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Wal-Mart rolling back women's rights Lucy Smith from TCNOW and Lee Janisch from MN Valley NOW would like other NOW members to become aware of Wal-Mart's repressive stance on reproductive rights. Wal-Mart refuses to sell in their pharmacies legal, FDA approved Emergency Contraceptives such as Preven in the name of their brand of "morality." With the defeat of the Coburn Amendment, now the FDA can research, test, and approve drugs that induce abortions. If Wal-Mart won't sell emergency contraceptives, they probably wouldn't sell anything that would actually induce abortions, such as RU486, when approved. Since Zero Population Growth is already working on Wal-mart's position we suggest that we, as NOW members, join them. For people with Internet access check out their website at www.ZPG.org. For those without access, here is some of the information from their Web site with suggested actions: Facts About Emergency Contraception (EC) • When taken within 3 days (72 hours) of unprotected intercourse (or of a contraceptive failure), EC reduces the chances of the woman getting pregnant by 75%. • EC does not induce an abortion. Because EC acts before the egg implants in the lining of the uterus, EC is contraception. • If widely used, EC could prevent half of the yearly estimated 3 million unintended pregnancies. • If widely used, EC could prevent half of all abortions in the United States. • Wal-Mart has banned Preven and Plan-B, the only two FDA-approved forms of EC. • Wal-Mart is the only major pharmacy to choose not to carry EC. • In many rural communities Wal-Mart is the only pharmacy within reach (perhaps because Wal-Mart forced the local pharmacy out of business). Wal-Mart is therefore denying the women in these communities safe, preventative and effective health care options. • Wal-Mart is the largest retailer in the world and the fifth-largest pharmacy chain in the U.S. It owns a total of 2,427 pharmacies. • Wal-Mart spokesperson Jessica Moser admits, "I know of no other prescription in the history of Wal-Mart that the company refused to sell." What can I do? You can get involved in ZPG by: • supporting ZPG's Wal-Mart campaign by becoming a member, • subscribing to the ZPG Email Action Network and have a letter automatically sent to Wal-Mart, • joining our Campus Outreach Program, • or becoming part of the District Activist Network. • write an op-ed or a letter to the editor and submit it to your local newspaper. • tell your friends. • Contact Wal-Mart's CEO, Lee Scott, and tell him Wal-Mart has made a bad “business decision”: Lee Scott Wal-Mart Stores 702 SW 8th Street Bentonville, AR 72716 email: letters@wal-mart.com Fax Number: (501) 621-2063