. London, UK
Amazon hit by protests by climate activists, unions on Black Friday
Activists from Extinction Rebellion block the entrance to the Amazon fulfilment centre in Tilbury, England, on Friday. (Photo credit: AP)
- Extinction Rebellion blocked Amazon's UK warehouse.
- Climate activists joined workers' unions in Europe.
- Climate activists say Amazon emits more carbon dioxide than a medium-sized country.
World’s biggest e-commerce company Amazon was hit by protests and strikes on Black Friday. The Seattle-headquartered company is facing backlash from climate activists who say the company’s excessive selling is causing harm to the environment, reported BBC. The climate activists were joined by trade unions who say the company does not pay workers enough nor give enough tax to governments.
Several protestors from the environmental movement, known as XR, blocked the company's largest United Kingdom warehouse, in Dunfermline in Scotland, as well as sites across England managing around half of its deliveries in the country.
Activists block Amazon depots
Reuters reported that at an Amazon depot at Tilbury docks in eastern England, protesters had blocked the entrance, meaning no vehicles could enter or exit from the place. The group also said it has blocked Amazon depots in Germany and the Netherlands.
Extinction Rebellion said Amazon is committing a crime by emitting more carbon dioxide than any medium-sized country, helping fossil fuel companies.
The protestors staged protests in Newcastle, Manchester and Bristol on Friday.
Amazon in damage control mode
"We have a large network of sites across the UK and are working to minimize any potential disruption to customers," said a spokesperson for Amazon, which brought the traditional United States 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,” the spokesperson added.
The protest is the latest by the activist network, formed in the UK in 2018, which regularly uses civil disobedience to highlight government inaction on climate change.