In France today, and here tomorrow. It's coming, No doubt.



French environmentalists fed up with “harmful capitalism” and the “traffic jams, pollution, and gas emissions” that Black Friday generates – which they say is contributing to climate change – are calling for the public to “Block Friday” this year.

A series of demonstrations opposing the annual post-Thanksgiving shopping frenzy are scheduled in France for Friday and Saturday as lawmakers there advanced an amendment that would ban the discounts – arguing that they cause “resource waste” and “overconsumption.”

"We cannot both reduce greenhouse gas emissions and call for a consumer frenzy,” France Ecological Transition Minister Elizabeth Borne, a backer of the measure, was heard telling the BFM Business television show, according to The Local. “Above all, we must consume better."

During an interview on Europe 1 radio Thursday, she also criticized the commercial event for creating “traffic jams, pollution and gas emissions.”

The amendment prohibiting Black Friday, which was passed by a legislative committee Monday, has been condemned by the country’s e-commerce union, the Associated Press reports. It was put forward by France’s former environment minister, Delphine Batho, and will be debated in the National Assembly next month.

In France, shoppers are anticipated to spend around $6.5 billion this year between Black Friday and Dec. 1, the Local reported, citing a study from the coupon company RetailMeNot.

But climate activists from the Extinction Rebellion group – who have made international headlines for snarling traffic in cities such as London -- plan to get in their way.

“Friday, November 29th, it's Block Friday: a day when Extinction Rebellion joins the youth call for the climate,” its French chapter announced in a Facebook post. “Together, we stand to occupy in a festive way or block ‘Temples’ of consumption in more than 20 cities in France.”

The post also called Black Friday “a symbol of the most harmful capitalism” and warned that “consumerism will end up / destroy everything if we don't act before.”

“One word of order: prevent them from making profit on what does not belong to them: the living,” it concluded.

Earlier this month, more than 200 French brands announced their intentions to boycott Black Friday in a bid to foster more “reasonable consumption” amongst the country’s shoppers, The Local reported.

"During the Black Friday period, some brands are selling their collections at completely ridiculous prices,” Nicolas Rohr, whose shoe and clothing company Faguo plants a tree for each item sold, told the website.

“From the consumer's point of view, this may be an opportunity to get a good deal but Black Friday makes jobs precarious by not paying manufacturers, brands and stores the right amount,” he added. “It also contributes to climate change by encouraging overproduction.”

Borne told Europe 1 she would support Black Friday if it helped small French businesses, but said it mostly benefits large online retailers.



https://www.foxnews.com/world/...protest-black-friday

It was my understanding that only the US and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving, and only the US the last Thursday in November. So how does this Thanksgiving protest work in a country where Nov 29 is just another Friday?

Almost makes me want to go out tomorrow and spend money just to annoy the environmentalist whackos

I say let em, never walked out in that gladiator mess of trying to buy a TV at 5am, however, it’s fun to watch it on TV. Feel sorry for the guy that has to unlock the door on that zoo. I can imagine a bunch of these eco nut jobs, trying to block the parking lot, and doors so these shoppers can’t get in, and the ensuing battle that would happen. That alone would be worth a pay per view event.

I am staying away from stores on Friday, not because of eco-wackos, but I do not want to deal with the crazies. I'll either stay home and relax, or go to work (no Black Friday Frenzy at the airport).

If I decide that I really need to buy anything I will do it online.

---

EDIT: Wow! Maybe not. I just tried to use the Costco website and received the following message:

quote:

Sorry for the Delay

Costco.com is having a busy day!

Hang On!! You are in queue, and we'll get you to where you were going in just a minute.

This, at a bit after 1:00 am, eastern time.

Hmmmm.... very California of them!
Tres bon!

Maybe change it to Red Friday, or even Bloody Friday...what’s the worst that could happen?

I would pay money to see them protest here. You take a volatile situation like Black Friday and throw in some tree hugged trying to block bubba from getting his 35 percent off on the 92 inch big screen and you’ll find carcasses on the side of the road like deer.

Throw the extra stress into a situation where we already work fights and stabbings over places in line. Yep, they’ve thought this one through.

quote:

Originally posted by Rightwire:
It was my understanding that only the US and Canada celebrate Thanksgiving, and only the US the last Thursday in November. So how does this Thanksgiving protest work in a country where Nov 29 is just another Friday?

France of course does not celebrate Thanksgiving, but they do participate in Black Friday. They even call it "black friday." It's nowhere near as crazy there as it is here though.

Idiots. The French are all foodies and food waste is the biggest contributor to waste on the planet, not emissions. Before pulling this shit look in the mirror first you 5 course meal eating sons of bitches.

quote:

Originally posted by Prefontaine:
Idiots. The French are all foodies and food waste is the biggest contributor to waste on the planet, not emissions. Before pulling this shit look in the mirror first you 5 course meal eating sons of bitches.

Well they are big government socialists, and they are way ahead of you on that: https://www.npr.org/sections/t...approach-excess-food

There was one of these protests in NYC today. Wasn't even a speed bump for the sales.

"Black Friday" needs to go away everywhere. I am so sick of hearing about this shit every year. Can't we just have Thanksgiving without the insane consumerism and people losing their fucking minds over stuff? What Black Friday deals have I found? Not a Goddamned thing, because I haven't looked and I don't care.

Stores opening at 6 pm on Thanksgiving so people can run around like mindless maniacs and trample others for "bargains". Two dozen emails in my inbox about BLACK FRIDAY DEALS. Well, I DON'T CARE!! I am sick of it. FOAD

Every year, it gets worse. Every fucking year. Shameful, undignified behavior. Disgusting.

Best Black Friday Deal?

Stay home, save 100%

quote:

Originally posted by parabellum:
Every year, it gets worse. Every fucking year. Shameful, undignified behavior. Disgusting.

With this I can most definitely agree.

One year in the 27 Mrs. ensigmatic and I have been married we decided to go out shopping on Black Friday just because we never had and were curious. (Spoiler alert: We purchased nothing.)

One chain store at which we stopped I got in line at what looked like a line about twenty people long while my wife went to find what she needed that was on sale. (That's tactics, that is.) Then I start looking more closely, turn to the woman behind me and ask "Where, exactly, is the cash register?" She points back over her left shoulder. "Over by the doors?!?!" I ask. "Yup."

That line went toward the wall away from the doors, along that wall, back toward the front of the store, then better than halfway back across the store to the cash registers.

I waited. Wife got back. "Guess how long this line is, honey?" I said. She pointed just up ahead. "Nope. The end is over there." "Never mind," she said, put whatever it was back where she'd found it and we left.

That was the only time we even attempted to buy anything on Black Friday.

(That is until today. But I went to a tool store and was dealing with all tool guys--on both sides of the counter. Different thing entirely.)

I'm appalled that people would leave their homes on Thanksgiving to go shopping. I don't care if they're giving the stuff away.

It is insanity. Was in Sydney on Wed. In a pub, ahem. Saw a Black Friday ad on the TV. Asked the bartender - you guys don’t do Thanksgiving, why is this even a thing here?

Things are on sale, mate.

Got to Cologne, Germany around noon on Friday. Traffic from the airport to hotel is awful. What should be a 15-minute ride is closer to 45. I ask the driver what is up. Black Friday he says.

Insanity.

Go right ahead and block it. I don't hate it, I just avoid it and don't understand the people that religiously, wait and get worked-up for Black Friday. There's tons of people that would just as soon forget Thanksgiving all together and plant themselves in line at Name The Big Box Store and camp out for 8-12 hours.

My sister brought over a bf one Thanksgiving, he woofed his food down, stared at his phone when he wasn't stuffing his face, and took off at 8pm, just to go wait in line. Half the adults looked at him like he just took a shit in the middle of the living room. The other half just chuckled and shook their head, remarking how pathetic one must be and what could be so fantastic you would have to go wait in line. She hooked herself a winner

quote:

Originally posted by corsair:
My sister brought over a bf one Thanksgiving, he woofed his food down, stared at his phone when he wasn't stuffing his face, and took off at 8pm, just to go wait in line. Half the adults looked at him like he just took a shit in the middle of the living room. The other half just chuckled and shook their head, remarking how pathetic one must be and what could be so fantastic you would have to go wait in line. She hooked herself a winner

Did she keep him?

flashguy

quote:

Originally posted by ensigmatic:
Almost makes me want to go out tomorrow and spend money just to annoy the environmentalist whackos

Nah....tell'em you're shopping from home because you're burning tires in the backyard