And the so-called “Black Friday”, on the last Friday of November, opens the Christmas shopping period with huge discounts and is one of the loudest advocates of consumerism, as it began in the United States, and later spread all over the world.
This year, for the first time, the COI-UNESCO Commission launches “Blue Friday”, the next 25 and 26, “to transform a purely consumer event into a moment of reflection dedicated to the protection and restoration of the Mediterranean, through ocean literacy”.
The event starts in Venice, but a source from COI-UNESCO tells Llosa that “the aim is clearly to convey the moment to the whole world, to raise awareness for as many people as possible to protect the oceans,” and to show that it is possible to consume and produce more sustainably.
The source explained that the initiative aims to be an opportunity to propose concrete solutions to threats to all marine environments, not just the Mediterranean.
In Venice, round tables on the green and blue economy will be organized, with the participation of international companies, sustainable design and fashion will be discussed, and reflection will be given on the impact that consumer choices can have on the ecological environment, in particular on the oceans.
Blue Friday is organized within the framework of the United Nations Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development (2021-2030), which was established to strengthen the role of ocean sciences in promoting sustainable development.
“We want to be the alternative choice to ‘Black Friday’, to turn this consumer event into a moment of deep reflection on how to restore marine environments through ocean literacy initiatives,” said COI-UNESCO’s source to Lusa.
The source said that “excessive and unnecessary consumption” in Western countries has a “devastating effect” on the economic and social fronts, but mainly on the environmental front.
And he gives an example: in the United Kingdom alone, the “Black Friday” of 2020 emitted 429 thousand tons of greenhouse gases: the weight of 61,308 elephants.
In Italy meanwhile, where 50% of purchases are made online, urban congestion on “Black Friday” increased pollution and travel times by 34%.
The International Olympic Committee and UNESCO were created in 1960 to study the protection of the marine environment, fisheries and ecosystems, as well as the changes caused by climate change.
In Portugal, dozens of commercial establishments have already announced the big product promotions that they will offer next Friday.
Emily Brontë is a journalist and feature writer specialising in culture, entertainment, literature, and current affairs. She is dedicated to producing clear, accurate reporting that helps readers stay informed about developments in the UK and around the world.
