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TortoiseAid
International - Action Alert
CRUELTY AT WAL-MART
Please cross-post/distribute
Current
News regarding Turtles in China
China's
Turtle Farms Threaten Rare Species, Experts Say -National
Geographic
Keeping
US Turtles Out of China -Time Magazine
An online petition is available at: http://www.petitiononline.com/tortaid1/petition.html
Please take a moment to
read and sign it. Thank you.
In many North American Wal-Mart
stores, “pet supply” sections have an area where photos and
information about animals in need of adoption by loving families are
posted.
The Wal-Mart website (http://walmart.com)
boasts a large “pet section,” offering everything from pet
strollers to dog clothing. In addition, American pet search and
adoption services are available through Wal-Mart’s “Very Best Pet
Network.” (http://www.verybestpetnetwork.com)
Unfortunately, Wal-Mart operates differently in China. While
giving North American customers the impression that Wal-Mart cares
about animals, they sell others for slaughter out of the sight of
Western customers.
Live turtles and frogs are available for purchase at Chinese Wal-Mart
stores. These animals are slaughtered while fully conscious, to
satisfy consumers need for “fresh” food items.
"The last things the turtles see in the Wal-Mart megastore in
northern Beijing are bright fluorescent lights, masked shop assistants
and, if they crane their necks over the edge of their plastic
container, a chalk board offering them for sale at the bargain price
of 39,8 yuan (about $5) each.
Once that sum is paid, even their shells cannot protect them. They are
whisked off to the in-store slaughter counter, where their necks are
cut, their blood is drained and they are bagged and tagged ready for
the checkout counter.
According to the shop assistant, a small minority of the 100 turtles
sold every day could also expect a brief respite. “A few customers
like to take them home alive so they can play with them for a few days
before making them into soup,” she said." (1)
We are saddened and horrified that Wal-Mart would employ such barbaric
and inhumane practices. Many species of turtles have become
critically endangered in Asia due to over-collection and human
consumption.
Please see the following links for more information regarding the
Asian Turtle Crisis:
http://tortoise-aid.org/asianturtles.html
http://www.traffic.org/news/turtles.html
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/articles/asia.html
http://nytts.org/asianturtlecrisis.html
Please also see a report to the California Department of Fish and
Game regarding the sale of live turtles and amphibians in San
Francisco, California.
http://www.tortoisetrust.org/activities/foodmarket.html
Until Wal-Mart ceases this environmentally and ethically
unacceptable practice, we are asking for a world-wide boycott of
Wal-Mart, and all Wal-Mart divisions. These businesses include:
Sam’s Club: USA, Canada: http://www.samsclub.com
Amigo Supermarkets: Puerto Rico: http://www.amigo.com
ASDA: United Kingdom: http://www.adsa.co.uk
Seiyou:Japan: http://www.seiyu.co.jp/english/
Walmex: (Wal-Mart in Mexico)
George Apparel Stores: United Kingdom
Complete
list of Wal-Mart owned assets:
We kindly ask that all individuals, humane organizations and
businesses objecting to Wal-Mart’s cruel practices, and who support
this boycott to voice your concerns to:
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc.
702 S.W. 8th Street
Bentonville, AR 72716-8611
USA
You may contact Wal-Mart via e-mail at its corporate web site:
http://walmartstores.com/GlobalWMStoresWeb/navigate.do?catg=221
If you
think we're kidding about cruel slaughter practices, watch this
video
