This is a must for all of us ... plz plz plz read this one.

Discussion in 'Consumer Advocacy' started by Maon, Dec 7, 2006.

  1. Maon

    Maon Member

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    www.freecycle.org



    The Freecycle Network™ 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. To sign up, find your community by clicking on the region on the left. You may then go directly to your local group by clicking on "Go To" or you may immediately joining by clicking on "Join." It will generate an automatic e-mail which, when sent, will sign you up for the local group and send you a response with instructions on how it works. 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!

    How does it work?



    When you want to find a new home for something -- whether it's a chair, a fax machine, piano, or an old door -- you simply send an e-mail offering it to members of the local Freecycle group.

    Or, maybe you're looking to acquire something yourself. Simply respond to a member's offer, and you just might get it. After that, it's up to the giver to decide who receives the gift and to set up a pickup time for passing on the treasure.

    Our main rule: Everything posted must be free, legal, and appropriate for all ages.



    Non-profit organizations also benefit from The Freecycle Network. Post the item or items you want to give away and specify that you wish the gift to go to a nonprofit cause. It's entirely your choice! It's a free cycle of giving. The Freecycle Network is incorporated as a nonprofit organization and is tax-exempt under the IRS 501(c)3 ruling.

    Who can use The Freecycle Network?

    Think globally, recycle locally. The Freecycle Network is open to all communities and to all individuals who want to participate. Freecycle groups are moderated by local volunteers from across the globe who facilitate each local group - grassroots at its best!

    (text copied and pasted from www.freecycle.org)
     
  2. gardener

    gardener Realistic Humanist

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    Hey Maon I think most of us here at Hip Forums know about Freecycle already. But it's a great organization that is helping in reducing needless waste being cycled to landfills, it's one of the great success of the internet, except for their trading of animals on it. I oppose that.
     
  3. jezebelle

    jezebelle Member

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    What's wrong with trading animals on freecycle? It's just like giving them away in the paper or putting up flyers. If I had to, I'd rather give one of my pets away on freecycle than send them to the pound or something.
     
  4. drumminmama

    drumminmama Super Moderator Super Moderator

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    our freecycles don't trade animals. Just objects.
     
  5. gardener

    gardener Realistic Humanist

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    Well many pitbulls show up there and no one actually knows where they show up later...fighting ring or good homes.

    Plus the pharmacuetical companies maybe fill their test cages with pets that are listed. Is that really what you want for Fido or Fluffy when you get rid of them?
     
  6. jezebelle

    jezebelle Member

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    That's because they get claimed. Freecycle isn't really a discussion board (at least mine isn't), so no one talks about what they claim other than the occasional "Thank you." I'd honestly be more worried about the dogs winding up at the shelter after Mom realizes that a pitbull might not be the best family dog.

    Maybe they do. Probably not. Considering that I replied to four different posts before I finally got my German Shepherd, I'd guess that most pharmaceutical companies just don't have the time to "fill their test cages" with pets from freecycle. Besides, most test animals are actually bred specifically for that purpose, not picked up from an unknown source. I'm not saying that it can't happen, but I'd be more worried about things that are more likely to go wrong, like giving a Great Dane to someone who lives in a 400 ft sq apartment.
    In any case, you an always ask the person to whom you're giving the animal for a short visit to their home. If they're serious about wanting the animal, they shouldn't mind, and if they do, just give it to the next person in line who doesn't. If pets wind up in homes that aren't suitable, it isn't freecycle's fault, it's the fault of the irresponsible person who gives the animal away.
     
  7. Cakes

    Cakes Member

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    It's true that some freecycle groups choose not to allow animals to be given away, but the problem of test animals being gathered might easily be solved by generating a list of address' that receive animals through the network<<<if an address receives more than a couple of animals then they might be suspect and a visit should be made to see if the animals are there and cared for.

    It's cool that pitbulls are finding homes just like the rest of us, but it is important that fighters not be going to unsuspecting owners.

    The freecycle group in my area is nuts. I get about 30 emails a day from them and they give away ALL KINDS of stuff.

    I was a little surprised by the entrance process>>they asked me to write WHY I should be allowed to join and that was kind of high handed I thought but the groups are definately successful <<< just be prepared to actually eventually have to say something other than "click" on the right button <<<it wasn't hard, since we all like free stuff and helping the environment but it DID surprise me.
     
  8. jezebelle

    jezebelle Member

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    I had to write why I wanted to join too, but I figured it was so they could weed out people who just wanted to gather a bunch of stuff to sell on ebay or something. Not that a person like that couldn't lie or anything. *shrug* Maybe the group owner just likes to know a little about the people in the group.
     
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