Freecycle
“There is no such thing as society,” said ex-PM Margaret Thatcher. Well, think again Maggie, because it seems there really is such a thing.
True, the corporate take-over of any and every festivity from Diwali to Halloween by companies who like to plastic wrap, suger-coat and market any celebration into another consumer-frenzied ‘event’ can be a little depressing.
As can the glaring disparity between the West and the majority world, beamed into our homes nightly; images of famine and poverty while we sit on comfy sofas drinking wine (or cans – I know it’s not only the sophisticated literati who like to keep abreast of the news.)
Or take the definition of materialism itself. Solitary acquisition of more and more ‘things,’ status symbols and their objectification – all deepening that isolating step away from what really and ultimately matters: well being, contentment, community, and love.
Yet all is not lost. For out of the dodgy depths of the Iron Lady’s favourite things – consumerism, materialism and environmental disdain, has sprung a simple concept and strong community spirit that is having massive and far-reaching practical and philosophical results.
If I told you a network existed where you could ask for something you needed and a kindly soul would then give it to you gratis, you’d probably think I’d had too many glasses of vino. Sadly, that’s not the case.
Freecycle.org is “an electronic forum where members ‘recycle’ unwanted items” -
i.e. give away things they no longer need or want for free. With a motto of “changing the world one gift at a time” it seems altruism is more than just a word in the dictionary. Sorry Maggie!
A grassroots movement that came out of Tucson, Arizona, three years ago (I know, America who’d have thought!) freecycle.org seized the global conscience with its inspiring launch statement: “Our mission is to build a worldwide gifting movement that reduces waste, saves precious resources & eases the burden on our landfills while enabling our members to benefit from the strength of a larger community.”
With 2,779,211 members worldwide and 3,825 groups in over 50 countries, the idea has clearly become a reality, and at least 55 tonnes of unwanted goods have been kept out of landfill and now live in happy homes.
Membership is free although you do need to have a yahoo account to sign up. Groups are also moderated by local volunteers – probably to check some capitalist doesn’t turn the forum into an off-shoot of e-bay. The main rule of freecycle to remember is that everything must be free, legal (damn it) and appropriate for all ages. Postings are then split into ‘offered’, ‘taken’, ‘wanted’, and ‘received’ with collection of items sorted off the forum.
In the ‘freecycle’ spirit, newcomers should post an offer first of all. And for those of you who want to ask for everything Santa never got you, bear in mind that luxury goods like laptops and DVD players are out. Trades are a no-no as are recycling shy friends and children. (That’s from the site not me!)
Offers from my local Brighton-based group this week range from TVs, pushchairs, clothes, surf magazines, a key cabinet, “a metal thing for the TV”, paint, and padded envelopes. But remember this is Brighton, so we have… a Mazda car manual, bags of coal, retro skates, green carpet tiles and “eight different coloured double and treble-nibbed felt tip pens” (these went quick sharp!), a U-reg Peugeot car (with a later posting apologising as the car had been towed away by the council) a porcelain kitchen sink, and ” A toilet bowl. White, used but serviceable, approx six years old.”
Wanted postings cover Buffy DVDs, a doll’s house to decorate, fishing rods, floorboards, rain butt and pallets, and a mooncup “preferably the larger size”. Cardboard boxes it seems, transcends all categories appearing in both offered and wanted listings.
The ethos clearly is to nurture the ole community spirit, which it has to be said in our oh so busy lives, is often scarce. That and the fact we live in a materialistic society that constantly pushes the latest gadgets and fads at us, the vulnerable consumer, the site forces us to think about what we buy, use and actually need. Toilet-bowl anyone?
See www.Freecycle.org for more info
Words: Monica Perdoni
Tags: Beachdownwriter
