The Great Freecycle Breakaway: Freegle

In my inbox this morning. Please, somebody tell me this is not for real. It reads like a halting plot summary for a Lord of the Rings-style B-movie. I have huge respect for the Freecycle/Freegle movement and give away through it quite often but had no idea of the battle of wills which had brought the nattier named "Freegle" into the world. To think of these volunteers engaging the "TFN spies" on home turf brought a tear of patriotism to my eye. How right that this bloody, ideotechnological war should be hidden from the doe-eyed donors of unwanted personal property for so long. "We British did what we knew was best." We certainly did. Who'll buy the movie rights? I, for one, welcome our Freecycle overlords.

Hi Everyone,

Today marks our one year anniversary as Freegle after leaving The Freecycle Network (TFN).

What was kept from the membership was the intolerable situation which had been brewing for month's even years. The group owners here in the UK wanted some form of limited autonomy for our groups. We have UK laws and local customs but we were being dictated to and threatened by a few in power in the US. In a final phase we formed an association of UK Freecyle moderators – some 400 groups - who were not `gagged' for being outspoken. We formally elected seven people to represent us UK moderators and negotiate with the draconian dictators. Unfortunately these representations fell on deaf ears and The Freecycle Network did what it knew best – get rid of those who stood up against them. The seven representatives were ordered to stand down and hand over their groups to Interim moderator control by the USA. At the same time the long term UK director of TFN, who offered resignation on moral concerns over widespread TFN practices, was also dismissed and told to hand over his group. Several others were also included in the summarily dismissal.

We British did what we knew was best. We mobilised and worked around the clock and came up with a new group named - Freegle - a wholly UK, grass roots and totally voluntary run organisation. On September 11th (ironically) we broke away. I for one worked late into the night moving over another group I was a backup owner to. Around 80 groups moved that night and many more over the following days.

This group's owners, moderators and some of the more active members unanimously agreed we should follow suite. Any group which tried to discus openly with their membership sealed their own fate as TFN spies reported back to the US and the group owners removed.

So from myself, my co-owners and moderators of this group – Happy first birthday and thank you for sticking by us.

Best wishes,
Paul – on behalf of the moderating team.
ilovefreegle.org