Article content continued

#VanTraffic Granville Street from Georgia to Dunsmuir Street is closed down by police due to climate protest. — Vancouver Police (@VancouverPD) November 29, 2019

One protest was led by Sustainabiliteens, the group that has staged many of Vancouver’s Fridays for Future climate strikes and welcomed climate activist Greta Thunberg to the city last month. At this Friday’s protest, dubbed Futurefest, the group celebrated alternatives to consumerism, staging a flash mob in the mall and a free clothing swap in the plaza outside Vancouver City Centre Station.

“We are here to take a stand against Black Friday: a symbol of the unchecked consumerism that fuels the climate crisis,” said spokesperson Sam Lin. “We aren’t blaming individuals for needing to buy things — instead, we’re creating our own alternatives to this wasteful, unsustainable system.

“Dancing in the mall and in the street is a zero-cost, zero-carbon source of joy. We’re demonstrating what a sustainable world can look like: full of joy like this.”

Futurefest also included several open-mic speeches, a hot chocolate social, and a round dance led by Idle No More organizers outside Pacific Centre.

“The round dance represents unity and healing, and the beat of the drum represents the heartbeat of the community,” said Idle No More organizer Casey Desjarlais. “Together we gather to create a circle of strength, inviting one another to participate in the building of a healthy environment for us all.”

Another group, Extinction Rebellion, hosted a Funeral for Extinction — a march through Vancouver malls and streets to take a stand against rampant consumerism, and to mourn the extinction of species.