The Greenpeace Forest Crimes Unit hit downtown Waterloo today, showing up at the local Valumart on King Street as part of this week’s Kleenex Destruction Tour. Surprisingly, and in contrast to our less than favourable reception in London we were positively received by the local store manager, Jim.
We expected a cold greeting to match the snowy weather but instead Jim was very open to hearing our concerns about the Kleenex tissue products sold in his store and he promised that he would take our concerns and materials and pass them on to the head office for the Valumart chain and also on to to Kimberly-Clark. I think that Jim is the ideal store manager, respectfully willing to learn about issues that are of concern to his customers and the greater public, and conveying concerns back to the head office. If only Kimberly-Clark were as open to listening to our concerns!
With a TV crew in tow, five Forest Crimes Unit activists entered the Valumart at 10:45 am to remove Kleenex brand tissue products from the store shelves. We neatly packed dozens of boxes of Kleenex facial tissue and several packages of Kleenex toilet paper into our two “Forest Crime Evidence” boxes. We met Jim at the Customer Service desk and handed over the products, asking him to send them back to Kimberly-Clark.
Another city, another store – mission accomplished.
Tomorrow, some new forest defenders will be joining us on the road. A big thank you to the dedicated folks who have joined us so far, including Earl, Salma, Nikki, Angela, Fuji, and Laura. I don’t think we could find a more enthusiastic and committed group of activists willing to take action for ancient Boreal forests.
And also a big thanks to Waterloo-based forest defenders Neil, Mark and Laird who joined us for our quick visit to their home town.
Tomorrow we are off to Hamilton, Ontario for the third stop of the Kleenex Forest Destruction Tour. Stay tuned!
Richard Brooks
Greenpeace Forest Campaigner
Check out some photos from the Waterloo action.
Take Action to support this work:
• Send a message now to grocery store chain selling Kimberly-Clark Kleenex brand tissue products.
• If you are in Ontario, and want to help out, find out how.
• Spread the word about this action. Send a virtual leaflet to your friends and family now.
