First Person-Interview with New Associated Content Producers: Oprah Show Freegans Daniel and Amanda

February 27, 2008, the Oprah show featured Daniel and Amanda who are Freegans in Nashville, TN. I was privileged to have several email conversations with Freegans Daniel and Amanda Burt after they read my article Freegan Lifestyle: Oprah and Lisa Ling Report. Daniel and Amanda set up Associated Content Producer accounts and I am hopeful that they will publish some content. You can find Daniel and Amanda's Associated Content page here.

I was pleased that Daniel and Amanda felt my article Freegan Lifestyle: Oprah and Lisa Ling Report was balanced and fair and that it presented an overall positive view of what it means to be a freegan. Daniel and Amanda both left comments below Freegan Lifestyle: Oprah and Lisa Ling Report, which I'm sure you will want to read.

Daniel and Amanda-Concerns about Oprah show segment on Freegans

One of Daniel and Amanda's concerns about the Oprah show was that they not give any erroneous impressions that they feel that the Freegan lifestyle is the only "right" way. Daniel and Amanda's hope was that their Oprah show appearance would honor their freegan beliefs. I assured them that they did justice to their freegan beliefs on the Oprah show and that their appearance should accomplish the goal that Daniel states so well below. Daniel and Amanda told me that they know they have a long way to go in living out their Christian walk and that they hope people who watched the Oprah show would understand that they are just trying to be "honest and authentic"

Why Daniel and Amanda choose the Freegan lifestyle

Fregans Daniel and Amanda thanked me for taking the time to read their blog to find out more about the Freegan lifestyle and for linking to their blog. Daniel and Amanda also expressed appreciation for my mention of their Christian convictions that for them are an integral part of their choice to live the freegan lifestyle.

Daniel Burt says:

"About 2 years ago, Amanda and I visited two communities (more like small cities) built in landfills in the Dominican Republic. It reminded us that the ones who always pay are the poorest of the poor. In our country, with our wealth, we'll never have to live near a landfill or a coal excavation. However, that doesn't excuse us from raping the planet if we truly love our neighbor. If we carry that compassion for others, if we realize that we don't live in isolation and that the things we harvest, produce, buy and waste affect people, we cannot simply ignore the way we consume and waste. We live in a nation that's out of control with its materialism. Our entire economy is driven by consumerism, and when people like us step out of that system the economy suffers. It's a shame that things like frugality, thrift, and contentment are not valued anymore in this market-driven world. We are asked (and convinced) to buy buy buy."

Freegans Daniel and Amanda have made the decision to "opt" out of that system in certain areas of their life. They still choose to work; Daniel is an optometrist and Amanda is a civil engineer. Daniel stated on the Oprah show that they do have a mortgage. When Oprah asked what they did with the money they save by living the freegan lifestyle, Daniel stated that they give as much as possible to their church and share with others as much as they can. In my conversations with Daniel, he said that their intent is to pay off all debt so that they can then "give most of our money away to fight for the cause of the poor".

The following sentence from Daniel has shaken up my spiritual thought life: "We try to live simply so that others may simply live." Daniel goes on to say that their radical freegan lifestyle, which for them includes "dumpster diving", is part of what helps them to live simply.

Daniel and Amanda-Goal for Oprah show about Freegans

When I asked Daniel if there was anything they wished there had been time to say on the Oprah show, Daniel's comment was that they wanted people to understand that they were not trying to get everyone to dumpster dive but that they would hope to "cause people to think differently about their consumption and waste, or even better, their consumerism. We'd love for people to start finding their own creative ways to reuse and repair rather than buy new-to compost and recycle rather than to trash-to precycle by using cloth napkins and towels over their disposable counterparts, and to stop buying Styrofoam cups, water bottles, and all sorts of other wasteful products that further contribute to the trashing of the planet. There's no need for guilt on how we've consumed and wasted thus far, and there's no need to waste time fighting about the best way to change the status quo, but let's all pledge to make our world a better place."

Reflections: Freegan Principles and me

There is not much I can add to these eloquent statements from freegan Daniel Burt, so I will just close by saying that because of health, age and elderly parent care-taking responsibilities, I do not feel that God is calling me to dumpster dive for food. I do know that through what I at first considered to be a routine writing opportunity, God has called me to take my Christian beliefs a few steps further than simply giving my "tithe" at church and sometimes giving a little extra to charity. I am amazed and shamed that two people who are so young have such maturity while I have been a Christian for more than 50 years and I cannot match that dedication to live out my Christian beliefs. Shortly after this interview on February 28, 2008, Daniel and Amanda went on a medical mission to Haiti.

The freegan lifestyle incorporates many diverse individuals and all have different reasons for their choice. For me, as well as for Daniel and Amanda Burt, adopting some freegan lifestyle choices will not only be about environmentalism, saving the planet and yes saving some of our own money. That is a worthy reason-but for those of us who choose to take our Christian mandate seriously, how can we not then choose to bless others with our abundance?

Currently, there are a few organizations such as Second Harvest that work with companies at the corporate level and try to convince them to donate rather than dump food. Freegan Daniel Burt says there are a few stores beginning to donate and legislation protects stores from being sued over food donated to charity-but the vast majority still chooses to trash perfectly good food. Also, for more about the issue of materialism, freegan Daniel Burt suggests: Annie Leonard's "Story of Stuff" www.storyofstuff.com
.
Sources used:
Elena H-email conversations with freegans Daniel and Amanda Burt
http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/626429/freegan_lifestyle_oprah_and_lisa_ling.html
http://www.secondharvest.org
http://theburts.wordpress.com/