"Black Friday epitomises an obsession with
overconsumption that is not consistent with a liveable planet," the
Extinction Rebellion group said after blocking 13 Amazon depots across the
United Kingdom.
"Amazon and companies like it have capitalised on our
desire for convenience and stoked rampant consumerism at the expense of the
natural world," it said.
Reuters reporters at an Amazon depot at Tilbury docks in
eastern England said protesters had blocked the entrance, meaning no vehicles
could enter or exit. The group also said it had blocked Amazon depots in
Germany and the Netherlands.
Banners read: "Black Friday exploits people and
planet" and "Infinite growth, finite planet".
Extinction Rebellion said Amazon's "crimes"
included activities which emitted more carbon dioxide than a medium sized
country, helping fossil fuel companies.
"We have a large network of sites across the UK and are
working to minimise any potential disruption to customers," said a
spokesperson for Amazon, which brought the traditional U.S. Black Friday
discount day to Britain in 2010.
Amazon also said it takes its responsibilities "very
seriously".
"That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by
2040 - 10 years ahead of the Paris Agreement - providing excellent pay and
benefits in a safe and modern work environment, and supporting the tens of
thousands of British small businesses who sell on our store."
"We know there is always more to do," it said.
Trade unions across Europe's biggest economies also called
out warehouse workers and delivery drivers to strike against what they said
were Amazon's unfairly low wages and tax payments.
In Germany, the company's biggest market after the United
States, the Verdi union said around 2,500 employees went on strike at Amazon
shipping centres in Rheinberg, Koblenz, and Graben.
In France, one of the country's top labour unions, CGT,
called for Amazon workers in the country to go on strike. The union coalition
also reported a strike in Italy.
"The coalition demands Amazon pays its workers fairly
and respects their right to join unions, pays its fair share of taxes and
commits to real environmental sustainability," the "Make Amazon
Pay" coalition said in a statement.
© Reuters
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