Consumerism is part of the climate problem and perhaps more so a waste disposal problem. Consumerism probably cannot be stopped but it can be reduced. It’s disturbing in the current climate that #BlackFriday still exists. To encourage the kick-off of mass consumption a month before Christmas likely does a lot damage.
I suppose cancelling Black Friday would be impossible in the US (where I suspect it started). A large number of democrats would oppose it and probably every single republican in the US would fight to their death an anti-consumerism action like that.
But what about Europe? Doesn’t Belgium and Netherlands restrict store-wide sales to just two weeks or so out of the year? For Europe, perhaps instead of cancelling it (which many would view as over-interventionist) they could double the VAT rates on that day on clothes and electronics. IDK… that’s probably crazy talk. Ideas welcome. There’s no real issue with sales on services, but consumption of goods is where the damage is done.
I hate the idea that one of the most environmentally reckless companies in the world (#Amazon) gets a huge boost in sales on Black Friday. It makes the day depressing to see the masses rush to enrich a company they should be boycotting all year. I loved Black Friday back in the days when I was a loose cannon consumerist myself. Now it’s just a shit day where I deliberately avoid shops in order to not support it.
UPDATE
To be clear, I would not propose cancelling the unofficial holiday US employers often give on Black Friday. Just the sales.
Ban it and you’ll suddenly see a ton of “Day After Thanksgiving Sales”
If you want to start changing consumer patterns, charge more for the waste. Also don’t ship it overseas. Let it pile up nearby.
Europeans ban sales by dates, not by language. You can call that day whatever you want, the ban would have effect on that day. IIRC in Belgium there’s a week in January and a week in July when sales are permitted. The laws refer to dates.
Those are good ideas as well. I was just thinking about how Apple has that phone disassembly robot but Apple does not charge a deposit that would encourage people to actually return their old phones to Apple.