*[Enwl-eng] COVID-19 and supermarkets

[ENWL]

                        Сan you help protect the people most vulnerable to coronavirus from grocery chaos?

                        Demand Aldi, Lidl, 7-Eleven, and Spar -- and all supermarkets -- give the elderly, those who are most vulnerable, and people with accessibility needs, a chance to shop first!

                         Sign the petition 
                       
                 
            Panicked shoppers are crowding into aisles, elbowing each other over the last loaf of bread or box of pasta. Meanwhile, the people most in need of essential supplies are shut out, for fear of picking up an infection in the frenzy.

            That’s the scene at supermarkets across the world right now. But a few of them are doing something different.

            As coronavirus panic buying gets worse, chains like Iceland in the UK, Whole Foods in the US, and Woolworths in Australia have begun opening early to allow elderly and vulnerable customers access to clean stores and freshly stocked shelves.

            Now more than ever, we need to look out for each other. So we’re calling on all supermarkets, including Aldi, Lidl, 7-Eleven, and Spar to implement the same policy. Can you join us?

            Yes -- I’ll demand supermarkets give priority access to the customers who most need it.

            With the rapid spread of the virus, elderly and immunocompromised people are being told to leave the house as little as possible. 

            Plentiful supplies of goods like pasta and tinned soup could be a lifeline for them, and for those with limited mobility who can’t make frequent supermarket trips. But not when venturing out exposes them to big crowds -- and potentially empty shelves.

            Supermarkets are among the few companies profiting from the coronavirus. They should be taking extra care to protect the people most at risk, not just putting up ineffective signs telling everyone to stop panic buying. 

            It’s urgent they all follow the lead of stores like Iceland and Woolworths -- and they will, with enough public pressure. In just the last few weeks, people power has forced corporations to take unprecedented measures to prevent the vulnerable from becoming ill. Who would have thought, just a month ago, that Amazon and Uber would ever budge from their draconian sick leave policies? But people like you made them do it.

            We’ve seen how this crisis can bring people together -- now let’s get our supermarkets to show some solidarity as well.


            Sign the emergency petition demanding early hours for elderly and other vulnerable supermarket shoppers!


             Sign the petition 
            Thanks for all that you do, 
            David and the team at SumOfUs



            More information:

            Supermarkets ask shoppers to be 'considerate' and stop stockpiling, BBC. 15 March 2020.
            Iceland store introduces early hour for elderly so they can shop before wider public, The Independent. 16 March 2020. 
              

       






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            SumOfUs is a community of people from around the world committed to curbing the growing power of corporations. We want to buy from, work for and invest in companies that respect the environment, treat their workers well and respect democracy. And we’re not afraid to stand up to them when they don’t.

            Please help keep SumOfUs strong by chipping in $3



                  Chip in $3 
           

      From: David Norton, SumOfUs 
      Sent: Wednesday, March 18, 2020 8:22 PM
      Subject: COVID-19 and supermarkets

     





 
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