Hi all,
I would like to share my thoughts and no offence to anyone. Everyone has their rights to their opinion.
For a start, please allow me to revisit the goal of SgFreecycle. Quote and unquote from the website:
"The goal of the Singapore Freecycle Network is to reduce waste by connecting people who are throwing away goods with others who are seeking the same goods."
As I can see that the goal is very obvious, that is to reduce waste. To me, as long as there is a willing party to take the unwanted items of another party, I supposed the goal is achieved.
Whilst it's with good intention to give away unwanted item to the needy, I gathered this may not be a suitable platform for one simple reason: How is one going to verify if the taker is indeed needy? Hence, in this instance, perhaps giving the unwanted items directly to a charity organisation would better meet its intended purpose (ie those who want to give to the needy).
Also, it may not be good to be so restrictive for one simple reason. What happen to the unwanted item when no needy party taking it (assuming you are able to verify the taker as needy)? Do you then waste resources by throwing the unwanted item away? By so doing, one will not meet the goal of recycling. Or you will give it to whoever is willing to take the item. If that is the case, why restrict to needy taker in the first place. Then, wouldn't it be better to give the unwanted item to a charity organisation?
As with any system, there are bound to have situations that are beyond the control of either the moderator or members. For example, an overly demanding member wanting to get rid of his/her unwanted items as soon as possible or member(s) who abuse the system by asking or taking everything under the sun or the methods used by members to give away their unwanted items. I guessed this is part and parcel of all systems and I have learned to live with it.
Whatever it is, bearing in mind that the main objective of SgFreecycle is to reduce waste, I am therefore not too concerned with whoever is taking the unwanted items so long as I am not wasting resources by throwing it away. My rule of thumb is: Give willingly and ask not who is taking it. Not wasting resources is a virtue regardless of whether i) one is rich or not and ii) for charity or otherwise.
These are just some of my thoughts and you may agree to disagree.
Happy Recycling :>
From: Lim Ming Boon <bgradefilm@yahoo.com>
To: SgFreecycle@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Monday, 30 September 2013, 19:36
Subject: [SgFreecycle] Re: Recycling not about rich or poor
I agree with Roz. I disagreed with the view that " recycling is not charity" but my mind was such a swirl of misty fog, it is good to have someone argue the case objectively and succinctly. Yes, if I have a choice to give away my stuff, I want to give it to someone who needs it more. But it is impossible to judge from the usual one-liner replies I get from people. Therefore I put down my preference.
On on another note, I really appreciate recyclers who gave me just that little more detail on how they are going to use the stuff ( for e.g. using recycled glasses for a wedding, or the old laptop for the daughter to do school projects etc.) . It helps me imagine what my stuff are doing with their new owner , and the next, and their many many after lives. :-) Well, just want to say thank you!
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