Vegetarians and Vegans may not yet be passe but Freegans are hot on their heels encouraging a less consumer driven, more community orientated society. Dawn Mellowship investigates the Freegan ethics.

The Macmillan English Dictionary defines a freegan as “a person who consumes food that has been thrown away, especially someone who wants to protect the environment by reducing waste.”

Whilst this defines a minute aspect of freegan activities it leaves out the core principles and many other freegan practices. U.S. freegan representative Adam Weissman sheds some light on the matter,

“A common misunderstanding perpetuated by the media is that freeganism is this act of dumpster diving, of going into trash and pulling out things that people can use. The media have focused on recovering food from the rubbish and whilst that is certainly something that freegans do it is like saying vegetarians eat asparagus. They may do but that is not the definition of vegetarianism.”

The Freegan Dilemma

“Similar to vegans freegans share a concern about world consumption. However we extend the argument to realise that under an economic model where profit is the only overriding consideration for anyone in business, we as consumers are complicit in a form of exploitation. Every product we buy is implicated in various forms of exploitation from worker abuse to environmental destruction to cruelty to animals.

Freegans believe that since none of us individually would want to support these kinds of injustices we have a moral responsibility to the greatest degree we are able to step outside of this ruthless and destructive economic model. Instead we field cooperative community projects and live a lifestyle based around ecological sustainability, sharing resources and living ethically without being dependent on the capitalist economy to provide for our needs.”

Freegans maintain that on a planet of finite resources we cannot sustain our current competitive economy indefinitely. This is not really a cutting edge concept as the reality is that ‘freegan activities’ have existed for thousands of years. UK based freegans Martin and Alf elaborate.

“Most people in developing countries re-use what they can, and recycle even such things as cardboard, plastic packaging and timber throw-outs. Most of these people have had very little consumer media conditioning and have a deep understanding of working for the good of society and are content to live on very little and place much higher emphasis on social values and the importance of family and friends.”

An Inequitable society

Freegans also aim to reassume their time, refusing to be ‘enslaved’ in jobs that only serve to fuel the capitalist profit driven economy and instead devoting their time to what they consider to be truly important in life. By opting out of a consumer society they diminish their financial needs and live off what others dismiss as refuse, recycling and repairing materials to avoid the need for constant purchasing. They find this to be more fulfilling and less taxing on an already overburdened natural environment.

Freegans consider one of the most detrimental components of our contemporary Western lifestyles to be the enormous amount of waste we accumulate courtesy of our disposable goods society. Their worries are not unfounded. According to Defra on average each of us produces around half a tonne of household waste per year, with the UK as whole producing over 100 million tonnes a year. Less than 20% of the waste we create in the UK is recycled.

Freegans identify innumerable injustices within our society that they believe to be damaging to society and the environment as a whole. Adam Weissman says, “Our advertising culture gives us an inflated sense of what we actually need.”

Along with this we are constantly being encouraged to replace our goods and many products are manufactured with a shelf live to ensure that we do this. Fashion trends are fleeting and we are persuaded to go out with the old style in with the new creating more unnecessary waste. Heather Rogers, journalist, filmmaker and author of Gone Tomorrow: The Hidden Life of Garbage (The New Press 2005) explains that the volume of waste overflowing landfills pollutes our environment and compromises our health as landfills exude potentially cancer causing chemicals. Incinerators pour out heavy metals linked to asthma.

Freegan’s see our economy as being dominated by the petroleum industry, an eco-disaster and inseparable from warfare, as third world countries are forced to bow to the United States to suit the demands of oil conglomerates.

These are just a tiny smattering of the world’s hundreds of environmental and social issues that freegans are concerned about.

Freegan Roots

For New Jersey based freegan Adam Weissman becoming a freegan was a logical extension of his life’s commitment to ethical consumption.

“I became vegetarian at about 8 or 9 years old out of concerns for the life of animals and by 12 I was vegan. As a teenager I would eat only organic foods concerned about the environment and the impact on wildlife of pesticide use and a range of other chemicals used in agriculture. The more I researched even organic farming I came to realise that in a profit driven system even local organic farmers cut corners when it came to being able to produce a profitable product. So, I decided that I would need to find another means for producing my food.

Originally that would be just growing my own food thus being directly responsible for everything. Then largely by accident I came to realise the huge volume of food that is being wasted. I recognised that in reclaiming that food not only was I contributing to no further consumption of resources and no further harm to living beings but I was actually taking a positive step in reclaiming waste and diverting it from landfills. Over the years I have just found more ways to not be a part of the purchasing economy. I don’t have a car or drivers license and don’t buy all manner of consumer goods. I am mindful of the broader impacts of all the decisions of my life.”

A Day In the Life

So what does a freegan do on a typical day? Obviously freegans have differing practises and some are more pro-actively involved in promoting their lifestyle than others but Martin and Alf give us an idea of their particular routine.

“We try to practise our ideals by using our time and effort to serve others in love. It can take the form of doing free labour for anyone who asks, or talking with people about freeganism and the higher ideals of life. Our friend has produced some literature on these topics and for the last few years we have been travelling throughout the UK and handing these books to whoever would like to read them.

We live simply, and act according to our conscience. In the evening when we see a supermarket we sometimes stop to do some bin raiding and then do some creative cooking for our dinner. We spend the evenings socialising with one another, reading and visiting people who would like to discuss these issues further. We also spend time maintaining and improving our camper which is fully decked out with a kitchen and storage space.”

Freegan Practices

There are many ways that Freegans seek to ameliorate their consumption levels and preserve precious resources. Adam says

“What is vital about freeganism is renewing and building community on a local level and starting to build some of these perspectives in a practical way. I think some of the projects we are doing can help that path to transition.”

A few common freegan practices are listed below:

Wild Foraging - foragers locate and harvest foods “finding edible plants that grow all around us naturally within our eco systems and using these as food sources instead of shipping products from half a world away that are produced under environmentally exploitative conditions,” says Adam.

Free Markets - “where people bring all manner of items that they might otherwise throw away and give them away to others. People offer free services and workshops, everything from massage to free haircuts. Really trying to create a ‘Gift Economy’ that is not based around the exchange of currency or barter but around the idea that if everyone provides freely for the common good of society then everyone’s needs will be met.”

Freecycle - an internet swapping community where you can exchange, get free items or announce unwanted items for free that others can utilise.

Guerilla and Community Gardens - “growing community gardens in abandoned lots of land, turning them into food bases that help to renew communities.” This allows us to be self-sustaining by producing our own food rather than relying on global supermarket chains to provide it by ‘exploitative’ means.

Urban Foraging / Dumpster Diving - Recovering useable discarded items from dumpsters whether food or otherwise.

Not everyone is going to jump feet first down the freegan route but many are happy to take elements on board and Adam is encouraged by the response of some individuals.

“People approach us all the time wanting to share their skills. We have a guy who wants to teach people to grow gardens on their windowsills using empty milk crates for example. That is the nature of mutual aid, building this web of connections and mutual support where we share voluntarily what we have to offer to the community.”

Information Resources

www.freegan.info

http://www.freecycle.org/

www.globalissues.org

http://wetlands-preserve.org/

http://scavengeuk.mine.nu/

http://freegan.freeservers.com/ (Planet Freegan)

Stress getting the better of you? Dawn Mellowship reveals eight tips to banish your stress and bring pure self-indulgent relaxation into your life.

1) Breathe deeply

In modern society it is very common for people to have very poor breathing patterns. Breathing really is the very essence of life and breathing in a shallow erratic manner can cause an array of harmful physiological reactions, such as the accumulation of carbon dioxide or lactic acid in the body. Take the time to think about your breathing patterns. Take a long, slow deep breath. If, when breathing in you find your shoulders lifting upwards then you are not breathing correctly!

A simple technique to improve your breathing patterns is to stand up straight but with your body relaxed (as if you are a puppet and the top of your head is being pulled up by a piece of string). Be conscious of how you are standing and let your whole body feel weighted and grounded to the earth. As you breathe in slowly and deeply through your nose, raise both arms up parallel in front of you and then above your head, palms facing each other. You should feel your lungs fill up with air. As you slowly breathe out through your mouth turn your palms outwards and lower your arms to your sides.

Try ten repetitions of this breathing method twice a day and your breathing habits will soon improve. You will also find that your posture improves over time.

2) Me Time

Everybody needs to have quiet time by them selves to relax, contemplate and just to be! This can be a time where you do some gentle yoga, t’ai chi, meditate, have a relaxing bath, create your own home spa or simply sit down quietly and listen to some soothing music. This will enable you to develop greater clarity in your life and foster self-esteem, as you are giving yourself the respect and time you deserve. Additionally taking time out demonstrates a willingness to take responsibility for your own health and well being, something we all need to do.

Naturopathica offer a home spa kit including bath milk, zesty lime shower gel and other goodies for a wonderful home spa experience. To help you unwind why not check out www.amazon.com for a range of chill out CDs such as Chillout Moods for Blissful Vibes.

3) Take a Break

People seem to work longer days in the 21st Century and there are more and more of us who don’t get away from it all enough. There are plenty of places that offer weekend breaks in the US or short trips abroad. This will give you a wonderful opportunity to explore somewhere new and a much needed rest from the daily grind.

If you would like the ultimate pampering experience you can take yourself away for a spa break. www.spa-quest.com offer a directory of venues around the world where you can indulge yourself and www.shortholidaybreaks.com offer tailor made breaks to suit each individual traveller. You will come back feeling relaxed, revitalised and most importantly, far less stressed!

4) Get a Pet

Research by a Pet Nutrition Company has shown that pets can help to increase our well being and reduce our stress levels. The American Heart Association discovered that New York stockbrokers who were pet owners had lower blood pressure in stressful circumstances than those without pets. People with pets often regard their much loved animals as family members. If you decide to get yourself a pooch you will have the additional benefits of getting plenty of exercise, with plenty of fresh air and long walks in the park. If you don’t fancy the cold winter walks you can always get yourself a more independent moggy. Make sure before you get a pet that you are ready to commit to looking after it though!

5) Eat to Live

Eating a healthy, balanced diet is so important. Processed, packaged and convenience foods are full of additives, preservatives, trans fatty acids, artificial sweeteners, sugars, and other nasties that could leave you with a headache and a ton of stress. They are also low in nutritional value and fibre. Monosodium Glutonate (MSG) is a flavour enhancer added to many foods. A Harvard Medical School Researcher discovered in one study that nearly 30% of 1, 529 people reacted to MSG. Some of the study participants had emotional reactions such as depression and insomnia.

The important thing to remember is not to spend your life leaping from one diet craze to another but to adopt a healthy lifestyle. Make sure you get plenty of fruit and vegetables (organic if possible as these are richer in nutrients and are not grown in nutrient deficient artificial fertilizers then sprayed with pesticides). Essential fatty acids cannot be produced by the body so need to be obtained from dietary sources. These include Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs. The EFAs perform important functions such as: maintaining cell membranes and regulating cholesterol levels. Foods such as fish oil, flaxseed oil, rapeseed oil and walnut oil along with green leafy vegetables are good sources of Omega 3 fatty acids. Omega 6 fatty acids can be found in foods such as: sunflower , safflower, wheatgerm, sesame and corn oil. Also be sure to get plenty of fibre in your diet from fruits, vegetables, legumes, grains, nuts, seeds and other healthy sources.

Make sure you do your research before embarking on any new dietary regime and consult a qualified health practitioner.

6) Get a Therapist

There are many complementary therapies out there that can soothe your stress away: acupuncture, aromatherapy, homeopathy, reflexology. Why not treat yourself to a few sessions with a professional complementary health therapist who can get to the route causes of your stress and help to empower you to make positive changes in your life. An American trial in 1993 demonstrated that reflexology reduced the participants PMS symptoms by 41% and a Danish study of migraine and tension headache sufferers found that reflexology helped 81% of the participants. Aromatherapy massage has been used on hospital patients to provide relaxation and relieve tension and stress.

Many people in modern society realise the benefits of complementary therapies and if they can squash your stress, you’ll be all the better off for it.

If you are not sure where to find information

www.worldwidehealth.com has listings for complementary therapy practitioners and has an online library of useful articles.

7) Reiki your Stress Away

Reiki is a natural energy healing system originating in Japan that is used to heal the mind, body and soul and can be learned by absolutely anyone. The beauty of Reiki is that you don’t have to spend years studying to become a Reiki healer or practitioner. You can learn Reiki in as little as a one day course. Learning Reiki enables you to heal yourself on a regular basis and if you choose, to heal others as well. Reiki works by channelling external universal (or electromagnetic) energy into the body through a healer’s hands, to correct physical, emotional and spiritual frequency imbalances. It is based on the notion that every part of our bodies has an ideal resonant frequency.

When we develop an illness or trauma, this alters the frequency of the afflicted area of our body. By channelling the ideal frequency of the body part being treated the practitioner can bring the damaged area to optimum health again.

Reiki cannot only help you to relax but heal past emotional traumas that prevent you from self-development. By clearing all your emotional baggage you can be free to be the real you, rather than what others would like you to be. Life’s major stresses will suddenly become minor blips.

www.thehealingco.com offer Reiki courses in the London area at myhotel Chelsea and Enfield, or you can find a directory of Reiki teachers in the UK at www.reikihealersandteachers.net.

8) Find a New Hobby

There are plenty of hobbies out there that can take you away from your daily routine and help you to relax. Perhaps you could take up a pottery or painting course or head for a round of golf. The modern generation seem to lack culinary skills according to recent studies so perhaps you could head off for a residential cookery course. You might discover a new talent that you were not aware you possessed, which will boost your confidence and could even lead to a new job. Being in a job that doesn’t fulfil you can lead to anxiety so a part time course may help you to find your niche. You may be a budding fashion designer, chef, photographer or journalist!

Hotcourses at www.hotcourses.co.uk provides a list of UK courses from pottery and clay modelling to a degree in accounting. Or if you fancy yourself as the next Jamie Oliver Ashburton Cookery School offer courses lasting from 1 day to four weeks.

After the Christmas festivities the impending new-year can seem daunting rather than exhilarating. Dawn Mellowship has come to save the day providing eight top tips for making your new year go off with a bang!

1) Forget the new-year’s resolutions and faddy dieting this year. Lifestyle changes need to be made throughout the year and when you feel ready for them, not just because the date has changed! If anything, resolve to be kind to yourself and trust in your intuition, unlike your rational mind it can never be wrong! Find a quiet space where you can just drift off into your thoughts and ponder on what you really need from life as opposed to just what you physically want from life. Allow your intuition to choose where you should be heading next without berating it.

2) Stress is the bane of most people’s lives. In 2004 The New Scientist reported on a study by Elissa Epel of the University of California that suggested that psychological stress could age a woman’s chromosomes quite dramatically. Beyond that chronic stress can have a negative impact on many other physiological functions such as: our immune system, memory, sexual and reproductive organs, cardiovascular system and digestion. It has also been linked with the accumulation of fat around the abdominal region and vital organs. So whatever else you deal with in the new-year, stress needs to be kept at bay. www.stressbusting.co.uk has plenty of tips to keep you calm and an A-Z of stress busting therapies.

3) If there are any bold changes you want to make such as finding a new job, do your research thoroughly. There is no point making a half hearted attempt to make improvements because you will not get very far. If there is no commitment then you clearly don’t have your heart in it. If you are certain about what you want to do then have faith in your abilities. So many people are always trying to please others or self-deprecating. If you are passionate about something and positive that it is right for you, then go for it. Obstacles are very often self-imposed.

4) If you are feeling washed out after all the festivities there are a plethora of complementary therapies to give you a boost. A Danish study of sufferers of migraines and tension headaches in 1993 found that reflexology helped 81% of participants. Aromatherapy massage has been utilised in hospitals to help alleviate stress and tension and Reiki is fantastic for helping a range of conditions. Dr Gillian McKeith, the nutrition virtuoso herself is a big fan of Reiki saying, “I think it’s wonderful, one of the most incredible therapies we could ever have and you can learn to do it for yourself, which is so empowering.” See www.embodyforyou.com and www.comptogether.co.uk for directories of UK complementary therapists.

5) Try to reflect on the positive aspects of your life and the areas that you can change rather than dwelling on what you cannot change. Seek within yourself rather than externally for answers. All too often people run to someone else to ask for guidance but we all have the answers to our most pertinent life questions if we can just acknowledge this. Learn to trust in yourself because ultimately we all have different paths and what’s right for one person may not be right for you.

6) If you are keen to unleash your creative side and perhaps find potential where you never realised it existed head on a retreat to a far flung, picturesque location where you can experiment with ideas. Skyros holidays offer a trip to Atsitsa Bay in Skyros Island where unspoilt pine forests and awe inspiring views of the coast and mountains will greet you. There are a range of courses available such as: dance, massage and bodywork, music and voice, psychological, theatre and art and sailing and windsurfing. You are bound to come back inspired!

7) Resist the urge to compare yourself to others. The twenty first century is ridiculously competitive and whilst we are pitching ourselves up against others we can never truly be happy. Advertising plays a huge part in creating unattainable and unrealistic ideals. No human being is perfect, even if they may seem that way to you. Try to rise about any jealously and think about what you are good at and what you can achieve. Work with the tools you have been given.

8) If you are tired of working for ’soul less’ corporations check out www.ethical-jobs.co.uk. Jason Elliott the founding director says ‘There is a massive range of opportunity in the ethical jobs market, from solar engineering to sustainable development and care work. It means doing something that serves our practical needs, our personal values and our interests in a way that positively impacts upon the world.’ You could end up working for Greenpeace, Oxfam, Breakthrough Breast Cancer or the Soil Association to name but a few. The website servers run on 100% solar energy and Jason the managing director, does not own a car so they take their ethics very seriously! You can also check out our February issue, which has a feature on people who have chosen to work for charitable organisations.

On Saturday 1st September, Andy Chrysostomou and Dawn Mellowship will be giving a talk at the Festival of Life 2007, celebrating compassionate lifestyles and sustainable living, which is taking place at St Paul’s Church (Steiner School), Islington N1 2QH. The Festival of Life brings together pioneering speakers on health, ecology and spirituality, featuring over 50 talks and workshops.

This year’s event will be the first festival in London to be powered by electricity from a generator running on vegetable oil. Chris Kennett, co-organiser and alternative technology pioneer explains: “It’s half the price of fossil fuels, it’s Carbon Neutral and sulphur dioxide free so it doesn’t contribute to acid rain. With a few minor conversions most diesel engines could be running on vegetable oil”. The generator is supplied by Sussex based alternative energy pioneers ‘Blooming Futures’ and will be running on locally grown non-GM rapeseed oil.

The two-day event is packed with life affirming activities. Visitors can explore raw food, take part in a crystal bowl ceremony, loosen up with laughter, learn to make natural cosmetics, do some yoga and meditation and receive holistic therapies. There is a market place offering organic clothes, gourmet raw food cuisine, juicers, blenders, books and more. Day tickets for the event cost £8 (concessions £5) and a weekend ticket is £12.

Andy and Dawn will be giving a talk on in relation to Dawn’s forthcoming book Passage to Freedom, which will take place at 4pm on September 1st, in the Water Room. Authors and Reiki practitioners and teachers Dawn and Andy will discuss the key to attaining spiritual enlightenment, health, happiness and finding your intuitive connection, through right living, right thinking and practical and innovative meditation, visualisation and Reiki based exercises. Dawn is the UK’s first online ethical stylist and journalist. Their Reiki work has featured in a variety of publications including: Health & Fitness, Positive Health, Natural Heath and Beauty and TNT. Andy and Dawn also write for online green living blog, Hippyshopper.com.

For more information about the event see the Festival of Life website and feel free to come along and enjoy Andy and Dawn’s lecture.

Dawn_Reiki_Teacher