Amazon protests: Extinction Rebellion activists target four warehouses in Midlands on Black Friday
Watch as extinction rebellion climate activists gather in the East Midlands to protest outside an Amazon warehouse on Black Friday
Amazon’s warehouses at Derby, Coalville, Coventry, and Rugeley near Birmingham are being blockaded by climate activists as part of a world campaign targeting the online retailer.
The 'Black Friday' blockade is part of international action by Extinction Rebellion targeting 15 Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands aimed at highlighting Amazon’s “crimes”.
The protestors have said they intend to stay at the site for at least 48 hours, before adding these sites account for just over 50% of Amazon deliveries in the UK.
One person taking part in the protest in Coventry is 22-year-old Nathan McGovern, who is a theology student.
The site is near where he was born and raised and currently there are more than 10 people who are 'locked-on' to the site.
Mr McGovern said: "I’m taking part in this action because I’m absolutely terrified of the future that awaits me and absolutely everyone I’m friends with."
He added: "To me, Amazon is an example of corporate greed and the gain of the few at the expense of the planet and the many."
"These businesses and governments just don’t care about people and the planet. I refuse to just stand by as corporations like Amazon just increase profits and increase the risk of climate collapse."
The protest comes just months following ITV News' investigation which revealed Amazon routinely destroys millions of items of unsold stock every year.
An Amazon spokesperson commented on the protests: “At Amazon, we take our responsibilities very seriously."
They added: "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, 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.”
Other sites targeted were in Kent, Doncaster, Darlington, Newcastle, Manchester, Peterborough, Derby, Coventry, Rugeley, Bristol, Tilbury, and Milton Keynes.
An XR spokesperson added: “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.
“The blockade is part of an international action by XR targeting 15 Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany and the Netherlands, aimed at highlighting Amazon’s ‘crimes’.
“This is happening in solidarity with activists and workers from the global Make Amazon Pay campaign, demanding better working conditions, clear environmental commitments, and for Amazon to pay their fair share of tax.
“Amazon continues to lobby the US government to fight against climate legislation while telling the public they are committed to green initiatives.
“They are committing the very definition of greenwash.”