Survivalism is the New Black
by Lloyd Alter, Toronto on 04. 8.08
Survivalism used to be the preserve of wingnuts who believed in black helicopters and the New World Order; now it has gone positively mainstream. John wrote previously about Survivalist Green; Now the New York Times picks up the story. Cormac McCarthy's The Road and Will Smith in I am Legend have described it, while climate change, peak oil and Katrina are making a much broader spectrum of society prepare for it.
Writing in the Times, Alex Williams quotes Barton M. Biggs, the former chief global strategist at Morgan Stanley: People should “assume the possibility of a breakdown of the civilized infrastructure.Your safe haven must be self-sufficient and capable of growing some kind of food,” It should be well-stocked with seed, fertilizer, canned food, wine, medicine, clothes, etc. Think Swiss Family Robinson. Even in America and Europe there could be moments of riot and rebellion when law and order temporarily completely breaks down.”
Alex Steffen and family
Most surprising survivalist in the article: Alex Steffen of Worldchanging:
One left-of-center environmentalist who is taking action is Alex Steffen, the executive editor of www.Worldchanging.com, a Web site devoted to sustainability. With only slight irony, Mr. Steffen, 40, said he and his girlfriend could serve as “poster children for the well-adjusted, urban liberal survivalist,” given that they keep a six-week cache of food and supplies in his basement in Seattle (although they polished off their bottle of doomsday whiskey at a party).
He said the chaos following Hurricane Katrina served as a wake-up call for him and others that the government might not be able to protect them in an emergency or environmental crisis.
“The ‘where do we land when climate change gets crazy?’ question seems to be an increasingly common one,” said Mr. Steffen in an e-mail message, adding that such questions have “really gone mainstream.” ::New York Times
Well said. We should all be self sufficient to some degree at least. Power outages, unaffordability of fuel, big financial problems, storms, and other world events all conspire against our 'normal' way of living.
All the things we take for granted depend on a fragile balance which is being tipped and swiped at more frequently. Cell service, electricity, basic mobility and transportation of goods, etc...
Good Luck,
vsk
I object to the term. I think "subsistence" may be more appropriate. Survivalist has too many wing-nut implications. It also smacks of wallowing in your misery.
Do people take things seriously or not?
It's not some stupid dystopian stuff, subsistence merely involves reaquiring more of the living skills that our great-grandparents had, like canning, sewing, walking, gardening, and living within your means.
Human systems adjust to change and increasing hardship, just not nearly fast enough. Subsistence helps individuals adjust during hard times, when the human systems are unable to respond quickly enough.
A number of stories about this have hit the mainstream. Check out "Gone green to save green" on CurrentTV for a kinda extreme example, but maybe the future.
I am Legend is based on a 1954 book, though, so not exactly brand new.
It is survivalism, although some of the ideas (stocking seeds, fertilizer, etc.) are only for the long run after a catastrophic breakdown. Survivalism is when you put up consumables as a hedge against that future breakdown. Subsistence is when you live the life day to day now, before the catastrophe hits.
However, Anonymous, "I Am Legend" didn't get made into a film until over 50 years after its publication. Why now? The ideas are clearly resonating in new ways. Some of the ideas in the story have gone from science fiction fringe to mainstream awareness. That is the historical context that has changed since 1954.
However, Anonymous, "I Am Legend" didn't get made into a film until over 50 years after its publication. Why now? The ideas are clearly resonating in new ways. Some of the ideas in the story have gone from science fiction fringe to mainstream awareness. That is the historical context that has changed since 1954.
However, Anonymous, "I Am Legend" didn't get made into a film until over 50 years after its publication. Why now? The ideas are clearly resonating in new ways. Some of the ideas in the story have gone from science fiction fringe to mainstream awareness. That is the historical context that has changed since 1954.
It's good to have some useful skills and resources to get you through emergencies.
What's really needed is a sustainable landscape and a robust community. Very few of us could actually survive for any appreciable time on our own - much less in constant conflict with all other people.
The survivalist vision of individuals and small tribes struggling against each other in an apocalyptic wilderness is very romantic, but highly unlikely. It does sell a lot of guns, emergency generators and canned goods.
People should have some food supplies, candles and batteries, medical supplies, and some basic clothing, cooking, emergency recovery and repair supplies. But when a neighborhood can work together, everyone can contribute what they are skilled at, to maintain a standard of living fairly close to what you already have.
And if a hurricane ever hits my town, I better not see anyone from FEMA! They had their chance.
Carrie: "I Am Legend has been adapted to a feature-length film three times... The Last Man on Earth, The Omega Man, and I am Legend." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_am_legend#Adaptations)
Some may say that preparing for an emergency or supply disruption makes you a nut, however, everyone should keep some food supplies around "just in case." It doesn't mean that you have to move to an undisclosed location in Idaho, but rather to be ready with basic necessities.
As mentioned in the article, there are many things that qualify: hurricanes, supply disruptions, blackouts, epidemics, war, etc, all of which have precedence in the US.
Wine is not something people need. No offense to wine lovers and drunks. Maybe he meant water?
Decent movie. They needed more variety in the "infected" people though. Not perfect by far, but decent entertainment.
Solar IS Civil Defense - flashlight, radio, extra set of batteries all solar powered with the possibility of a hand cranked of pedal powered dynamo as well. That's what I've been advising for years now.
Preparing for emergency and disaster is not survivalism, it is prudence, simple Boy Scout tactics. The Mormons tend to keep a year's supply of food on hand. Makes sense and can save you money while increasing your sense of security, you know, just in case.
In fact, this is what it's about, enhancing your sense of security not fighting off hordes of killer vampires and shuffling zombies or even white supremacists.
Prepare as if there were a hurricane or a blizzard. That's a start.
But then, I'm also telling folks that they should have an escape plan too.
BTW, I have Solar IS Civil Defense buttons and stickers available.
well when climate change gets really crazy a six week food stash wont help at all not even a years . I believe it would all come down to learning to hunt rats , birds and other urban delicacies . not to mention the how to get drinkable water problem in the first place .
"not to mention the how to get drinkable water problem in the first place ."
Solar still.
Wait, does that make a survivalist?