letter to Cdn. Tire

Date: Fri, 10 Jul 1998 01:39:35
To: sust-mar@chebucto.ns.ca
From: Sharon Labchuk <slabchuk@isn.net>
Precedence: bulk
Return-Path: <sust-mar-mml-owner@chebucto.ns.ca>

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Date: Wed, 8 Jul 1998 10:10:02 -0700

Canadian Tire
2180 Yonge Street
Toronto, Ontario M4P 2V8

Attention:  Board of Directors & CEO

Re: Canadian Tire and the Environment


I am writing to you regarding your weekly sale flyer for July 3-9, 1998.

In this flyer, two weed killers, "Round Up" and "Killex" are advertised with
the subtitle, "Choose Your Weapons."  

These agents, as you know, are made of deadly chemicals and are harmful for
soil and ground waters as well as the animals and humans who use them.

Please note that the weeds which your customers are encouraged to kill, such
as dandelions, are actually innocent wild flowers which have medicinal and
culinary properties.

There are other ways to get rid of them, such as burning them with a special
torch for areas to be covered with gravel, using environmental fabric or
hiring neighbourhood kids to weed lawns.

Canadian Tire is a well run and established national company.  It is part of
the Canadian culture so much so that recently a stamp was printed to
celebrate your 75th anniversary.  I understand Canadian Tire is in excellent
financial health and the Canadian Tire stock price has appreciated roughly
70% over the last year.

Like many others, our family enjoys shopping at your store for many
practical and useful items at reasonable prices.  The weekly sale flyer is a
particularly powerful tool to promote your merchandise.  I know from my own
experience in that on several occasions I purchased several items because of
"savings" and attractive presentation.

I wonder how ethical it is to use this flyer to promote items which are not
environmentally friendly?  

I would like to see Canadian Tire use it's marketing influence to promote
environmental ethics by introducing organic gardening products.  This would
bolster your company's postive image in these environmentally conscious
times, rather than promoting poisonous chemicals saying, "Choose Your
Weapons."  A "green" Canadian Tire actually would appeal more to today's
environmentally responsible customer.

Let's strive to be at peace with the environment.  Please do not encourage
the use of weapons to kill it.  Financially you are doing very well.  You
don't need this additional income at the cost of the environment.


Sincerely,



Suat Tuzlak 
1306 Elm Street
Whitehorse, Yukon
Y1A 4B5
(867)667-2411 (h)
(867)668-6871 (w)




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