Posted on 11/07/2004 4:06:24 PM PST by traumer
Bargain-hungry Mexican shoppers have flocked to a new Wal-Mart supermarket that environmentalists claim will threaten one of the nation's treasures. Around 200 shoppers queued for hours to be the first to enter the store, which is half a mile from the ancient Mexican pyramids at Teotihuacan.
"People need the well-being of their families more than culture," said one.
Environmental groups had argued that the store was too close to the ruins and would erode the local way of life.
While the Wal-Mart store was overflowing with shoppers on its opening day, a handful of local opponents kept a vigil outside the 2,000-year-old Teotihuacan pyramids.
They pledged to continue a protest that has drawn international attention and prompted a national debate.
Buffer zone
"It's like planting the staff of globalization in the heart of ancient Mexico," said Homero Aridjis, a writer and environmentalist who led a national drive to block the store.
"It is supremely symbolic."
Mexico's national anthropology institute that oversees the ruins - located outside Mexico City - has said that the store poses no threat.
The United Nations and the Paris-based International Council on Monuments and Sites also "signed-off" the store. It is located in a buffer zone that is part of the archaeological site, but where hundreds of other, mainly smaller businesses have sprouted in the past decade or more.
God is dead.
- Nietzche
I'll bet they did. Jeez, couldn't they have moved the store out a little farther.
maybe someone should look under one of those pyrmaids - to make sure it doesn't say "made in china".
Pikers. We can do far more then that for a Crispy Creme.
ALL your pyramids there are.... belong to us !
better that a mexican wal-mart is overflowing with mexicans than our borders.
Nietzche is dead.
-God
ROTFLMAO
Nietzche is dead.
-God
HA ! :o)
More likely, they'll contribute tons of money and organized help to local restoration and historical causes, and thus better preserve the local "way of life" than would otherwise have been the case. Wal-mart on balance makes a very good neighbor.
It has to be said:
Nietzche is dead - God
Sounds like Western environmental imperialism to me; or is that impyramidism?
Ah yes, I can picture all of those little blue bags stuck on and blowing around the pyramids.
I have never gone past a Wal-Mart that didnt have blue bags blowing all over the place.I guess it will give the pyramids a little color.
Wally may be a good neighbor. Not too sure about its customers, however.
environwacko PR stunts. Across the world there is modern life next to ancient sites. The shoppers have spoken. A pyramid does not have plasma TVs.
The people have spoken!!!...oh..I mean "SHOPPED!"
FMCDH(BITS)
That's just tacky!
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