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Climate activists protest Amazon ahead of Black Friday

In this image, an Amazon worker reaches for an Amazon package
An Amazon worker packs items in east England on Nov. 27, 2019. Photo: Daniel Leal-Olivas/AFP via Getty Images

Dozens of French environmental activists protested at an Amazon warehouse on Thursday, ahead of other "Block Friday" protests planned in France, AP reports.

The big picture: Free and fast shipping — driven by Amazon — pushes e-commerce companies to add more trucks and jets to gain a competitive edge, and delivery boxes are exacerbating the global plastics crisis, Axios' Erica Pandey reports.

The backdrop: Environmental groups like Extinction Rebellion in Canada and Climate Strike Geneva are also planning "Block Friday" events to protest the environmental costs of packing and shipping goods.

  • In New York City, Amazon employees are protesting current working conditions ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday. They are asking for three 30-minute breaks in 10+ hour shifts instead of two 15 minute breaks and one 30 minute break, Vox reports.
  • Amazon workers experienced more weekly injury counts on Cyber Monday and Prime Day in 2018, according to a report released this week form the Center for Investigative Reporting.

Go deeper: Retail's climate cost is going up

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