Dumpser Diving Demo

The demo against the law that prohibits dumpster diving in the 8th district of Budapest took place on 10 March at 5 p.m. in the 8th district of Budapest. There were around 100 people at the demo. The event started with Rhythms of Resistance drumming, followed by the speeches. After that people started the action - around 20 people went to the nearby trash bins and started dumpster diving in front of the police. First, the police did not make any action against the people who were dumpstering, so one of the organizers asked the people to dumpster actively. The people of the local government asked the police to arrest them. Overall, 9 people were arrested. One of them, the organizer who asked the people to dumpster was brought to the police station because of 'agitation to dumpster', and the rest were brought to the local government office.

Freedom to Dumpster Divers in Budapest!

Local municipality of the 8th district of Budapest criminalizes poverty by prohibiting dumpster diving in that district. This is one of the poorest districts of Budapest (it is close to the centre of the city) where mostly poor families, homeless, Roma and Asian immigrants live. So, the law that prohibits dumpster diving in the 8th district is clearly directed against the poor. The law aims at satisfying interests of the middle class and rich tourists that should not see 'ugly' face of poverty. The law restricts and excludes the poor and homeless from the city centre. It also serves the rich and capitalism as it prohibits recycling and encourages BUYING and CONSUMING of the STUFF.  The social workers of Budapest are organizing a demonstration against this law, please, find the CALL below:

Saturday Dumpster Diving

The vegetables found me


Fair Trade (barter ;))

Practical Implications of Dumpster Diving

First of all, I believe that dumpster diving is a community thing, but as I had no clue whether 'my' community goes today (well, they should have gone as this is a set schedule - Saturday, Fehervari market) and I also did not want to meet people cause I can be contagious due to some cold/flu (maybe swine flu, but I do not oink :)). Anyway, I did not plan to go anywhere today, but it turned out I had no food home, so I had to go.

I was not aiming at coming to the sellers and telling them stories about why I need the vegetables - my Hungarian is not that good - I aimed at real dumpster diving.

First I went to a small poor market close to the Oktogon and Kiraly u. - the dump had nothing eatable except for some green onion... Well, then I went to the big central market and this was my star time, as there were some lettuce and cabbages in the dump and some sellers gave me a bunch of luxury stuff - grapes and melon, as well as white reddish (hm, it seems this week week will be white reddish week). Anyway, when you are in a bigger group you can share stuff - vegetables and fruit - but if I am not that sick next time I join the people again ;) But now I have this kind of thinking - how can I buy vegetables that I can also get for free?

Moreover, there is a nice rule/tradition in Budapest: on particular days particular districts throw away the garbage - mainly old furniture and clothes. This is a good opportunity to fund raise for our Free Shop. E.g., yesterday on my way home from work I saw that the luxurious 2th district threw away the garbage. If I feel better I can check it out today, but in any case I informed the Free Shop people already :)

Dumpster Diving: I'm going deeper underground!

Tonight I fundraised 2 nice blankets from the refuse bin in from of my house (living in 10 m from the Opera House has its advantages :)). I am promoting this way of fundraising food for AEGEE events. I am thinking on going on with this - usual visits with other people to the Fehervari u. market and contributing to the revealed Free Shop at Tüzraktér.

I am going to experience dumpster diving in Berlin as well. This is not a new way of life, as lots of homeless use it every day to survive. Any person can do dumpsterdiving on everyday basis to satisfy his/her needs and possibly help others in need. 

I keep on walking...

http://www.crimethinc.com/tools/ffol.html

http://dumpsterdiving.meetup.com/

http://freegan.info/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dumpster_diving

http://www.ranprieur.com/misc/dumpster.html

http://lifehacker.com/5112449/how-to-live-freegan-and-die-old

http://www.naturemoms.com/blog/2008/11/03/dumpster-diving-for-charity-listen-in/

http://nyc.indymedia.org/newswire/display/26868

http://www.euranet.eu/eng/content/view/full/6722