Dec. 15: Join the TRI-NATIONAL BOYCOTT to COSTCO
COSTCO destroys...
the environment, art, local business and labor rights in Mexico.

The US corporation COSTCO, and its Mexican partner Comercial Mexicana, in the last few days have cut down hundreds of trees, many of which were over 100 years old, in order to build two mega-stores, and a parking lot for 1,210 cars, on the grounds of what was the Casino de la Selva Hotel in the center of Cuernavaca, Mexico.

COSTCO have already destroyed 1,400 square meters of murals in addition to the recent destruction of the trees; now they intend to pave the property with tens of thousands of tons of concrete converting what was the largest green area of Cuernavaca (95,000 square meters, equivalent to 23.5 acres) into a concrete slab.

Local vendors would be undercut by this multinational corporation which could potentially threaten thousands of local jobs employed by small and medium-sized local businesses.

A movement against the US-based retailer's
Cuernavaca expansion has grown rapidly since July 2001 as
a result of the company's disregard for historic
landmarks, the local economy and the environment.

The Mexico Solidarity Network is coordinating with the citizens of Cuernavaca a
tri-national boycott: in Mexico, Canada and USA. Defeat of the Costco plans would send a definitive message to transnational corporations that Mexico is not for sale.

DECEMBER 15. Take action in the US. Go to your local COSTCO and let people now about COSTCO'S UNETHICAL PRACTICES ABROAD. Actions are already building in Vancouver, Montreal, San Diego, and Chicago in response to this emergency call from Cuernavaca- JOIN IN - UNETE!

Distribute a flyer at COSTCO stores in your community, at your union local, club, Church, or with family and friends.

Police Attack anti-Costco Protest in Cuernavaca: August 21st

A protest against the construction of a Costco mega-store
in Cuernavaca, Morelos was violently repressed by police
on August 21st, 2002.

Around 8:30 pm on August 21st about 450 state and local
police attacked a peaceful protest and arrested 32 people,
including one American, Charlie Goff.

Bail has been set at US$10,000 for Mr. Goff, director of a prominent Cuernavaca
Spanish-language school, US$5000 for Flora Guerrero, Mr. Goff's wife, and US$3000 for most of the other protesters.
Analysts note that bail was set in this fashion to give
the impression that an American was "leading" the protest,
and thus illegally meddling in Mexican affairs. In
contrast, the Mexican media has not portrayed Costco's and
other American corporations' presence in Mexico as
meddling or intrusive.

About 3000 people participated in the this protest.
More protests are planned to demand the
release of the detainees.

This protest was called one day after the city
issued Costco a building permit. Protesters allege that
Costco began clearing the site weeks ago. They say that
Costco clearing crews have already damaged the "Jungle
Casino", a disheveled park that contains historic murals
and architecture and is one of Cuernavaca's cultural
landmarks.

The construction would also down 600 trees in the city
center. The loss of these trees means habitat destruction
for 4 species of endangered birds and would be one more
blow to the environment of Cuernavaca, which is suffering
from uncontrollable sprawl. Costco's impact would be felt
by local vendors who will be clearly undercut by the new
store, threatening thousands of local jobs. Protesters say
that Cuernavaca already has 10 mega-stores, and that's
enough for them

COSTCO struggle continues in Cuernavaca: September 9th

The struggle to end construction of a Costco mega-mall on historic and environmentally sensitive lands in Cuernavaca continues. Leaders of the citizen's movement leading the struggle were threatened with additional arrests, as authorities responded to the non-violent movement with disproportionate police and judicial pressure, apparently in an effort to avoid a repeat of the airport project in neighboring Mexico City canceled after a nine month protest. Defeat of the Costco plans would send a definitive message to transnational corporations that Mexico is not for sale.

Organizers called for a boycott of Costco and Price Club. Many Mexican youth took up the boycott with gusto, loading up shopping carts at target stores and then leaving just before the checkout process is completed.

Information surfaced this week on close relations between Costco and the Fox administration. Costco's public relations firm, Fleishman Hillard, takes credit for the
Fox election victory in 2000, and the firm appears to be largely in charge of Costco's campaign in Cuernavaca.

A local plebiscite is in the planning stages, but in the meantime Costco continues to cut down hundred-year-old trees and destroy historic buildings at the Casino de la
Selva site. (The name is a bit misleading. A casino was planned for the site decades ago but Mexican laws prohibit gambling. While an historic hotel full of artistically
significant murals graces the site, owners never won a gaming license.)

CHECK OUT the ORGANAZING around the Costco boycot

Join hands with direct actionists in Cuernavaca!

TAKE ACTION WHERE YOU ARE!! Download your own flyer.

Call or fax Costco CEO James D. Sinegal, 425.313.8100 (office); 425.313.6592 (fax)

Demand the following:
a) That Costco make a public call to drop all charges against all protesters.
b) That Costco stop construction on the Cuernavaca store immediately.
c) That Costco abandon the Cuernavaca store project all together.

1. If you are a anti-corporate ACTIVIST, become involved in an active boycott, distribute flyers in front of Costcos and spread the word. Download your own flyer.

2. If you are a Costco CUSTOMER, tell them that you will no longer buy at Costco as long as Costco is building stores with blatant disregard for historic landmarks, the
environment, and its impact on local economies.

3. If you are a Costco SHAREHOLDER, call:
Bob Nelson Vice President, Financial Planning & Investor Relations-
Phone: (425) 313-8255
Fax: (425) 313-6430
Tell him you are outraged at Costco's overseas practices and that you will pull out of Costco's stock if Costco continues to jeopardize its reputation through dirty dealing in Mexico.

For more information:
http://www.procasino.org (There is a sample letter on this site in English or Spanish which can be sent directly from the site).
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From COSTCO's Website:

Costco's mission is to continually provide our members
with quality goods and services at the lowest possible
prices. In order to achieve our mission, we will conduct
our business with the following Code of Ethics:

A. Obey The Law
B. Take Care of Our Customers
C. Take Care of Our Employees
D. Respect Our Suppliers
E. Reward Our Shareholders