[Seattle-editorial] FEATURE PROPOSAL: Activists at Costco Shareholders' Meeting

[jonathan lawson]

approve! here comes another one...

At 10:54 AM 2/1/2003 -0800, Susan wrote:
>Subtitle:  COSTCO VS. CULTURAL IDENTITY
>Title: Mexico Controversy Dominates Costco Shareholders Meeting
>
>
>Costco shareholders concerned about the company's destruction of historic 
>murals and green space in Cuernavaca, Mexico, <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21908&group=webcast">brought 
>the issue to management's attention</a> at the company's annual meeting today.
>Joined by community leaders who traveled from Cuernavaca, shareholders 
>pointed to rising anger across Mexico over the destruction of exceptional 
>murals, architecturally important buildings, and scores of century-old 
>trees at the site of a planned Costco store.
>
><p>Despite President and CEO Jim Sinegal's claims that Costco has 
>preserved murals and trees, the Cuernavacans offer photographic evidence 
>to the contrary. Photos show <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21919&group=webcast">trees 
>and topsoil removed</a> from the site  turning an urban arboretum into a 
>gaping hole in the ground  and <a href" 
>http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21918&group=webcast">large 
>murals damaged beyond repair</a> since Costco's purchase of the property.
>
><p>"Widespread media attention in Mexico, and the perception of Costco as 
>an insensitive multinational, creates significant brand risk," said Bruce 
>Herbert, President of Seattle-based Newground Investment Services. "After 
>all, Mexico has the third largest number of Costco stores after the U.S. 
>and Canada, and a population of 110 million."  b>Read the full story:</b> 
><a href=" 
>http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21892&group=webcast">here</a> 
>and <a 
>href="http://www.seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21943&group=webcast">here</a> 
>
>
><p><b>Photographs:</b><br>
>1. <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21918&group=webcast">Murals 
>destroyed in Cuernevaca as a result of Costco construction</a><br>
>2. <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21919&group=webcastwebcast">Old-growth 
>forest cleared to make way for the store</a><br>
>3. <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21917&group=webcast">Mexican 
>activists carrying out a hunger strike to protest continued development</a><br>
>4.  <a 
>href="http://seattle.indymedia.org/front.php3?article_id=21908&group=webcast">Activists 
>raising banner at Costco shareholders meeting (Bellevue, WA, 1/30/03) </a><br>
>
><p><a href="http://procasino.org/
>">ProCasino.org</a> | <a 
>href="http://www.mexicosolidarity.org/COSTCO_Cuernavaca.html"> Costco 
>Boycott</a>  |<a 
>href="http://www.corpwatch.org/action/PAA.jsp?articleid=3908">CorpWatch 
>story</a>