Oct 23, 2008

Freegans...






What is a Freegan?

Freegans are people who employ alternative strategies for living based on limited participation in the conventional economy and minimal consumption of resources. Freegans embrace community, generosity, social concern, freedom, cooperation, and sharing in opposition to a society based on materialism, moral apathy, competition, conformity, and greed.

I watched some videos of "Freegans" and I was amazed at how much waste they are able to utilize. Some call it dumpster diving, they call it gathering resources. Didn't our ancestors hunt and gather? I know from personal experience in restaurant work, the food waste is shameful. I am talking about perfectly edible, fresh food. They also gather used clothing. The people in the video clip I watched were dressed rather nicely, their homes were clean and decorated nicely, all with other people's "garbage". I am a big believer in one man's junk is another's treasure. So here is an applaud from me to all the Freegans of our world who are making their way, harming no one, recycling waste instead of producing more and in their own humble way, making a difference in trying to be mindful of not harming our planet.

1 comment:

Wanda J said...

Cool Lori! I've heard about people who "dumpster dive" before, but I never knew there was a name for the movement. I've always been one of those people who, when I ride by a house where people have been evicted, or if I'm in a neighborhood that does "bulk trash day", I will be on the lookout for anything useful that's in good shape. You wouldn't believe some of the stuff I've gotten! I'll never forget my father finding a 19 inch color TV (and the remote was lying there too!) and the only thing wrong with it was evidently the people had a dog and the dog had chewed through the cord! He cut the cord, found another one and spliced it on, and had a great TV that lasted for years. "Dumpster diving" isn't always about homeless people going in the trash for their next meal.