Media release – Tasmanian Small Business Council, 26 November 2021
Anybody would think it was Christmas
“Crowd numbers in the Hobart CBD would indicate its nearly Christmas,” said Robert Mallett CEO of the Tasmanian Small Business Council today.
“The apparent success of the Black Friday sales event is very similar to that last year and kicked a solid start to the rundown to Christmas.”
“Queues in businesses large and small throughout the city indicate that the advertising and product offering are the things needed to get customers into the businesses.”
“Another contrived event, ‘Cyber Monday’ is still to come with some strong advertising expected over the weekend.”
“Whilst Australia has been a little slow to pick up these very Americanised themes, consumers have been quick to take advantage of the keen prices and start that interminable slog of Christmas shopping.”
Media release – XR Tasmania, 26 November 2021
XR BLACK FRIDAY VIGIL – CONSUMPTION OR CLIMATE?
Today Extinction Rebellion Hobart will be protesting the planet-fxxking corporate-led consumerist madness that is Black Friday.
Dressed as grimacing skeletons and adorned with colourful ‘sales’ placards, banners and flags we will be raising awareness and joining the dots on our insatiable need to shop and how this contributes to the climate crisis.
Some facts:
The emissions from the manufacturing industry are major contributors to the climate and ecological emergency.
Manufacturing is the largest sector of China’s fossil fuel energy consumption and carbon emissions.
Rich western nations have an insatiable demand for the products that are produced in China and India and yet we criticise them for their high emissions.
Advertising social media and the capitalist drive push us to buy more, have more, and – as a result – produce more waste.
a new report says that up to 80 percent of items—and any plastic packaging they are wrapped in—will end up either in landfill, incineration or—at best—low quality recycling, often after a very short life.
A staggering 80% of all black Friday purchases are thrown out after only a few uses.
XR activist Jackie McDonald, says: “We need to be joining the dots on the products we buy and how emission intensive those products are.”
“We cannot be pointing the finger at China and India when their emissions primarily come from the energy required to make all the stuff that we in rich western countries demand and consume.”
“To truly address the climate and ecological emergency we need to change this system from continued economic growth and material wealth to one of degrowth, reparation and regeneration.”
