We're in the midst of one of the busiest Shopping weekends of the year but not Everyone is hitting the stores a growing Number of people are protesting climate Activists targeted 13 amazon depots Across the uk this weekend they argue That the company is contributing to Over-consumption at the expense of the Natural world in new york city Protesters marched from jeff bezos's Home to the penthouse of starbucks Executive howard schultz they say that They wanted to call attention to Pandemic profiteering environmental Crimes and union busting Putting workers in the driver's seat Because they know the ins and outs of The company better than any third party Or established union could It doesn't matter how much money Resources the establishment can have if You don't have workers and you don't Have your trust you don't have anything To talk more about this is sophia Phillips she's a senior content writer And style editor for thread media sophia Thanks for being here so tell us more About the history of the anti-black Friday movement when did it first begin Thank you for having me um so the Anti-black friday movement began almost Two decades ago now it was founded in Canada and it's considerably grown in The years since
Nowadays among young people it's Particularly important because 75 Fear their future so i think that with The pending ecological crisis and post Cop 26 it's now more prevalent than ever That we tackle this issue of over Consumption Tell us more about what's at the heart Of this movement and What it's trying to say about our values As a society So i think amid the environmental crisis It's trying to encourage a more circular Economy one that promotes reusing and Recycling and doesn't promote the idea Of materialism and over consumption um The amount of waste that is produced by Black friday every single year is Catastrophic Researchers have actually predicted that Almost 400 000 tons of carbon could be Emitted globally by the sale and Shipment of this week's purchases alone So i think that that speaks for itself Really So what can businesses do to Try to deal with the the heavy Uh Environmental um Challenges brought on by things like Black friday I think it's ambitious to suggest that Businesses will readily boycott black Friday in a way that companies like all
Birds have and patagonia but i do think At the moment this is the only thing That we can really be suggesting because If we continue down this path at this Rate it's only going to get Substantially worse So if uh if and and you make a Really valid point if we're not counting On businesses to do it what can Consumers do to take more responsibility For purchases not only for holiday Shopping but For year round Now i understand that affordability is a Huge draw of this holiday but i think That we can be supporting the Independent brands that are choosing to Promote Environmental awareness over mass Consumption and over consumption i think That that's what's most important now as Consumers and it's a step that we can Actually take ourselves is to stop Supporting these businesses that are Churning out goods at such an insatiable Rate um just in order to meet this Demand and choose to support the Businesses that are actually promoting Sustainability and working towards a Future that is safe for our planet Sophia phillips thank you so much thank You
