When I was a kid we “passed things on” and received things that others “passed on”; no money changed hands and we did not think any the less of ourselves or others because of it.  Bikes, clothes, ornaments all went this way, and at the most we might give some things to be sold by the Scout or Church “jumble sale”.

The modern attitude is sell it, ebay (www.amazon.com) have made millions form taking their cut of this and even amazon (www.amazon.com) do it now, encouraging you to sell on previous purchases you made from them…perhaps so they get a cut twice!!

In the late 1970s and 80s the idea of a general public spirit and community was denigrated, I think partly because this same spirit helped in the forming of Trade Unions and Co-operatives and they were seen as highly destructive to the Global model of Capital. So public services were sold off and the idea of a “greater good” was exchanged for individual profit.

We were encourage that only NEW was good, people that couldn’t quite make it, that were not up to the mark took second hand things, also giving was soft (exept at birthdays and christmas) giving things away was only for idiots, so the rise of internet trading and boot-fairs, sunday markets and so on.

Internet business has fed this further, whilst many from the early days of IRC and terminal communication, have moaned on about how the freedom of the net has been curtailed and the free net has become a capitalist playground.

Enter Freecycle (http://www.freecycle.org/), an idea that started in Tuscon and now spans the globe.  Their main website describes them:

The Freecycle Networkª is made up of many individual groups across the globe. It’s a grassroots and entirely nonprofit movement of people who are giving (& getting) stuff for free in their own towns. Each local group is moderated by a local volunteer (them’s good people). Membership is free. …..Can’t find a group near you? You might want to consider starting one (click on “Start a Group” for instructions). Have fun!

The Freecycle Network was started in May 2003 to promote waste reduction in Tucson’s downtown and help save desert landscape from being taken over by landfills. The Network provides individuals and non-profits an electronic forum to “recycle” unwanted items. One person’s trash can truly be another’s treasure!

and it works.

There is even a freecycle network for the small area of sussex where I live, my thought next was how we might link these up to a wider network and exchange worldwide for free?

Recently I have given away a cot and a router and a wheelbarrow, yes i could have sold them but giving things away creates good-feeling builds community and saves waste.  It is also one of the most radical things you can do.  No I don’t mean giving money to charity, which by all means do if you want, I mean giving to someone else.
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