Monarch butterflies are at risk of extinction because of the global
avocado obsession. But the world’s biggest supermarket, Walmart, could
help save these butterflies by cleaning up its supply chain.

Tell Walmart to publicly commit to selling cruelty-free avocados NOW.

[ [link removed] ]digital art image of a half cut open avocado on top of a pile of whole
avocados, blood is on the avocado


[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 

   
John,

The monarch butterfly, already vulnerable to extinction, now faces another
threat – the avocado industry in Mexico. Each year when it starts getting
cold in the US and Canada millions of monarchs fly up to 4,000kms south to
Mexico. The native fir tree forests provide warmth and safety.

But now, these forests are being razed to the ground to make way for
illegal avocado plantations. Local communities who say no to the avocado
industry face threats of violence and kidnapping, and people have even
been killed.

The biggest supermarket in the world, Walmart, has said it's open to
investigating its supply chain and making sure it's not selling avocados
that cause harm. If Walmart leads the way, all other supermarkets globally
will have to follow suit so they’re not left behind with a PR disaster.

This is our chance to help local communities rid the Mexican avocado
industry of destruction and abuse. Can you help hold the giant supermarket
to account and make sure Walmart publicly commits to only selling
cruelty-free avocados?

[ [link removed] ]Sign the petition and tell Walmart: we want ethical avocados now.

The demand for avocados is being driven by the industry’s marketing
campaigns, including Super Bowl ads and "sustainability" claims. But
there’s nothing sustainable about illegally setting fires that destroy
native forests, which reduces carbon storage and biodiversity.

Avocado trees also guzzle water at much higher rates than the forests that
have been chopped down. As a result, aquifers that have been a lifeline
for local communities and farmers growing traditional crops are being
drained away. Indigenous leaders and others seeking to defend their land
and water against the avocado industry are being threatened, attacked and
killed.

Our friends at Climate Rights International used publicly available
information to identify the avocado farms on illegally deforested land in
Mexico. Supermarkets like Walmart could easily do the same and clean up
its supply chains. But the supermarket won’t do that without pressure from
people all around the world.

[ [link removed] ]Tell Walmart to make avocados deforestation-free.

Once there’s 50,000 signatures we can take this petition directly to
Walmart’s headquarters, along with testimonials from impacted communities
in Mexico. But we need to show there’s global support for ethical avocados
first.

Speaking out against unethical practices that put profits before people
and the environment works. The Ekō community has already forced Kelloggs
and Mars to change their ways causing a huge shift for the better in the
global palm oil supply chain. Let’s do it again and make sure guacamole,
avocado toast and California rolls don't come at the expense of harming
communities, destroying forests, and contributing to the climate crisis.



[ [link removed] ] Sign the petition 



Thanks for all that you do,
Lacey and the team at Ekō


More information:

[ [link removed] ]Americans Love Avocados. It’s Killing Mexico’s Forests.
The New York Times. 28 November 2023.
[ [link removed] ]Mexico: Avocados for Export Fueling Deforestation and Abuse
Climate Rights International. 28 November 2023.
[ [link removed] ]CRI’s Unholy Guacamole report links major U.S. companies to
deforestation for avocados in Mexico
Climate Rights International. 28 November 2023.

 

 

Ekō is a worldwide movement of people like you, working together to hold corporations accountable for their actions and forge a new, sustainable path for our global economy.

Please help keep Ekō strong by chipping in $3. [link removed]