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TortoiseAid International Action Alert

CRUELTY AT WAL-MART

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

For a complete list of Wal-Mart owned businesses, please go to:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_assets_owned_by_Wal-Mart_Stores,_Inc .

We kindly ask that all individuals, humane organizations and businesses objecting to Wal-Mart’s cruel practices, and who support this boycott and 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

More information will soon follow at our web site.

Annie Lancaster
Director
TortoiseAid International Inc.
Post Office Box 260
Apple Valley, CA  92307-0005 USA
http://tortoise-aid.org