Waste, in this case, food waste

by Michael Smith (Veshengro)

This photo was sent to the Austrian broadcast station ORF heute konkret by a viewer and shows a dumpster outside of a branch of a well-known supermarket chain in Vienna after the shop had closed in late July 2014.

The gate has been erected in such a way that hungry needy folks and the homeless can watch how the fruit and vegetables, mostly still good and edible, rots in the heat of summer.

And this is but one of many examples that could be shown and that can be found on a daily basis all over the so-called developed countries where, in most cases, dumpster diving for the goodies thrown away is regarded as theft and will be prosecuted as such as well, regardless of need.

Belgium is the first, and so far only, country in the EU, and not only EU, that has now legislated that the disposal of such food is illegal and that this food that, at the end of the day would be thrown out, has to be passed on to people (in need).

There was a time when, in Britain, and also other countries of Europe, traders, at the end of the day, whether bakers, greengrocers, or others, would pass the goods that they were left and which they would be unable to sell the next day, on to the needy folks of the village or area, often to the children passing on their way home to take. And all such goods were always gratefully received and used.

This practice was, however, outlawed by the governments, apparently on behest of the European Commission or such unelected body that stands behind the now EU, claiming health concerns and such like silly excuses.

Stupid is as stupid does, as they say.

© 2014