Wal-Mart de Mexico was created in 1991 to promote the giant retailer’s business interests in Mexico. Today, Wal-Mart runs 903 stores in Mexico, and is by far the largest grocer in all of Mexico. The company’s expansion plans have often led to major street protests in Mexico, with arrests, and negative headlines in the newspapers. This week, local activists in Veracruz wrote to Sprawl-Busters to report the American corporation’s latest controversial move Here is their report from the frontlines: “The ecological preservation “La Joyita” (Little Jewel), located at the intersection of Calles Rebsamen, Murillo Vidal, and Unidad del Valle, is being menaced by destruction for a new strip mall: Wal-Mart. This natural preserve contains a shade grown coffee plantation with numerous species native to the cloud forest, and provides the habitat food, and nesting sites for Guayabera Parrots (Whitecrested and Amazon Albifrons) who have flown through the city air since 1992 (in addition to a minimum of 150 other species of birds that exist in the area). Hundred year old oaks, Liquidambers, vara negra, elms, pipinques, lites, palos blancos, ramatinajas, chocos, figs, huizaches, chalahuites and jinicuiles among many other species of the plantation are in danger of disappearing to give way to the umpteenth supermarket of Xalapa (five Chedrauis, 1 Costco, 1 Walmart, 1 Sams Club, and 1 Comercial Mexicana). Urban planners have considered the area an ecological reserve, forming part of the biological corridor that connects Natura, El Tejar, and Herradura Parks. According to urban development specialists and municipal authorities,
the installation of said commercial center would bring with it traffic chaos on Murillo Vidal and Rebsamen Avenues, and increase the flow of vehicles on avenues that are used as escape valves of the urban stain which flaunts one of the highest rates of vehicles per capita in Mexico.”
“This is a call to citizen groups, ecological associations, universities, academics, citizen forums, and other organizations to protest the loss of a green zone of more than 14 acres in area that contributes to climactic stability, watershed health, CO2 retention and oxygen production. For now, the respective authorities are already waiting to analyze the required environmental impact studies to obtain the permits zoning change.for a work of such magnitude that would greatly devastate the reserve in question. For further background information, contact: [email protected] or [email protected] ”
