Wal-Mart upsets cosmic balance of ruins

[T_i_B]

http://www.guardian.co.uk/usa/story/0,12271,1297267,00.html

From the top of the Pyramid of the Sun in the ancient ruined city of Teotihuacan, Emma Ortega blows a haunting ode on her conch shell and points out a half-built Wal-Mart supermarket in the valley below. Her blood boils at the sight. "It is an attack on our heritage," fumes Ms Ortega, a colourful figure in a small but vocal protest movement against the construction of a Bodega Aurrera superstore, a Wal-Mart Mexico subsidiary, half a mile from the monuments. "It is an attack on our cosmic equilibrium."

The movement gives full rein to spiritualists, such as Ms Ortega, who believe Teotihuacan's pyramids and temples possess a special energy that Wal-Mart's presence threatens to throw off balance.

The protest is brought down to earth by traditional conservationists who fear that the development will encourage urban spillover from the capital 30 miles away and spoil the largely rural valley for ever. Then there are the local shopkeepers and stall owners from the small town of San Juan who cannot compete with the biggest retailer in the world.

Most recently the anti-Wal-Mart campaign in Teotihuacan has attracted support from other campaign groups because of the undeniable importance of the ruins. One of Mexico's oldest and most mysterious civilisations, Teotihuacan boasted a population of up to 150,000 about 300AD. It faded away a few centuries later for unknown reasons and leaving few clues about what life was like. Archaeologists furiously debate issues such as whether it was ruled by kings or collectives.

[LostInAnomie]

1. Corporate imperialism VS cultural heritage

Sadly, imperialism will win every time.

[LiberalVoice]

2. I like your Bill Mahr quote.

Check mine out...lol

[LostInAnomie]

3. Yeah I am a huge Bill Maher fan...

... I wish he would write more books.

[xchrom]

4. indeed

they will do to other countries what they have done here -- uglify, underpay, undercut the competition and generally fuck-up the global neighborhood so you can get a bargain, make the share holders rich and bring about the collapse of beautiful regional cultures all in one fell swoop.
i hate wal-mart.