My stats show that you missed this one…
it’s actually Jonathan’s School Project http://bit.ly/dWuKJ
NOTE: For some people, shopping at Wal-Mart is ALL that they can afford (especially now in today’s economy) – we understand and do not judge that. However, if you can afford not to shop there, here are some reasons (contained in this project) why you should not.
We do not have a problem with the shoppers, we just have a problem with the BIGGEST Retail chain in the HISTORY of the WORLD exploiting employees (here and abroad – especially China & Guatemala) by paying meager cheap wages (some 34 cents an hour) that they can not even afford the “basics” of life (health insurance, food, Unions, etc.)
Please, if you can afford to do so, make an informed decision is all we ask. http://bit.ly/dWuKJ
Tags: exploited, H. Luiz, shopping, Wal-Mart
I hate Walmart for this reason thats why I have done my part by finding other places that might be better than Walmart. There are alot of stores that offer better service than Walmart. It may be expensive but thats not the point. I find that sometimes you got to really look around town to find the best deals. Alot of mom and pop places can offer better deals. Also the food quality in Walmart is not to par. I find that other food store chains offer better variety in organic food and the deli and bakery areas have alot better service and value.
I want to buy my unborn niece a car seat and some one said that Walmart has the cheapest ones. Well I want quality not the cheapest one. I then talked to a friend with kids and she told me about some places around that had better quality and reasonable prices. I would rather go there than Walmart.
Uncle H you should give people alternative stores other than Walmart lets stop the addiction to ” Low Prices Everyday”.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 2:03 am
@Bibi, Girl, you’ve done your part??? Wal-Mart’s astronomical stock soared even higher because of you!!
However, I know you shop there to also help out your siblings.
Wal-Mart has good products, it’s the slave-labor that goes into making those products that is the problem.
However, some people just cannot afford to shop anywhere else – we can’t judge people for that. Others just do not have other options near them (part of Wal-Mart’s destructiveness to put Mom-Pop Stores out of business).
A friend called me and said that if it was not for Wal-Mart’s low, low prices, she would not be able to buy school supplies & clothes for her 2 kids nor be able to afford her father’s meds. It put a real perspective on the issue. Who am I to tell her not to shop there? (I don’t pay her bills.)
Someone else I know use to work for Wal-Mart. I was like, “Are you F-ing crazy???” Then he said, “Wal-Mart broke my back, paid me sh*t, and treated me like a worthless fool. But if it were not for that cheap-ass Wal-Mart paycheck, I would have been in the streets or worse – at my mother’s house!” He’s in his 40’s and the recession hit this professional like millions of others.
That’s why I say: DO NOT SHOP @ Wal-Mart, if you can “afford” to NOT shop there. But, you can’t shop there and benefit from their low, low prices, then turn around and say you “hate” Wal-Mart. The issues are strong and deep on both sides, but when it comes down to it, it’s a question of affordability.
It’s alot like telling a Maasai not to kill a gorilla for brush-meat (because African-Plains gorillas are fast becoming extinct) and the Maasai is looking at us like, “My daughters have not eaten in 2 months! How else would I provide?” And we’re like, “go hunt something else,” meanwhile his daughters are dying. U.S. companies (and other countries) are shrinking the Congo by exploiting the natural resources in Africa (trees, diamonds, herbs, coffee, etc.) and the natural habitats of these gorillas are shrinking. Then we (US organization and other wildlife orgs in other countries) turn around and tell an African native what he can and can’t do. This goes unchallenged. WE can help kill off gorillas (by invading & exploiting their natural habitats) for OUR profit, but not you African MAASAI, “Don’t you dare kill them for food for your daughters!!” (the Maasai have been eating brush-meat for centuries.) You see, the issues run deep on both sides of the coin.
“The West-Africans call that ‘deep-talk’ – the level of understanding can run deeper, if you care enough about the issues. The older you become, the deeper your understanding.” – MAYA ANGELOU
Did I just go off on a tangent again? LOL Sorry! But you see, I am passionate about these issues and I recognize there’s no easy answer. I do know however, it’s a question of affordability. It is a “privileged” statement for me to say not to shop at Wal-Mart; and how can I say that to someone not so privileged?
Jonathan’s project was given to his “peers” (an elite, private high-school that costs over 10 Grand a school-year) and so it was well-received. Some of those students drive Beamers & Hummers and so their families could afford NOT to shop at Wal-Mart – once Jonathan showed them the immorality of Wal-Mart’s labor practices. Most of them said that they (and their families) had no idea how Wal-Mart kept their prices so damn low – they never really thought about it. They could afford NOT to shop there, so Jonathan did a GREAT service by bringing it to light for them.
I (and millions and millions of others) find Target to be a GREAT super-store alternative. What alternatives are by you? Please help!
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Bibi Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 11:53 pm
@H. Luiz, Thanks for the info. I am very educated though despite some strangers belief. I dont hate Walmart for being cheap I love that aspect but I have been lucky enough to find some places that give prescriptons for free and food for less. There are alot of issues out there that have no answers thanks Uncle H for allowing us all to talk about them.
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Cynthia Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 6:37 am
@Bibi, “educate these young girls” does not mean you’re not educated. It’s a phrase, like ” speak it now”, “preach!”, or “let ‘em know”. Lighten up.
There’s no such thing as “no answer.” Everything has an answer, just not a simple, easy one.
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Bibi Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
@Cynthia, Thank you ”old wise one” for straightening me out!!! Hahaha… I got you though.
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Jamie Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 6:44 am
@Bibi, you hate Walmart, you don’t hate Walmart?
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Sam Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 6:53 am
@Bibi, I think u missed the point here, oh educated one. It’s not about loving the cheap prices @ Walmart and finding OTHER cheaper places. It’s about the neo slave trade issue at Walmart.
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Bibi Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 12:58 pm
@Sam, As I was telling H Luiz I try to find cheaper places to shop instead of choicing Walmart because I am against the neo slave trade and abuse of American employees.
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David Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:13 pm
@Bibi, If your against it, then why do you shop there? There’s alot of hipocrisy in what you say. You still don’t get it. Educated?
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I guess you told her. Educate these young girls.
Good job.
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Jonathan, you are definitely your father’s son! That video was awesome.
My brother and I watched it together. He was thinking about working at Wal-Mart, but you opened his eyes.
We both thank you.
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Let me get this straight: a kid did this video? Nice!
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Mary Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 3:08 am
@Lisa, I know, right? Go Jonathan! I’m sure his father helped him, this has H. Luiz written all over it.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 3:11 am
@Mary, Of course I did. This was the very first:
H. Luiz Presents…LTI (Low-Tech Info) series. His concept though.
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I did miss this post. I’m glad I saw it. Great Job.
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Great job baby boy!
As far as my opinion of Walmart, et. al. this country was founded on capitalism, slavery, thievery, rape, and more. Why are we surprised that the conglomerate corp’s do what they do when in whole and in part we can’t even get a high-schooler (not you baby boy) to get his/her geography correct? They can tell you all of Lil Wayne’s lyrics tho!
Inexpensive shops have ALWAYS been the hub of low income inner city folk. If in fact they strive to shop elsewhere, work at it. If in further fact they have a deep-seeded issue with HOW x,y, z company handles it’s employees, work at making that change and stick with your endeavor.
Everyone wants to get the most they can for as little as they can…it’s the good ole U.S. of A’s way…question is: is it yours?
We, the people, of these here United States of America need to walk the walk if we’re gonna talk the talk.
something to ponder…
xoxoxo
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am
@peggy, Right On!
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Wow I never knew that anyone other than Papi and I felt so strongly about Wal-Mart!!! I’m glad that our video helped!!!
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You all better get off my niece!
I think some things she wrote may have either been taken out of context or misunderstood.
She is my #1 commentator (and I want her to be encouraged to comment – not discouraged.) Although I do not mind varying opinions, controversies, or even a lil feud, I want us to all reach the same goal: Respectful Conversation.
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Mary Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 8:36 am
@H. Luiz, I don’t think she understood what this was all about, really. Some people write comments just to be politically correct without really understanding the issues. She says she hates Walmart then loves Walmart, then that she’s educated, and no one said she was not. She also said that she does her part and that she finds cheaper places to shop. That’s the problem, she shifted the issue from modern slave-labor to finding cheaper places to shop.
It’s not about finding cheaper places to shop. It’s about if she can afford not to shop at Walmart because of their labor practices. Now, if she’s out there looking for cheaper prices (than Walmart, is she serious?) than obviously she can “not afford” not to shop at Walmart and so, this issue or argument is something that does not support her situation.
Is this not, as you said H. Luiz, a priviliged issue?
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 8:49 am
@Mary, First of all, Mary, we all cannot be an Economics major like you.
(Mary has graduated with me at the top of her class with a degree in Economics – my degree was Traditional Psychology – and Mary just completed her Masters in Politics/Business at NYU) 
My niece’s direction may have shifted off-course a little bit, but I stay true to what she was saying, which is (and I’m para-phrasing here) – Take some time and explore other places to shop so that we do not have to shop at Walmart, especially if you can afford to do so.
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Cynthia Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 8:53 am
@H. Luiz, But that’s just it. She says she finds other, cheaper places and some places “for free” stuff, but she still shops at WalMart. If she cannot afford to shop elsewhere, which is the case for most people now, how is she going to tell people about not shopping at Walmart?
Confused.
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Bibi Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:10 pm
@H. Luiz, Thank you for backing me up. I did go left and right a bit but my piont was to try to find other places to shop instead of Walmart. I do love the LOW PRICES of Walmart but not the corporation itself. There are times when I have had no choice but to shop in Walmart because of my budget but I would prefer some where else. I tell people to shop at different places if they can get better prices, customer service,and quality. Sorry if everyone is all rattled by me Uncle. Maybe its the city life.
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 1:24 pm
@Bibi, You know I got you.
I think that’s the problem some are having, that you do shop there but you’re telling people to shop elsewhere because of the Corp’s reputation, so why not “practice what you say?” sort of a deal.
If budget constraints is an issue (as it is for mostly everyone in the country right now) then one has to do what he/she has to do, but then we cannot advise otherwise, ya-know?
Now you’re going to have the “city-life folks” on you for that last comment, but you can take it.
Luv ya!
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I think H. Luiz and “Peggy” said it best, all others, “Know what ur talkin about before you write and stay on point.”
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David Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 9:19 am
@Lisa, Like PEGGY said, you have to walk the walk – not just talk.
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Great Job, Jonathan, may I use this for my class next school year?
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H. Luiz Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 11:45 am
@Thomas, As long as we retain the rights, you may. Are you a teacher or a student? What school?
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I am one of those people that have always enjoyed shopping at Wal Mart. I did learn a few years ago about the slave trade and the horrible conditions that the employees have to suffer. Which is insane! However in the area where I live Wal Mart has taken over everything! Every 5-10 miles or so there is Super Wal Mart with prices that will knock your socks off! I can’t afford to shop anywhere else most times. Especially when it comes to food. I do no feel the same sentiment towards Wal-Mart when I walk in the store. However me being unemployed and with the economy being what it is. I have no choice. I won’t say I ‘hate’ Wal Mart because it has done nothing to me but help me save money. And if you live where I live and Bibi does..She know’s that’s about the only store we can go too.
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Michael Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 3:00 pm
@Raffiella, Is that what she was trying to say? LOL
Then she should have said that, not “There are alot of stores that offer better service than Walmart. It may be expensive but thats not the point. I find that sometimes you got to really look around town to find the best deals. Alot of mom and pop places can offer better deals. Also the food quality in Walmart is not to par.”
So Fake!
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I appreciate that Raffiella thank you. I also appreciate the fact that Im so important that people are quoting me and studing my every word. Where we live is an extremely rich county. If I am fake for having to shop at Walmart when at times I have no choice because of the cost of living in Naples then so be it. When I find a better deal somewhere else I take it and spread the word.
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Mike Reply:
July 10th, 2009 at 5:15 pm
@Bibi, you really think that people are calling you fake because you shop at Walmart?
Still Clueless!
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UUUMMMM…Wow. Didnt realize this was such a HOT topic.
I absolutely agree with PEGGY and HLUIZ. Wal-Mart’s blatant disregard for basic human rights must be stopped at all costs. For those of us who can, we should shop at Wal-Mart’s competitors (ex. Target) exclusively.
Power to the people – VIVA LA REVOLUCION !!!
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