Posted on 12/10/2022 3:28:40 PM PST by nickcarraway
Freeganism goes beyond the vegan diet – it’s about making sustainable changes to limit our “footprint” on the world.
That is according to Dundee-based Violet Fraser who describes herself as freegan.
On World Vegan Day, we’re taking a look at this environmentally-conscious movement linked to veganism.
Freegans don’t just avoid animal by-products, they also avoid anything that damages the environment.
“A lot of where I come from with freeganism actually started more from a wider environmental perspective,” said Violet, 34.
“From my point of view, it’s to do with climate change.
“It’s so I can think to myself as I go about my daily life: I am doing as much as I possibly can to reduce my footprint on the world.”
What does freegan actually mean? Like veganism, freeganism involves making decisions that are better for the planet.
Many link it veganism, although not everyone considers freegans a part of the vegan community.
The key difference is freegans eat animal by-products under some, limited circumstances.
Vegans would never do so.
But both groups share at least some key values, like these manageable changes for those trying to eat more sustainably:
Eating seasonally
Shopping zero waste
Eating foods with low food miles
Food miles are a way to measure how food gets to our plates – the greater the distance, the more damaging it can be for our environment.
I looked at it as an overview and thought: How can I have the lightest footprint on earth as a whole?”
Violet Fraser, Dundee freegan
Being freegan also means she doesn’t refuse foods that aren’t vegan if the alternative is that food get chucked out.
She said: “If I were offered free, non-vegan products like vegetarian products, I wouldn’t refuse to eat them on the basics of ethics because I don’t believe in food waste.”
In Scotland alone, an estimated 987,890 tonnes of food and drink was wasted in 2013.
“I didn’t go into it only thinking about the animal welfare aspect,” Violet admitted.
“I went into it thinking about land use, water use, greenhouse gas emissions.
“I looked at it as an overview and thought: How can I have the lightest footprint on earth as a whole?”
Veganism is not an ‘elite club’ of perfect people Violet admitted there is a problematic stereotype of vegans.
“I try not to be black and white with it,” she said.
“I think that was one of the things that put me off to begin with. [There was] this feeling that it was some sort of elite club I had to be perfect for.
“My environmentalism is not by any means perfect. But I do try.”
Violet believes it is important not to cut people down, no matter their lifestyle choices.
“I think that is the main thing, especially for mental wellbeing.
“Humans are animals too – we have to be kind to each other.
Freegan Violet Fraser and Bridget Cooper volunteering at The Camperdown Growing Initiative. Freegan Violet Fraser and Bridget Cooper volunteering at The Camperdown Growing Initiative. Image: Mhairi Edwards/DC Thomson “It’s about preserving our mental health in the face of a climate catastrophe that no generation has ever had to face this way before.
“We’re all just muddling our way through.”
How do I go freegan? Violet says this lifestyle change is a process.
It can work best gradually, taking small steps that are more environmentally-conscious.
“I’ve known people who went vegan overnight decades ago and never looked back,” she said.
“And I really admire that.
“But personally I tried it and it just wasn’t sustainable for me.
“I couldn’t make that kind of change so quickly so I started adding changes into my life gradually.
“And it doesn’t have to be boring.
“We’re not sitting around eating grass,” she joked.
Violet doesn’t advise doing an “overnight life overhaul”, but rather she suggests people take their time with it.
Starting out small with ideas like Meatless Monday is a good way to give the lifestyle a go.
“The last thing I want to do is put people off,” Violet said.
“I would rather make 100 people feel empowered to go meatless one day a week, than have one person turn vegan overnight.
“Because ultimately, that is what will help our entire ecosystem.”
““I looked at it as an overview and thought: How can I have the lightest footprint on earth as a whole?”
Kill yourself. All global environmentalists should kill themselves.
To quote a FRiend:
Salad...That’s what food eats.
There are some ways for the freegans to not just REDUCE their foot print, but to totally remove it. The J3 method. Jim Jones Juice.
Kool Aid is bad for the environment. Maybe hemlock?
Just exactly how does someone become so mentally ill and dysfunctional that they take a basic human need, eating, and tie it into the lie of the earth’s destruction from anthropogenic climate change so that it dominates their life? Throw her leftist ass into the looney bin and throw away the key.
I’m going to eat one less hamburger this decade.
And one less strip of bacon.
I’m gradually becoming a freegan.
This is the mainstreaming of insanity, of mental illness. We are now like the Primitive societies where the mentally ill person was the shaman who was respected and revered.
While she’s eating bugs and worms and offal someone is flying far above her in a private jet eating wagyu beef and drinking fine wine. But she’s virtuous.
The brainwashing and virtue signaling are very strong in Violet.
I can’t even imagine knowing someone like that. Thank goodness.
“All global environmentalists should kill themselves.”
Dead bodies give off CO2! What a conundrum????
Fine, more meat for me.
That is an easy one.
Step 1. Have numerous government "authorities" and "scientists" conspicuously and over a long period of time tell her "climate change is real" "the world is at risk" and "the science is settled.
Step 2. Have the schools and universities repeat the claim throughout education.
Step 3. Have a strong censorship campaign to remove skeptics from positions of authority. Gin up a evil sounding nomenclature for them as "climate deniers".
What is amazing is so many have escaped the indoctrination.
Freeganism
I will now eat two more to counter, and then some, you...
:)
What if they jump into volcanoes?
We would have to throw in some Tums or Pele will be very cranky.
Freegans don’t just avoid animal by-products, they also avoid anything that damages the environment.
= = =
They better stop pooping, a la the Netherlands.
When you add “ism” to a word, what does it mean?
= = =
It means wordism - - the art of making up words.
Pele should be understanding of the ha’oles.
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