wheelspinner
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Post by wheelspinner on Jun 6, 2009 5:22:46 GMT -5
I heard my nephew described as a "Freegan' the other day. I always knew he was a vegan, but this was a new one on me. Apparently it is a hard-edged anti-consumerism that embraces veganism, eating waste food, etc. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FreeganismMy brother joked that a Freegan is a vegan who will eat animal products when they are given to him. Apparently my nephew lapsed a lot on a trip to Europe - vegetables are extremely scarce in Iceland, and he got addicted to feta cheese in Greece.
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Post by Georgina on Jun 6, 2009 11:57:06 GMT -5
Or will eat animal products as long as there's no cost involved.
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Calluna
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Post by Calluna on Jun 15, 2009 18:48:14 GMT -5
So it's more anti-consumerism than anti-animal consumption? Or is it called being a cheapskate? Hmm...I might have been a Freegan when I was in grad school and would gladly attend any meeting held if they offered free food, and would volunteer to do the clean-up after events if it meant I could take home the leftovers.
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wheelspinner
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Post by wheelspinner on Jun 16, 2009 3:32:40 GMT -5
It's an anti-consumerist philosophy - and quite an extreme one - rather than wanting to get something for free. The idea is that food is a limited resource and goes to waste in vast amounts. Freegans tap the resources that would otherwise be chucked out, rather than add to the amount of goods being produced.
Apparently something like this used to go on in the Haight in the 60s, so it's not an entirely new idea.
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Pax
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quod erat demonstrandum.
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Post by Pax on Jun 16, 2009 6:36:08 GMT -5
Whether motivated by anti-consumerism or by a desire to live as inexpensively as possible, I suppose it's a good thing.
Actually this reminds me of a woman on NPR who decided to live only on "used things" for a year. She says that she got stuff that was of really good quality and far cheaper than if she'd bought new. And she couldn't believe how much money she was able to save. The year's up and she's going to continue to do it.
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wheelspinner
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Post by wheelspinner on Jun 16, 2009 7:46:30 GMT -5
Dare I shame-facedly admit to "used things" as well? Not exclusively, but Ihave done really well buying on the 2nd-hand market. For example:
Beautiful quality Italian suit for $25 (RRP $2500) Art Deco sterling silver cufflinks $8 Many, many ties from makers like Zegna, Steffano Ricci, Paul Smith, Valentino, Louis Vuitton $1 each (RRP $150+) Brooks Brothers shirts $4. New Saks Fifth Avenue tailor made shirts $25 (RRP $500)
and so on.
I like expensive clothing and I can't afford it, so I have learned how to spot the good stuff on eBay, at sales or at thrift shops, and buy there. It works quite well.
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Post by Georgina on Jun 16, 2009 9:18:56 GMT -5
Second hand and thrift and consignment stores are fantastic, especially for clothing. And why not? It's environmentally sound, and one can easily find all sorts of barely worn (if ever), initially really expensive things for a song. I have no trouble admitting that not-shame-facedly. Then there's kajiji, e-bay, swap sites. I frequently have stuff I no longer need or have space for and yet there's not a thing wrong with it. I canvas people I know first and then try to give it away by other means. There's no need for perfectly serviceable stuff to go to landfill. To me, the word involved isn't a neologism, it's called sensible. I don't think I can wrap my mind around waste food, though.
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Post by firefly on Jun 16, 2009 9:55:15 GMT -5
Georgina, I'm very active in the local group of this organization: www.freecycle.org/No money is permitted to change hands, but a whole lot of stuff is put to use rather than go to a landfill. It's international, and there's a group near you! enjoy. ff
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Post by Peltigera on Jun 17, 2009 6:47:04 GMT -5
Freecycle is good - I used it recently to get rid of obsolete computer kit (not so obsolete for those who cannot afford to buy it, mind). Only down side is its success. Our local Freecycle site gets over a hundred new items a day listed on it. Makes it hard to find things you might want.
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Post by Georgina on Jun 17, 2009 8:48:34 GMT -5
You're right, firefly, there is a group near me. I'll look into it. Thank you.
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