Politics from the Palouse to Puget Sound

Friday, September 02, 2005

We Can Find a Better Neighbor?

The Pullman Alliance for Responsible Development has been distributing a bumper sticker that says "We Can Find a Better Neighbor" with a "No Wal-Mart" graphic.

This was announced yesterday:
BENTONVILLE, Ark., Sept. 1 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Following President Bush's announcement today that former Presidents Bush and Clinton will lead a nationwide fundraising effort to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina, Wal-Mart President and CEO Lee Scott contacted President Clinton and the White House and committed $15 million from Wal-Mart to jump-start the effort.

As part of this commitment, Wal-Mart will establish mini-Wal-Mart stores in areas impacted by the hurricane. Items such as clothing, diapers, baby wipes, food, formula, toothbrushes, bedding and water will be given out free of charge to those with a demonstrated need.

Wal-Mart previously donated $2 million in cash to aid emergency relief efforts and has been collecting contributions at its 3,800 stores and CLUBS, and through its web sites [www.walmartfacts.com, http://www.walmart.com, http://www.walmartfoundation.org, http://www.walmartstores.com, http://www.samsclub.com].

Through its Associate Disaster Relief Fund, the company will also give displaced associates immediate funds for shelter, food, clothing and other necessities.

Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. operates Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets and SAM'S CLUBS in all fifty states. Internationally, the company operates in Puerto Rico, Canada, China, Mexico, Brazil, Germany, United Kingdom, Argentina and South Korea. The company's securities are listed on the New York and Pacific stock exchanges under the symbol WMT.
I'm not sure that the survivors of Hurricane Katrina in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama would agree with PARD about "finding a better neighbor." The media is always so quick to run negative stories about Wal-Mart. Think we'll see this story in the Daily News?

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