Contact:
- Paul Thiers, co-director, Center for Social and Environmental Justice, 91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø, 360/546-9466, thiers@vancouver.wsu.edu
- Beth Montee, Office of Campus Advancement, 360/546-9600, montee@vancouver.wsu.edu
VANCOUVER, Wash. - The global and local impacts of Wal-Mart and other big box retail stores will be the subject of films and discussion at Washington State University Vancouver on Feb. 21 from 3 p.m. until 9 p.m.
The event will take place in Student Services Building room 110 and is free and open to the public.
Sponsored by the Center for Social and Environmental Justice, the forum will present pro- and anti-Wal-Mart films including Ron Galloway's documentary, "Why Wal-Mart Works." This film celebrates consumer's enthusiasm for low prices and the convenience of one-stop big-box retail shopping. The second film, "The High Cost of Low Price" by Robert Greenwald, critically examines Wal-Mart's impact on local businesses and communities around the country. Pavithra Narayanan, assistant professor of English, will moderate a discussion following the screenings of the films.
The panel forum, moderated by Sue Peabody, associate professor of History, will begin at 6 p.m. in Student Services Building room 129/130. The forum consists of speakers who will address Wal-Mart from a range of global and local perspectives.
Paul Thiers, associate professor of Political Science, will discuss Wal-Mart as part of a global economy in "Outsourcing Production for Big Box Retail."
Eric Berg, from Jobs with Justice, will examine Wal-Mart's impact on labor and small businesses in the United States.
John Ekore, visiting lecturer from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, will address the "Town-Gown Relationship" and benefits of Wal-Mart to the university and local region.
John Bishop, associate professor of Science, will discuss the environmental impact assessments and their role in planning.
A workshop following the forum will be organized by Wal-Mart Watchdogs to allow for community discussion of local planning issues. Michael Butts, from the Clark County Community Development will provide an overview of public participation in county planning procedures and will answer questions from the public.
For more information, contact Thiers at (360)546-9466 or thiers@vancouver.wsu.edu.
91³Ô¹ÏºÚÁÏÍø offers fifteen bachelor's and nine master's degrees in over 35 fields of study. The campus is located at 14204 N.E. Salmon Creek Ave., east of the 134th Street exit from either I-5 or I-205. Parking rules are enforced Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Parking is available in the blue lot for $2.00 or at parking meters.