Protestors blockade Amazon warehouse in Avonmouth
The move came as part of international action by Extinction Rebellion on Black Friday
Extinction Rebellion protestors blockaded an Amazon warehouse in Avonmouth today (26 November) as part of international action on Black Friday.
In total 15 "Amazon fulfilment centres" across the UK, Germany and the Netherlands have been blocked, with other UK locations including Doncaster, Manchester, Coventry and Milton Keynes.
In a statement the protest group says action is being taken "to confront the exploitative and environmentally destructive business practices" of the company.
"Amazon is known for a long list of widely recognised “crimes” – from tax avoidance to the exploitation of workers, to rampant wastefulness and ecological destruction – while making its founder and largest shareholder Jeff Bezos one of the richest men on earth," their statement reads.
"The action aims to expose Amazon’s crimes, while holding it up as an example of the wider economic system, which is designed to keep us hooked on buying things we don’t need, at a price the planet cannot afford."
Earlier this week we highlighted research by Forbes, which suggests 80 percent of all items bought on Black Friday last year were either thrown away immediately or after just one use.
Extinction Rebellion say Black Friday "epitomises an obsession with overconsumption".
"Amazon and companies like it have capitalised on our desire for convenience and stoked rampant consumerism at the expense of the natural world, trapping consumers inside a cycle of buying our way to oblivion."
The protest in Bristol began at around 4am this morning, with activists chaining themselves to a concrete block in front of the entrance.
Another attached herself to the top of a giant tripod, with them all wearing several layers and wrapped in bivvy bags to keep warm.
Michael Fox from Somerset told us they planned to be there for two days, but several hours later the protest was over after the police arrived to made arrests.
"After 9 hours of Extinction blockading the Bristol Amazon distribution centre, police were moving in to cut free the activists locked on to the barrier structures and make arrests," Michael said.
"We took the decision to dismantle the barricades ourselves: it feels like a job well done.
"We know we have disrupted "business as usual" at this site today, and the support for the protest from Amazon workers coming out to speak to us has been amazing.
"Surely Amazon is going to realise that this is not a good look for them, and not how they should be running their business."
Amazon have responded to today's action, with the company saying 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," a spokesperson said.
"We know there is always more to do, and we’ll continue to invent and invest on behalf of our employees, customers, small businesses and communities in the UK.
"We’re proud to have invested £32bn in the UK since 2010, creating 10,000 new permanent jobs across the country this year alone, and generating a total UK tax contribution of £1.55bn in 2020.”