Blockade at Amazon in Dunfermline
Climate activists have staged a blockade of Amazon’s giant Fife depot.
Extinction Rebellion said it wanted to disrupt the company’s business on Black Friday – the busiest day of the year at its fulfilment centre off the M90.
It said the action was designed “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”.
Around 20 activists arrived around 4am and blocked entrances using lock-ons, and banners with the words “Make Amazon pay” and “climate justice = workers’ justice”.
The blockade formed part of an international action by Extinction Rebellion targeting 15 Amazon fulfilment centres in the UK, US, Germany, and the Netherlands. It was in solidarity with activists and workers from the global 'Make Amazon Pay' campaign, demanding better working conditions, clear environmental commitments, and for the company to pay its fair share of tax.
Extinction Rebellion also held demonstrations at sites in Doncaster, Darlington, Newcastle, Manchester, Peterborough, Derby, Coventry, Rugeley, Dartford, Bristol, Tilbury and Milton Keynes.
Eleanor Harris, from Glasgow, said: “It is essential we move to a new model of economics that prioritises wellbeing and sustainability over profit.
"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.”
Maciejwalczuk,a19-year-old student, said “We have to recognise
that the consumption in the global north is largely based upon the exploitation of the working class and the global south, while companies like Amazon make massive profits andcontributetoworseningthe climate and ecological crisis.
"We need a new system that respects people and the planet, instead of blindly chasing profit.”
An Extinction Rebellion spokesmansaid:“notonlydoes Amazon's business emit more carbon emissions than a country the size of Denmark, but it is
actively helping fossil fuel companies such as Shell, Exxon, and BP to drill for more oil via its Amazon Web Services.
“Amazon continues to lobby the US Government to fight against climate legislation while telling the public they are committed to green initiatives. It is committing the very definition of greenwash.”
Amazon said the company was working with police to ensure the safety of its employees – and protesters.
A spokesman said: “We take our responsibilities very seriously.
That includes our commitment to be net zero carbon by 2040 – ten years ahead of the Paris Agreement – providing excellent pay and benefits in a safeandmodernworkenvironment, 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.