In recent months, Amazon’s numerous infractions have become almost too big to ignore. As labour violations mount, I no longer feel comfortable giving them my business which is why I’ve bravely decided to boycott all their services unless I get kinda bored or want something.
We have so much power as consumers. Every dollar is a vote we cast for the world we want to live in. Do I want to live in a world where Jeff Bezos, a man worth nearly a trillion dollars, underpays warehouse workers? Of course not- I’m a conscientious consumer! The last thing I want is to be one of those selfish idiots that pads Bezos’ pockets by buying superfluous things like baby formula. From here on out, my boycott will only be lifted when I really want something cool like a selfie ring light or a puzzle of my own face.
It’s not just workers I care about either. My activism also extends to the planet. No surprise, in addition to being powered by fossil fuels, Amazon is one of the worst offenders when it comes to packaging waste. That just doesn’t sit right with me. I celebrate earth hour every year. No one cares more about the planet than me. But sometimes sitting around all day thinking about how compassionate I am can get boring. In these moments, the sudden urge to order something like a tasteful dog wig will wash over me and who am I to let morality stand in the way of such earthly pleasures?
One of the easiest things to boycott from Amazon is the Prime video subscription. By simply cancelling the $7.99 a month feature, you’re sending a clear message to the corporation’s top brass. Sure, they have great shows like Fleabag and- Shit. I still haven’t watched Fleabag. I’ve been meaning to for months but I just haven’t gotten around to it. You know, technically, the subscription cancellation doesn’t go through until the end of the month. I’m just going to get caught up on some shows real quick and then I am seriously kicking Amazon to the curb. No one said being a humanitarian was easy but sometimes you have to make sacrifices for the greater good.
Of course, my ethical consumerism does not end with a boycott of Amazon. I also plan on boycotting ride shares like Uber for their horrendous track record of surge pricing and underpaying drivers unless of course I’m running a bit late, or I forgot my presto card, or there’s a light drizzle, or the bus looks too busy, or if I just don’t feel like taking the bus, or if I’ve had a really long day, or if I’m carrying too many bags, or if I have a five dollar off voucher, or if its off-peak pricing, or if I’m a little tired, or if its getting kind of late, or if I don’t want to walk, or if just sort of want to.
