From the Facebook group about <subj>
The Freeconomy Community's aim is to help reconnect people in their local communities through the simple act of sharing. Not only is sharing our resources better for the environment, it saves you money and builds friendships with those people who live closest to you. It is what we call a WIN-WIN-WIN situation.
Everything is shared for FREE on Freeconomy, and no money changes hands between members.
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Why no-money?
One of the critical reasons that we have so many major issues in the world today - such as climate change, sweatshops, wars over oil reserves, factory farms, polluted oceans and rivers - is because we never have to see the direct repercussions that our purchases have on the people, environment and animals they affect. The degrees of separation between the consumer and the consumed have increased so much that it now, conveniently, means that people are completely unaware of the levels of destruction and suffering involved in the making of the 'stuff' they purchase. We have no longer any idea how much embodied energy has gone into the things we consume. The main reason we have no appreciation for this energy is because we are so disconnected from what we buy. The tool that has enabled us to be so disconnected, so separated from what we consume, is money, especially in it modern globalised format.
Take this for an example. If we grew our own food, we wouldn't waste a third of it as we do today. If we made our own tables and chairs, we wouldn't throw them out the moment we changed the interior decor. If we had to clean our own drinking water, we probably wouldn't defecate in it.
If we could see the child working under military presence in a sweatshop, we would probably think twice about buying that new pair of jeans on the High St. If we could see the face of the mother in Iraq as her child lies dead from a cluster bomb, we'd probably think twice about going on an oil-guzzling cheap flight for the weekend. If we could see the size of the landfill sites where our 'stuff' goes, we would probably have a lot more respect for what we have and use.
Money, as a method of easily storing wealth, has also enabled humans to bank exploitation - of people, the environment and animals - and has also replaced communities, friendships and families as the No.1 source of security for people.
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What's our 'pay-it-forward'
The philosofree behind the Freeconomy community differentiates it from other forms of alternative economy.
Whilst others are still focused on the concept of exchange, Freeconomy is based on 'Pay-it-forward' principles and economics. One week someone who you have never helped may share their time, skills, tools or spare spaces with you for free; another week someone who has never helped you may ask you to do the same. Every time you help someone you just ask him or her to 'pay the favour forward'.
Not only do you then still have access to a huge resource, you also build the trust and friendships in communities that inevitably form when someone does something 'just for the love of it'.
This is our point - if somebody needs help, why do we need to get anything in return? Is the fact that another human being needs your help not excuse enough?
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So what is it all about?
It's about helping others and providing an opportunity for others to help you.
It's about sharing the skills you have learnt through your life and learning those you haven't for a time when you may need them.
It's about sharing your tools so you can have access to all the tools under the sun without it costing the earth.
It's about using any free space you have to either benefit positive, ethical and local projects, or to enable volunteers to keep doing their amazing work for free.
It's about getting to know people in your own community.
It's about learning to help each other again.
It's about getting ready for a post peak oil world.
It's about making dinner for a friend who was yesterday a stranger.
It's about putting the soul back into society.
It's about helping each other not for profit, but just-for-the-love-of-it...
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