Dear ecofem, geofem, and biomonitor: The following is an article from today's Houston Chronicle. The story is about a woman's concern over Wal-Mart's plans to clear-cut and pave 25 acres of mature forest in the outskirts of Houston (Spring Valley, Texas). These woods are literally an oasis in the asphalt jungle that is Houston today. The woods have existed behind her house for the 22 years she has owned it. I also live in Houston and my objections are as follows: First, obviously, the sprawl. A city like ours, with terrible air (now worse than L.A.) and no rail (with our own representative, Tom DeLay, fighting it), can not afford to be encouraging more sprawl. And Wal-Marts do encourage sprawl, like little consumer watering holes - one after another, after another. . . How about CO2 and global warming? Our temperature hit 102F today. Second, 25 acres of destroyed ecology. A retention pond and "harmonizing" with the neighborhood (at best) does not begin to replace the eco-system that has been destroyed. Third, mega-shopping, if it must exist, should be relegated to the realm of "virtual" where, at least, it is less harmful to the planet. Certainly, people need not physically transport their bodies (in polluting cars on Houston's over-crowded freeways) to a physical location (big box on 25 acres of asphalt) for a mega-shopping experience that is totally dehumanizing anyway. Plug-in and stay put (internet, television, etc.), but please, let�s not sacrifice any more wilderness to the Great American Pastime of shopping! (I know this is not the ultimate answer we all want, but if "convenience" is a major determining factor then I prefer the internet over a Wal-Mart or a Best Buy on every corner.)Shopping can be social, can enhance human connections, when it occurs on a smaller personal scale - maybe then it deserves to be in the realm of the physical - Wal Mart is not that. Now, more than our ever, our physical experiences need to count, and they have to be worth the price they extol on the environment. Fourth, the lost oasis. Yet another shopping center and ocean of asphalt puts us further and further away from the spiritual healing which comes from a connection to nature. Fifth, the article is written in a manner that specifically positions a woman artist, Hedy Treloar, against the system. She is so obviously "helpless" against the patriarchal Machine. Nobody wants to be helpless. If she can take on this cause and win, so can others. I would really like that to happen. Any thoughts or suggestions? Polly
WalMart plans rile Spring Valley residents.doc
