Shoppers rush to pyramid Wal-Mart

BBC ^ | 5 November, 2004

[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.

[RJL]

Environmental groups had argued that the store was too close to the ruins and would erode the local way of life.

More proof the "environmentalists" are all about politics and that they are green on the outside but pure red on the inside.

[Jaysun]

I'll bet they did. Jeez, couldn't they have moved the store out a little farther.

There's no merit to their argument that the ruins have been compromised. I think they did a great job under the circumstances, and it looks like they worked hard to maintain the overall ancient Mexican pyramid theme.

[SamAdams76]

I think the Wal-Mart and the Pyramid are in perfect symmetry with each other in that photo. I want to see 100,000 Wal-Marts in North America before I die. I'm totally serious. I am such a fan of that store.

[VeniVidiVici]

I want to see 100,000 Wal-Marts in North America before I die. I'm totally serious. I am such a fan of that store.

That's what I say about Dunkin Donuts.

[Jaysun]

I think the Wal-Mart and the Pyramid are in perfect symmetry with each other in that photo. I want to see 100,000 Wal-Marts in North America before I die. I'm totally serious. I am such a fan of that store.

Me too. It's an American success story. I've always loved them. They provide everything imaginable at great prices and they put lots of people to work - not just directly, but in other ways too. The people that build their stores, for example, are happy to see them come. I had a masonry company that built two stores in our area a few years ago.

[Jaysun]

That's what I say about Dunkin Donuts.

What? What about Krispy Kreme? They're so damned delicious!

[MarkL]

You know, I used to think that there was collusion between the DNC and the MSM...

But that was NOTHING compared to the apparant collusion between the MSM and Trey Parker & Matt Stone!

Did anyone see last weeks episode of South Park, where they dealt with the "Walmat Issues!"

Amazing!

Mark

[MediaMole]

A Wal-mart full of Mexican shoppers, what else is new?

[farmfriend]

Rights, farms, environment ping.
Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from this list.
I don't get offended if you want to be removed.

[krb]

Jeez, couldn't they have moved the store out a little farther.

I am usually TOTALLY on the side of the enviros in these sorts of encounters. But I think that this is really a case of the enviros crying "wolf" too many times.

I really think that no matter what Wal Mart had done, these guys would have bitched about it, so I can't really tell if the corporate entity is being bad to the cultural environment.

It's really a shame, too.

[Carry_Okie]

I'm surprised they didn't find anything of significance under the new store.

[endthematrix]

I bet Wal-Mart throws a million at local development and pyramid restoration, for PR.

[farmfriend]

I'm surprised they didn't find anything of significance under the new store.

Maybe I'm just a cynic or I've watch to many shows about archaeological plundering south of the border but I'm sure anything that was found went home in "lunch boxes". The government certainly wasn't going to "find" anything that is for sure. The stores economic influence was too big I'm sure.

[Carry_Okie]

Sometimes the best thing you can do to preserve an artifact is to bury it under a parking lot.

[farmfriend]

Seems like they did something akin to that with Kenewick man.

[Libertina]

In agreement with you. I like business, but people don't have to be so stupid about it.

[Libertina]

This is AWFUL! Shame on these developers. How this got permitting is unbelievable.

[Jaysun]

This is AWFUL! Shame on these developers. How this got permitting is unbelievable.

I made that picture as a joke.

[Porterville]

I was never too impressed with the Pyramids outside of Mexico City... seemed like a whole lot of dirt. I liked the sculptures.

I was impressed by the ones out near Vera Cruz...(I love Vera Cruz)... I miss Xalapa... Mexico is a great place if it wasn't for the criminals... in the government.

[Jaysun]

I was never too impressed with the Pyramids outside of Mexico City... seemed like a whole lot of dirt. I liked the sculptures. I was impressed by the ones out near Vera Cruz...(I love Vera Cruz)... I miss Xalapa... Mexico is a great place if it wasn't for the criminals... in the government.

I grew up in Texas. We never made it too far past the river. We went for the cheap booze and all night towns, so I've never seen any of their ancient sites.