Activists Blockade Amazon Facilities, Citing Worker and Environmental Abuse

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Activists from Extinction Rebellion, an environmental movement, blockaded more than a dozen Amazon outlets in Britain, the United States, Germany, and the Netherlands on Black Friday, which is one of the busiest days of the year for the retail giant. 

XR demonstrators blocked the UK's largest Amazon warehouse in Dunfermline, Scotland, and other warehouses across England, which are collectively responsible for around half of Britain's deliveries. 

In a statement, XR explained its reason for the demonstrations, which were "to confront the exploitative and environmentally destructive business practices of one of the world's largest companies." 

A research article by money.co.uk reveals that in 2021, shoppers could emit over 386,243 tonnes of carbon emissions. 

Using bamboo structures and "lock-on" devices to form human chains, with banners that displayed slogans like "Amazon crime," "Infinite growth, finite planet" and "Black Friday exploits people and planet," activists blocked entrances to Amazon warehouses in the UK, aiming to stay at least 48 hours. 

"The action is intended to draw attention to Amazon's exploitative and environmentally destructive business practices, disregard for workers' rights in the name of company profits, as well as the wastefulness of Black Friday," an XR spokesperson said. "The blockade is part of an international action by XR targeting 15 Amazon distribution centers in the UK, US, Germany, and the Netherlands, aimed at highlighting Amazon's crimes."

The group, formed in 2018, is known to use civil disobedience to get its messages across in order to demonstrate the government's negligence of climate change. 

Eleanor Harris, from Glasgow, participated in the Dunfermline blockade. She commented, "The era of exploitative throw-away capitalism will soon be over, either by changing to meet the challenges we now face or by the destruction of our global habitats and societies." 

Police made at least 13 arrests at 3 locations, 5 of which were in the Amazon facility in Kent, England, on suspicion of trespass. In Manchester, 2 men and 2 women were arrested on suspicion of public nuisance.