The Compact

This article is an orphan, as few or no other articles link to it. Please introduce links to this page from other articles related to it. (February 2009)

This article may not meet the general notability guideline. Please help to establish notability by adding reliable, secondary sources about the topic. If notability cannot be established, the article is likely to be merged or deleted. (January 2009)

USA

'The Compact is a social and environment movement where members promise not to buy anything new for a year. It was started in San Francisco. ^[1] The movement began as a challenge among 10 friends in 2006. ^[2]

Goals of The Compact:

1. to go beyond recycling in trying to counteract the negative global environmental and socio-economic impacts of U.S. consumer culture, to resist global corporatism, and to support local businesses, farms, etc;
2. to reduce clutter and waste in our homes (as in trash Compact-er);
3. to simplify our lives (as in Calm-pact)

Members of The Compact are only allowed to buy underwear, food, and health and safety items such as brake fluid and toilet paper. During their one year vow the Compact members must shop only at second hand stores. They can also barter or simply share with each other for goods they want. One's trash is another's treasure. Compacters use Freecycle.org or freegle http://www.ilovefreegle.org/ where they post what they want and what they are giving away so that they can avoid buying new and still get the goods they want. Craigslist.org is another source of used goods.

Members of the Compact frown upon material consumerism. However, they are allowed to use services such as movies, theaters, museums, massages, haircuts, and music downloads. There is a difference between wanting and needing and Compact Members know the difference. There are currently thousands of members and about 100 new members join every day. In San Francisco local Compacters also enjoy the Really Really Free Market (RRFM). RRFM gathers in Dolores Park park to give away material goods they no longer want and what they want or to share skills and talents. Compacters prefer to shop at local food markets rather than supermarkets because they wish to support the local community.

England (United Kingdom)

In England, The Compact is an agreement between the Government and the voluntary and community sector made in November 1998. It aims to improve the relationship between the two sectors for mutual advantage.
The Compact is made up of five codes of good practice:
1. Funding and procurement
2. Consultation and policy appraisal
3. BME voluntary and community organisations
4. Volunteering
5. Community groups

Established in April 2007, the Commission for the Compact is an independent public body responsible for overseeing and promoting use of the Compact. The Commission is sponsored by the Office of the Third Sector (part of Cabinet Office) and by the Minister for the Third Sector. The Commissioner for the Compact is Sir Bert Massie CBE.

Almost all local authority areas have now developed a Local Compact in partnership with the voluntary and community sector. The national umbrella organisation supporting Local Compacts is called the Compact Voice.

External Links

The Commission for the Compact
Compact Voice
Cabinet Office

References

This environment-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. v • d • e