'Make Amazon Pay' launches on Black Friday

Global organisation Progressive International, which aims to build a post-capitalist society, launched this 'Make Amazon Pay' campaign for Black Friday - the day, fast becoming a week and more, when consumers are encouraged to spend hard by deep discounts and special sales offers on goods, both in bricks and mortar shops and digital outlets. Many use the event to get ahead on Christmas shopping or just re-stock their own needs at unbeatable prices. Some companies, such as Cards Against Humanity, Patagonia and IKEA, have been going against the tide for the past few years with anti-Black Friday initiatives that gel with people who are veering away from mass, unthinking consumerism towards considered purchases from local and/or sustainably accountable brands. With the COVID-19 coronavirus situation creating a boom in home deliveries, 2020 proved to be a spectacularly lucrative year for Amazon, as the 3'30" campaign explains. In one of the video clips, Amazon boss Jeff Bezos says, "This is the best planet and we have to protect it". Those keen on satire may be aware or want to be aware of the 2020 Spitting Image series, in which there are clips of the puppets representing Bezos and other very rich businessmen unwittingly exploring another planet... What do you think of this campaign to raise awareness of workers' conditions, corporate tax, and other pressing societal issues? Will it make you change your shopping behaviour or think more about ethical shopping? Or do you believe the environemental and ethical or sustainability issues will get sorted out and you cannot give up the convenience factor of Amazon?

Keywords: Progress International, Make Amazon Pay, anti Black Friday movement, corporate tax, Jeff Bezos, ethical shopping, workers' unions, Amazon workers conditions