First off, I never knew anything about the changes walmart was making in communities. To see the small 'Ma and Pop' stores run out of business was heart breaking. These people built their business from the ground up and have been running it for generations! All it took was one Walmart to pop up and these small businesses were immediately run into the ground.
When the documentary first started I was wondering why previous workers were agreeing to participate in this film. Then I realized why! Horrible benefits, no chance of promotion, poor work conditions overseas, and the fact that you can't even whisper the word union without your job being in jeopardy!
There are so many things wrong with this that I can't even point out which one annoys me the most. So I'll just list another. The fact that their own employees can donate a total of 5 million dollars to help their co-workers is amazing. Whats even more amazing is that the stingy owners of the company only donated $6,000! Really? You are worth billions of dollars! There is no possible way you can spend that money in one life time so why not give it away!!
I think we can all see how the issue of social justice ties into this. With a multi-billion dollar corporation, how can you encourage your employees to use government assistance. Kudos to the people who have taken their issues to court to fight this evil corporation. I hope with all of those lawsuits that some type of justice can be brought to all these people who deserve much better.
So, after that long ramble I would like to say that from here on out, (technically since Monday) I am going to try my best to boycott Walmart stores. I know this will be extrememely difficult, but I do not want to support a corporation like this in any way. No groceries, no school supplies, no health products, and no gas. At this point I don't even want to be associated with a corporation like that.
After we watched it in class I went home and literally told my sister and brother-in-law every detail I could remember. So now after sharing the knowledge my sister wants to see it to become more aware of these issues. She also told me about another documentary, 'Food Inc.' I haven't watched it yet, but you can expect me to report back on it when I do. Here is a short preview of it if you're interested, have a great weekend!
I feel the same way you do about the whole shopping at wal-mart thing, and props to you for doing what you believe in! it is really tempting to want to shop somewhere because it's cheap and easily accesible (i mean, we are college students aren't we?) but after watching the documentary I, personally, would feel bad shopping there. About wal-mart donating only 6000---that made me so upset! I was talking to my mom about how ironic it is that local businesses and people with less money often seem more charitable than these huge corporations that have tons to spare. Although you and I alone might not necessarily make a huge impact by not shopping at wal-mart, maybe if thousands of others do what we're doing it can get a message across :)
ReplyDeletehey check out my post on wal-mart I found a web link where wal-mart workers are already organizing to fight wal-mart's rediculousness.
DeleteAdrienne,Great Post again!
ReplyDeleteWow I really want to boycott wal-mart and I have recently been needing some things and wal-mart has been really close and I manage to say NO! Haha I know this may not be enough but I feel that every little counts. I really want to watch this movie Food, inc. I feel that it is important to eat healthy if only it was made more affordable! Maybe you can suggest it to Prof G so we can watch it in class. =]