Freeganism Overview History Practices
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Freeganism is an alternative philosophy focused on minimal participation in capitalism and conventional economic practices, as well as limited consumption of capitalist resources.
Key Takeaways:
– Freeganism is a lifestyle philosophy that adopts alternative means to satisfy material needs.
– Freegans believe capitalism promotes over-production and over-indulgence, which they strive to mitigate.
– Freegans act against animal cruelty, human rights abuse, and environmental destruction.
– Freegans forage, volunteer, and squat instead of buying, working, and renting, respectively.
– Businesses can reduce waste by employing freegan principles like recycling and donating food.
Understanding Freeganism:
– Freeganism combines veganism with a rejection of modern capitalism.
– Freegans believe that capitalistic over-indulgence drives the demand for meat.
– Freegans boycott most aspects of capitalism and prioritize animal welfare, human rights, and the environment.
– Freegans live outside of capitalist hubs to avoid consumer behaviors.
– Freegans use alternative strategies like foraging, volunteering, and squatting to meet their needs.
– Freeganism ranges from casual salvaging to extreme money refusal.
– Dumpster diving is legal in all 50 U.S. states.
History of Freeganism:
– Freeganism was introduced in the mid-1990s by the founder of Food Not Bombs.
– The Diggers, a 1960s anarchist group, influenced today’s freegans.
– An organized group of freegans formed in New York City in 2003.
Freeganistic Practices:
– Freegans dumpster dive, hitchhike, squat, and share housing.
– Urban guerilla gardening transforms abandoned lots into community gardens.
– Freegans focus on community-building and reducing reliance on capitalism.
– Businesses can implement freegan practices to reduce waste and be more aware of externalities.
– Reducing paper reliance and harmful items (e.g., styrofoam, coffee pods) also helps the environment.
Limitations of Freeganism:
– Freeganism challenges capitalism and has health risks associated with dumpster diving.
– Dumpster divers must take precautions to avoid food poisoning.
– Foraging and squatting can lead to legal issues in some cities.
Note: The original text was edited for conciseness and clarity without changing the meaning or tone.