'Help Stop The Next 9/11' - New National TV Ad Campaign Launched

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20070322/pl_usnw/_help_stop_the_next911____new_national_tv_ad_campaign_launched

'Help Stop The Next 9/11' - New National TV Ad Campaign Launched

30 minutes ago

To: NATIONAL EDITORS

Contact: Chris Kofinis, +1-202-486-6422, for WakeUpWalMart.com

WASHINGTON, March 22 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- WakeUpWalMart.com, America's Campaign to Change Wal-Mart, launched a new nationwide media and grassroots initiative to pressure Wal-Mart, America's #1 importer of port containers, to "help stop the next 9/11" and reverse its lobbying efforts against 100% scanning of port containers, leaving America's ports and cities vulnerable to a terrorist nuclear attack.

The new campaign, entitled "Wal-Mart, Put America's Security First," is in response to Wal-Mart's aggressive lobbying campaign, led by Wal-Mart and the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), and its repeated failure to respond to requests by the public and 30 elected leaders to end its opposition to 100% scanning of port containers. Among the leaders calling on Wal-Mart to support 100% scanning and help prevent another 9/11 were 21 members of the U.S. House of Representatives, including Rep. Jerrod Nadler and Rep. Rosa DeLauro (news, bio, voting record), and 9 U.S. Senators, including Senator Barack Obama (news, bio, voting record) and Senator Hillary Clinton.

"As the leading opponent of 100% scanning and as the nation's largest importer of containers, Wal-Mart has a moral responsibility to stop its lobbying campaign and join with us, the American people, and our elected leaders to help stop the next 9/11," said Paul Blank, campaign director for WakeUpWalMart.com.

As part of the new campaign, WakeUpWalMart.com also launched a powerful new ad, entitled "America's risk." The new 30-second spot, which will begin airing this week, includes stirring images of America's greatest terrorist threat, Osama Bin Laden, and the catastrophic consequences should our nation's port security fail -- a nuclear explosion. The ad begins by stating that "one of the greatest threats we face since 9/11" is terrorists, like Osama Bin Laden, acquiring nuclear weapons and using the profound vulnerabilities in our port security to attack the United States.

The first phase of the national ad campaign will begin by airing in 16 cities and 14 states, including the key port cities of Baltimore MD, Charleston SC, Houston TX, Philadelphia PA, Savannah GA, and New York City, NY. To help build public and political awareness around this critical issue, the ad campaign will also air in the key presidential battleground states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

The 30-second spot can be now viewed at WakeUpWalMart.com and Youtube.com.

In addition, as part of the grassroots effort to pressure Wal-Mart to reverse its opposition to 100% scanning, WakeUpWalMart.com also held "Wal- Mart, Put America's Security First," press conferences in 15 cities and 14 states. At the press conferences, speakers also discussed a new security memo, entitled "America's Risk, Wal-Mart's Reward," that highlights critical facts and expert testimony as to why Wal-Mart's opposition to port security poses a serious and grave risk to America's national security.

To highlight the serious threat posed to cities and towns that border U.S. seaports, press conferences were held in a number of at-risk port cities, including Baltimore, MD and Philadelphia, PA. At the press conferences prominent local community and civic leaders echoed the statements of national elected leaders by calling on Wal-Mart to end its opposition to 100% scanning legislation and lobby for stronger port security.

"Over 2 weeks ago, when we first called on Wal-Mart to openly support 100% scanning of port containers, we had hoped that Wal-Mart would publicly state it was ending its lobbying efforts against stronger port security measures. Unfortunately, once again, Wal-Mart's words and deeds prove that Wal-Mart puts profits first, and America's security second," added Blank.

As part of the grassroots effort to pressure Wal-Mart to change its opposition to port security, WakeUpWalMart.com will also call on its 345,000 supporters to contact their elected officials to support 100% scanning legislation in the hope that our elected leaders will ignore Wal-Mart's lobbying efforts and will work together to do what is right and help stop the next 9/11 from ever happening.

A script of the ad, "America's Risk," and a list of cities for the press conference and ad campaign are attached.
"America's Risk," Script Since 9/11 it is one of the greatest threats we face ...

A nuclear weapon in the hands of Osama bin Laden shipped through an American Port.
But, even though a Wal-Mart container arrives in the U.S. every 45 seconds Containers that could carry the weapons used in the next terrorist attack. Wal-Mart opposes scanning 100% of port containers. Leaving America vulnerable to protect their profits. Wal-Mart. Profits first. America's security second. Ad Campaign: Baltimore, MD Charleston, SC Houston, TX Philadelphia, PA Kansas City, MO St. Louis, MO New York City, NY Savannah, GA Des Moines, IA Manchester, NH Mobile, AL Carson City, NV Detroit, MI San Jose, CA Niagara Falls/Buffalo, NY Tulsa, OK Dayton, OH Cincinnati, OH "Wal-Mart, Put America's Security First" Press Conferences: San Jose, CA Livonia, MI Carson City, NV Baltimore, MD Hammonton, NJ Kittery, ME Niagara Falls, NY Atlanta, GA Landover, MD Philadelphia, PA Kansas City, MO Dayton, OH Mobile, AL Tulsa, OK Newark, NJ

SOURCE WakeUpWalMart.com