Freeganism, and other such things
A carry over discussion that started here: http://vegweb.com/index.php?topic=28732.msg335039#msg335039
We've had the label discussion a billion times, but I still don't understand the desire to call oneself something without following the basic principles of that thing. I mean, freegan=free + vegan, does it not?!
That aside, I also think it's silly that we have like 98,987 spin off terms, such as the "meagan." Geez.
I love KMK's elephant thing.
I like supporting the farmers, producers, and other people who work to "do good" in the world, and make it a more sustainable, better, and healthier place.
eta: Also, this "argument"
To everyone that swears they're a diehard vegan - please - i don't think such a thing hardly exists. Do you avoid any/all sports that use animal products, do you avoid airplanes that have leather seats, the list can go and and on...and on.
is so tired and absurd. We live in a freaking NON VEGAN FRIENDLY society. This doesn't mean it's a free for all, be vegan, but do whatever you want. My car might have animal products, oh well, I guess I'll eat some dead raccoon. I mean, give me a break!
Also, I don't think I've ever seen leather seats on an airplane. Must be a first class thing.
I am not a freegan but I understand the idea. I did my own freegan-like things.
When I was in college, before I became a vegetarian, I worked at a deli at Kroger. At night, any chicken that was left over would get thrown out, I hate waste. So I had a few regualar customers who would come in just when the deli was closing, on nights I worked closing shift. I would take one or two pieces of chicken out, wiegh them, put the sticker on the bag. Then I would add a bunch more pieces of chicken, potato wedges, etc. to the bag, just so I wouldn't have to throw out the food. I used to take home lunch meat ends and cheese ends (had to sneek it, if I had been caught I would have been fired) becuase those get thrown out. I fed the meat to my cats mostly, and I ate the cheese. Cheese is EXPENSIVE, it was such a luxury. I used to also sneak home chicken, potato wedges, etc. as well.
Is that freegan? It was taking the food before it hit the trash, but only just before. Was that stealing?
Is it okay to eat meat if that is the only meat you eat? That was the case for me. I didn't have any money and lived off of $17/wk for groceries (that is what I got in food stamps) which was boxes of mac n cheese and ramen noodles mostly. I coulnd't afford meat but working at the grocery store I took home meat for free that was going to get thrown out anyway. I made about $3000 a YEAR while in college, and I had to pay rent and food.
I see freegans in a capitalisty system as being like scavengers in a food chain - the carnivores have to kill the animals the necrophages eat, so it's not as though a scavenger is going to bring about the end of hunting animals, but at the same time nobody is going to deny that animals which eat the detritus and cast-offs left by others provide an important service to the food chain. The idea of living frugally by slightly subverting the system seems a perfectly logical choice. I don't believe that freegans could ever overthrow capitalism, because they are reliant upon it. However, they can serve as a limiting factor, and just as importantly, can make a statement, making visible the excesses of the current capitalist system.
Re: meat, I personally would rather find a way to pay for vegan foods from an ethical source than eat meat, though I can't claim I have a rational argument - that's just a matter of principle, I suppose, and because I do believe in supporting ethical, sustainable businesses where possible. The exception, I think, is in a situation like SQ's taking deli meat home to feed cats - they are obligate carnivores, therefore they need to be fed meat - and this is a way to provide them with food without having to support the animal industries. I would be perfectly happy to feed my animals roadkill, and in that same vein, since I accept that at this point in time, not everyone chooses to live their life as a vegan, I see nothing wrong with those who do eat meat eating what they've killed accidentally, rather than what's been deliberately raised and killed for human consumption. I remember hearing that Buddhist monks could eat donated meat if it was not killed to feed them - don't quote me on that, but I think it's the same principle at work. And really, anything that gets people eating less farmed flesh is better than nothing - though of course, from an environmental standpoint, it would be better if nobody ate meat at all - or ever drove a car. :P
I have dived before, but not for food - all the grocery stores in my area have compactors, so there's no way to get at the refuse. I think it's pretty annoying - well, sure, they don't really WANT people crawling all in their trash, but to so obviously and completely write off any alternatives to complete waste... Grgh. I don't see who that helps.
Is that freegan? It was taking the food before it hit the trash, but only just before. Was that stealing?
Is it okay to eat meat if that is the only meat you eat? That was the case for me. I didn't have any money and lived off of $17/wk for groceries (that is what I got in food stamps) which was boxes of mac n cheese and ramen noodles mostly. I coulnd't afford meat but working at the grocery store I took home meat for free that was going to get thrown out anyway. I made about $3000 a YEAR while in college, and I had to pay rent and food.
I guess that's always up for debate.
I rarely buy vegan food, and never buy or steal meat or animal products.
I don't eat meat or animals products that other people buy (or steal).
I did used to always steal - and occassionally buy - this certain pesto that not only had cheese in it, it had freaking FISH in it.
I was pretty bummed.
I didn't start out eating dumpstered meat, or animals products.
It all started when I was hitching back from Sydney and being stuck in a town for 3 days and eating bread rolls with cheese on them because it was only thing in the dumpster that wasn't mouldy and I was literally starving.
I live on approx $3k US a year and have no family to live with and have lived totally independantly since I was 13 (I'm 19 now).
That said, none of that is a cop out or excuse. I make the choice to eat dumpstered meat (rarely) or roadkill (rarely) and dumpstered animal products (occassionally) and it is a choice I am not ashamed of.
Pages