Gair Rhydd

Introducing: Freeganism

Amy Hall reviews the controversial lifestyle of a Freegan and its possible place in student life

Advertising is everywhere, we are constantly being encouraged to “buy buy buy”. We are instructed to discard our old goods and replace them with new ones. However, this can have a detrimental effect on the environment and the people in it. Masses of energy are consumed, and pollution emitted, by producing these goods. Freeganism is a movement trying to combat this system

Freeganism partly stems from a realisation that boycotting unethical corporations is not enough to combat materialistic society. No matter what we buy we end up buying something that, at some level of production, has been involved in abuse of the earth and human and animal rights. Freegans try to purchase as little as possible and, when they do, they try to buy second hand to reduce the consumerism impact.