Group uses film to spotlight Wal-Mart concerns

By MELISSA HART, Staff Writer

"Wal-Mart is coming! Wal-Mart is coming!"

Rumors that a second Wal-Mart may be coming to Fairbanks were confirmed in early October, much to the chagrin of some people in the community. In response to what they feel is too much development, a group of citizens has mobilized to try and fend off the influx of "big box" retail.

The Fairbanks Grassroots Network, a collaboration of activists, is working in conjunction with The Blue Loon to air screenings of "Wal-Mart: The High Cost of Low Prices," a nationally released film that attempts to blow the whistle on what lurks under the surface of the retail giant.

The film's run, Nov. 15-19, will coincide with "Higher Expectations Week," an effort of more than 400 groups nationwide taking a stand against Wal-Mart.

Since the Fairbanks Grassroots Network formed in early October, the group has used film screenings as a tool to bring awareness to certain issues.

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They showed the expose on Fox News, "Outfoxed: Rupert Murdoch's War on Journalism," at their first official meeting Oct. 6, and since then have viewed the cheeky documentary "The Yes Men," in which a couple of guys take on the World Trade Organization; and others during the Thursday night meetings (6-9 p.m. in 408 Groening, University of Alaska Fairbanks campus). At last week's meeting, members watched video clips of anti-consumerism actions produced by the magazine Adbusters.

"We feel we have to counteract the mainstream media ... there's a lack of publicity of really progressive issues," said member and self-described rabble-rouser Dan Glass.

According to Glass, the network came together when a few UAF students and other community members saw the need to build a stronger progressive base. The association is informal, with an all-inclusive membership.

"(It's for) anyone who's not happy with the way we're living at the moment and who is willing to do something about it," he said. "A lot of (the members) were tired of just talking, wanted to take action."

Discussion at last week's meeting was centered around the various reasons they are opposed to another Wal-Mart. At issue are the retailer's labor practices, sprawl, taxpayers' burden, traffic congestion and impact on the local economy. While there is unanimous agreement of why Wal-Mart is the main target, many Grassroots Network members go beyond that and are interested in containing "big box" development altogether. Many voiced concern with what will happen to local businesses with the invasion of too many chain stores.

Their consensus appeared to be that it's not too late to prevent a second Wal-Mart from opening locally. Jeanne Olson said that some communities, such as Homer, have passed ordinances that cap the size of new stores. Other towns have capped the number of "box stores" that can be built in an area.

Whatever the action, members feel the cause is worth the effort.

"This is our home, this is where we live. We're trying to make Fairbanks a better place," said Garrison Collette, a native Fairbanksan.

Michael Watson, an assistant manager of the Wal-Mart on the Johansen Expressway, said "I've heard of it (the movie), but haven't seen anything on it yet, so I don't have an opinion on it."