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| Image from : https://freeganinsingapore.wordpress.com |
This post discusses the Freegans in Singapore (FIS) differences compared to other countries.
Don’t totally rejects consumerism
FIS doesn’t reject consumerism due to laws and a different mindset compared to other countries’ freegans. Basic human needs like food, shelter and medical are main areas that FIS still have to pay. Even if you can find expired food or vegetables, FIS in general, like me, still spend money on food, like cultured milk drinks, join social gatherings and food that we liked.
It is illegal to pitch tents and living in beaches and parks or any public places. For shelter in land-scarce Singapore, we stay in government flats. Even after paying the loan for the flat, there are also recurring expenses like utilities, taxes and fees.
Medical services are expensive, even with government grants. So FIS pay insurances.
Working Less
Not all freegans in Singapore can stop working. For those who are not working, we are living off our savings or dividends from our investments. Additional government support through schemes for low-income Singaporeans. Most of FIS have a job to pay bills or family to feed, thus we are partial-freegans.
Sharing
Sharing is common in most countries but FIS. FILIPOREAN PROJECT, started by “Freegan in Singapore” founder, Colin Lau. FIS members dumpster dive merchandise to give his 200 Filipino domestic workers. Mostly shipping charges are paid by them or donors. This is the biggest non-official charity in Singapore supporting poor people in Philippines. Smaller WhatsApp or telegram sharing groups are formed by different districts for sharing as well.
Something for nothing
In Singapore, there are public libraries available within each town and they provide the following:
- Free electricity to charge electronic devices like tablets and laptops.
- Free public WiFi for Internet Access
- Free water coolers for drinking.
- Free books and ebooks for reading and borrowing.
- Free aircon, especially when weather in Singapore is summer throughout the year.
For some malls and restaurants, free WiFi is also available, similar to other countries. I like to hangout in public libraries, especially during hotter days. Also for free electricity to charge my mobile devices and WiFi, to idle my time away from downloading and reading manga and anime. I also watch Youtube videos as well. Talk about free entertainment. 😁
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