenters are the primary reasons families object.
Towns and cities face an enormous challenge when Wal-Mart, the world’s largest corporation, proposes to develop next to neighborhoods and schools in their community. Zoning Laws and Master Plans are easily swept aside when towns fret about using precious taxpayer dollars to battle Wal-Mart in court. Who loses? Kids. This is a warning to local municipalities. Change your zoning requirements near schools and neighborhoods. Wal-Mart is coming soon.
Groups like Wal-Mart Watch are doing a great job of tackling the larger issues like health care and child labor violations. However, this “Moms” coalition is run like the groups in each city, by volunteers who are concerned about the quality of life in their communities.
“It is shameful for the largest retailer in the world to be picking on communities in this way,” said campaign organizer, Kristin Judge. “We have repeatedly told Wal-Mart that it is unacceptable to build these large stores next to our children.” The “Moms vs. Wal-Mart” coalition is appealing to Wal-Mart to, “Stop building next to schools and residential neighborhoods!”
